SCIENCES

The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning: How To Free Yourself and Your Family from a Lifetime of Clutter

by Margareta Magnusson
Scribner. Jan. 2018. 224p. illus. ISBN 9781501173240. $18.99; ebk. ISBN 9781501173257. HOME ECON
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Those interested in Scandinavian living may be intrigued by this end-of-life guide. The popularity of Marie Kondo's The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing also provides a ready audience. Magnusson, a visual artist who has moved many times within her native country of Sweden and abroad, speaks from ample experience. After explaining the concepts of Swedish death cleaning (döstägning) for family members, the author describes paring down from a large house to a modest apartment after her husband died. Striking a balance of gentle encouragement, philosophical musing, and pragmatism, her recommendations are wholly practical and warmly convey her hope for a positive outcome.
VERDICT The title alone, with the juxtaposition of "gentle art" and "death," is eye-catching. Invoking the Swedish theme of lagom ("just the right amount"), this book should appeal to readers who have faced the challenge of sorting through their loved ones' or their own belongings at various life transitions.
Reviewed by Meagan Storey, Virginia Beach , Feb 01, 2018
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