Being of Swedish ancestry and aging (not so well sometimes) I was attracted to this book by the title. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this very enjoyable story. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a feel good story.

I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher for letting me read and review this book. Margareta Magnusson has followed up her first book, ‘The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning’, with a second gem, ‘The Swedish Art of Aging Well’. To think that she did this while in her 80’s (and the second book during a pandemic) is just amazing.

While telling us about her life experiences, Margareta gives us sound advice for our own lives as we age. I enjoyed it very much, as it was like getting advice from my own parents or grandparents. Her sense of humor is priceless and entertaining. I just wish that I could somehow implement her ideas into my own journey through my aging years.

Both of her books are ‘must reads’ for people of any age.

You don't need to have read Magnusson's first book, The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning, to enjoy The Swedish Art of Aging Well--you'd simply enjoy it even more. Magnusson is a storyteller, and this second book is less a how-to book, than a series of anecdotes and conclusions about her own full life. She writes with witty candor about dozens of subjects: from trying not to fall down (an obvious concern for anyone elderly), to maintaining friendships despite lockdowns, keeping an open mind, the positive effects of eating chocolate, to the utter pleasure she finds in wearing stripes. Many of her best stories are about the joys and vagaries of having children, spending time interacting with and being kind to younger people (as she points out, being 80-something means nearly everyone is younger), and staying young by honoring the youthful spirit inside you. The memories she shares are deep and sharp, and often laugh out loud silly, One moment she's extolling the virtues of her shag-covered, 1970s sunken living room, and the next, she's touting the incredible improvements in feminine hygiene, or trying to convince her free-spirited five-year-old daughter to keep her bathing suit on. There are a few stories of regret, and difficult memories, too. But there is never hopelessness.

Reading The Swedish Art of Aging Well is like sitting down with a wise and earthy old friend who respects you enough to speak the truth. It's particularly a comfort to those of us of a certain age who are looking at the future and wondering how we can possibly face it. The final chapter is about Swedish Death Cleaning--a kind of condensed version of her first book. Both books are about treasuring the journeys of life. On the subject of death cleaning, Magnusson reminds us that touching each object, and planning a new home for it is an opportunity to savor (0r even ignore) the memories attached to it. Also, that it's a kindness to not leave your family burdened with all of your stuff when you die. On aging well, she fills the pages with tales of a life well-lived, and sound and gentle advice on staying present for every moment of the days we are given.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is a really cute book! There is a very simple warmth to the book from the beginning. The author is sharing the process of her aging without forcing some concept of wisdom. She simply shares daily experiences that clearly have a lifetime of experience behind them. The book is short and makes very applicable and coherent points. I really enjoyed concepts such as caring for something everyday. She never strays from the title of the book, and offers a lot of support for the process of aging well.

Having loved The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning by the same author, I was disappointed that The Swedish Art of Aging Well was not nearly as useful or informative. It reads much more like a memoir than what its title promises: life advice on how to age well. She does give some snippets of wisdom, but then uses each advisory to launch into her stories. The stories are somewhat interesting, but not good enough for me to be able to recommend this book to others. In my opinion the editors should change the title to Life Stories and a Bit of Wisdom About How to Age Gracefully.

Super charming mix of advice about living well and aging well. I laughed a ton and enjoyed it immensely.

The author, Margareta Magnusson, recounts stories from her life and ties them back to larger pieces of wisdom relevant to living well as you get older. She covers the serious (death, xenophobia) and the light (eating chocolate, wearing stripes) and the ridiculous (pirates!). The stories and anecdotes are concise, often humorous and relevant to the larger point in each chapter. In this sense, it’s more memoir than other research-laden non-fiction books on aging. It was just really fun to read, in part because the author’s sense of humor works so well for me. It’s hard to overstate how much I laughed out loud.

One element I particularly appreciate is that the advice doesn’t assume you stop aging at a particular point in time. Instead, there is a good amount of advice for people over 80, which is something I rarely see in comparable books on the topic. Octogenarian is still a long way off for me, but it’s useful to know what 80 looks like for some people. It gives a sense that there’s still time to course correct.

A thoroughly enjoyable read, and one I will gladly return to in the future.

What a smart and refreshing take on aging! I did not read her first book, but I was sold when I saw this title. Who doesn't want to learn how to age well from a tough Swedish woman?

I had expected some laid out tips and actionable items that I could follow along to, but it was more along the lines of a collection of short stories. I found the stories funny and very relatable, and you could see how she included the advice into her stories. A cute and refreshing read!

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book was more high level than I expected.

Instead of a book of advice, it's really a collection of stories or anecdotes that fit with a theme for each short chapter. While some of these stories are delightful they're generally not life advice so much as the author telling us about her life. Some of the stories feel exaggerated as well - for example the author claiming that she died when she had passed out and received medical care and regained consciousness and that the whole thing took an hour, when she was definitely not dead for an hour.

It's a cute afternoon read, just not heavy-hitting life advice.

Rather than true life advice, this book seems more like random musings on life and her past with a few moral lessons sprinkled in. It’s more of a short autobiography with stories told out of order, and it feels like she sometimes goes off on tangents. While a few stories made me laugh, I more often than not found myself wondering where it was going and even forgetting what the chapter was about to begin with.

The morals didn’t feel particularly Swedish or foreign at all for that matter, a lot of this advice already given to me by my own elders. At one point she even admits that none of these activities are extraordinary and she knows everyone is expecting Swedish secrets. Some advice is random and very specific, like suggesting you should wear stripes.

This book seems like something she wrote during the pandemic just to fill her time and as though it was written more out of nostalgia than for a general audience. I don’t think it is well or logically ordered. Thankfully it was a short read.

Thank you NetGalley and Scribner for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Reading this book I really felt like I was talking with my Grandmother who passed on many years ago.

I was laughing so many times through out the book at Margareta's stories all while learning important life lessons. I feel if you miss your grandparents stories, this book is for you. The crazy amazing stories within the book brought me so many happy memoires of my grandmother telling me about her life. The life lessons talked about throughout the book are important and I highlighted so many different passages within the book that I will be going back to again and again.

Imagine sitting down with your young-at-heart grandma or fun elderly neighbor lady while she shares with you the secrets of how to live your best life. Her stories will make you laugh and teach you how to not take life too seriously. Margareta Magnusson's advice is both fun and practical.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for providing an ARC of this book.

The Swedish Art of Aging Well by Margareta Magnusson. Enjoyed this book., Life lessons engagingly told with love, humor and common sense.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview the book.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. I thought the premise of the book was good, but the execution was not what I was hoping for. It came off more as a biography than something to learn from.

A wonderful read a book full of advice about aging.The author is a charming storyteller.I really enjoyed the stories about her childhood and how in their eighties and living far from each other they FaceTime have a cocktail and chat.This is a book of wisdom to enjoy and learn from will be recommending .#netgalley #scribner

A very worthwhile read for people of any age. I like the way this author gives her advice -- rather than give us bulleted lists and marching orders, she weaves it all in with adventures from her own life story. At her age, in her eighties, she clearly is an example of a life well-lived, and speaks with great authority. I look forward to recommending this title.

I cannot wait to read more by this author! This book was enlightening and eye-opening and full of some of the best advice and wit I have come across. Highly recommend!

Collection of life lessons learned through short story telling. Reading this book is as comforting and connecting as listening to an elder in person. It's a bit winding in that way too but each chapter starts and ends with the original goal of imparting that chapter's specific wisdom.

Every woman my age will want to check this out of our library. It is cozy, but firm, and honest. It is the grandmotherly advice we all want but maybe didn't listen to when we were young. Here is that opportunity, that second chance.

A sweet and witty collection of musings about getting older. I found this book so endearing, and found myself laughing out loud at some of the stories from Margaret’s youth. A delightful read for all ages!

From New York Times bestselling author of The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning, a book of humorous and charming advice for embracing life and aging joyfully. This book is perfect for anyone who needs a reset on life, or us feeling untethered.