The Nordic Guide to Living 10 Years Longer: 10 Easy Tips for a Happier, Healthier Life

Marklund, a doctor and professor at Gothenberg University in Sweden, packs many good things into this small package. His slim book distills medical research, as well as observations from his 20-year practice, experience as a public health specialist, and the Scandinavian way of life, into 10 tips for good health. They are eminently practical, reasonable, and straightforward to implement. Responding to research that shows that many diseases are a result of inflammation, Marklund’s advice focuses on ways to help combat it. His tips include getting the right amount of sun, sleeping to fortify, eating well, drinking moderate amounts of coffee or tea, and being an optimist. He explains the science behind each in a refreshingly unpretentious, down-to-earth, thoroughly convincing way that encourages readers to follow his suggestions. Marklund advocates the Swedish idea of lagom, which means “just the right amount” or balance and moderation. Readers looking to improve their health without extreme diets or fads, and those who feel overwhelmed by the overload of available health information, must read this book. (May)