10 Easy Tips for a Happier, Healthier Life
May 1, 2017
Swedish physician and researcher Marklund (medicine, Gothenburg Univ.) packs a lot of common sense and sound health advice into few pages, noting that most studies now point to inflammation as the culprit in many chronic "lifestyle" diseases such as hypertension and diabetes. His book offers ten simple steps based on the Swedish lifestyle, encouraging us to be active and optimistic, eat and drink in moderation (not too much!), and get plenty of rest. By following this advice and living without excess, we can decrease inflammation and increase our life span. While most of this book is straightforward and the tone neutral, the chapter on loneliness and how to overcome it is slightly condescending. VERDICT A quick, no-nonsense guide on how to be healthier that will appeal to general readers.--Janet Tapper, Univ. of Western States Lib., Portland, OR
Copyright 2017 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
July 31, 2017
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.