Since 2013, a serie of books have been published in Sweden and internationally that describe lean@home, or lean living, and the concept has been featured in an IKEA book published in 20 different languages. The original idea has taken wing and travelled far beyond the century old wooden house near Stockholm where it was born.
All these books are available in online bookstores, sometimes in physical bookstores, and libraries. If they are not available at your local library, ask the librarian to order them.
Från Frustration till flow med lean@home (2013)
What has been said about the book:
“Achieve a stress-free home. It creates predictability and anticipation instead of the feeling of being chased.”
— Svenska Dagbladet
“An eye-opener for me, which helped me find structure in my life. So that I can start taking care of myself instead of tripping myself up.”
— Blogger Underbara Clara
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From Frustration to flow with lean@home (ebook 2013 printed 2015)
This book is only available for purchase at lectures, as it is sold in stores under the title “The Lean and Happy Home.”
“First of all, this is not a simple checklist on how to organize your home and your life. It is a philosophy and a toolbox that delivers sustainable results. I believe the most important thing is how the book changes your way of thinking. Once you start thinking in terms of flow, you can’t stop. Through this, a new world opens up with more value and less waste. It takes a couple of hours to read, and then you have the tools to create the conditions for flow in your everyday life.”
“This book has the potential to change your life. It takes the principles of LEAN and applies them to the home — with a Japanese style of simplicity that every household can benefit from. Too many things, too little time, too much complexity in modern life — all are addressed in the pages of this book, but without the slightest taste of industrialism.”
— Two voices from Amazon:
Lev Helt Enkelt – och vägen dit ( Swedish 2017)
”I really liked Lev helt enkelt. It is beautifully illustrated, and the photographs are authentic — not beautified or distorted. The book explains in a pedagogical way, without being preachy, how you can work with flow in the home and thereby live more simply, in every sense. But the best thing about the book is that it provides a toolbox — not one single solution for everyone, but an opportunity, through continuous improvements and flow, to create the everyday life you need and want. Without explicitly mentioning that it is about the circular home, it is, to my knowledge, the first book I have seen that truly addresses it.”
— Review from Bokus
“It conveys a no-pressure, laissez-faire feeling, without in any way dismissing order and organization. On the contrary, the book argues. With structure, you get those pockets of air that make everyday life full of enjoyment. Believing that you ‘seize the day’ YOLO-style by not establishing routines for the practical aspects of life is about as long-term and well thought-out as the old ‘peeing-your-pants-to-keep-warm’ metaphor.”
— Blogger Fru Efficient Badass
Leb doch Einfach (december 2017)
“I became aware of this book through a Swedish friend, who has already turned her home inside out using tips from the book. I had never heard of Japanese LEAN management as a way to simplify processes. With this method, the book offers simple and practical tips to better organize your everyday life and live together more smoothly, save time and money — and use fewer resources.Everything is explained in an easy-to-understand and practical way, with beautiful photographs and lively illustrations. The wardrobe and desk have already been decluttered and reorganized with the help of the book, and the Kanban board (so far on paper) is working great!But be warned: the wonderful pictures will give you a real longing for Sweden!”
— Translated from review in german on Amazon,
The lean and happy home (2019)
“I work at an organization where we apply LEAN in our work, but using LEAN at home was truly an eye-opener. It’s a really good book for anyone who sees the home as a chaotic place. My home, for me, is my happy place, and I haven’t encountered any unhappy situations so far — but it’s good to be familiar with the techniques (Kaizen, Kanban, etc.), and I look forward to applying them when I have children.”
— A reader review on Goodreads
In opgeruimd gezin 2019
This book is far richer than Marie Kondo’s magic formula. Jarlsdotter shows where her concept of flow comes from — namely, from Japanese business practice. She clearly explains which processes are necessary. Where Kondo tidies your house once and then presents the bill, Jarlsdotter focuses on lasting results.”
— Artist Paula Kuitenbrouwer (part of a review translated from Dutch)
