Book Club for Mortals: The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning In-Person / Online
The original, official, bestselling guide to Swedish death cleaning—a charming, practical, and unsentimental approach to putting a home in order while reflecting on the tiny joys that make up a long life.
In Sweden there is a kind of decluttering called döstädning, dö meaning “death” and städning meaning “cleaning.” This surprising and invigorating process of clearing out unnecessary belongings can be undertaken at any age or life stage but should be done sooner than later, before others have to do it for you. In The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning, artist Margareta Magnusson, with Scandinavian humor and wisdom, instructs readers to embrace minimalism. Her radical and joyous method for putting things in order helps families broach sensitive conversations, and makes the process uplifting rather than overwhelming.
Margareta suggests which possessions you can easily get rid of (unworn clothes, unwanted presents, more plates than you’d ever use) and which you might want to keep (photographs, love letters, a few of your children’s art projects). Digging into her late husband’s tool shed, and her own secret drawer of vices, Margareta introduces an element of fun to a potentially daunting task. Along the way readers get a glimpse into her life in Sweden, and also become more comfortable with the idea of letting go.
About Book Club for Mortals at the Estes Valley Library
This is a book club that focuses on end-of-life issues and our shared mortality. We read a different book each month, and titles range from the practical to the philosophical, and the serious to the lighthearted, both fiction and nonfiction. This is not a grief or bereavement group, but a space to have open, honest, thoughtful conversations about interesting books and ideas. Discussions are led by Mindy Rickard, advance care planning advisor and longtime Book Club for Mortals host. The book club meets on the second Thursday of each month, through December. Each meeting covers a different book.
More about this program
We will make copies available for checkout at the first floor service desk, and you can search our collection for additional copies and formats (eBook, audiobook, large print, etc.).
Online registrants should receive a reminder email with the Zoom meeting link approximately one day before the program starts. If you didn't receive the email or are having trouble connecting to the meeting, please call the Library at 970-586-8116 and someone will assist you.
Related programs/resources
- Date:
- Thursday, September 11, 2025
- Time:
- 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
- Time Zone:
-
Mountain Time - US & Canada
(change) - Location:
- Wasson Board Room
- Organizer:
- Eric White
- Presenter:
- Mindy Rickard
- Audience:
- Adults (18+)
- Categories:
- Discussion