Untranslatable Words

Find your dharma–your inner calling–and learn to integrate ambition, work, and wellbeing to create a balanced, joyous life with this practical, life-changing guide from the beloved speaker, bestselling author, and co-founder of the Gross National Happiness Center.

A manual for the evolution of everyday leadership based on the Finnish science of sisu, which is a cultural value that emphasizes determination and grit.

We know the Western worldview is at odds with a sustainable Earth, a just common life, and personal well-being. By learning, converting to, and cultivating everyday practices of Eloheh–a Cherokee word meaning harmony and peace–we have a chance at building well-being and a sustainable culture.

Kintsugi is the mindful Japanese art of repairing broken ceramics and glassware by appreciating the cracks and chips as design elements. It’s part of the larger philosophy of wabi-sabi, which celebrates the aesthetic beauty of imperfection and aging.

From an early age, Sara Kehaulani Goo was enchanted by her family’s land in Hawai’i. When a property tax bill arrives with a 500 percent increase, Sara and her family members are forced to make a decision about the property: fight to keep the land or sell to the next offshore millionaire. Part journalistic offering and part memoir, Kuleana interrogates deeper questions of identity, legacy, and what we owe to those who come before and after us.

Sanuk is a Thai philosophy that’s all about bringing more joy and fun into everyday life. Whether it’s having a laugh with friends, raising happy kids, putting the fun back into fitness or bringing a sense of humour to the working day, sanuk is a happier, healthier, more optimistic way of living.

Memento Mori (Latin for “remember [you must] die”) refers to the visual and literary practice of remembering and reflecting on the inevitability of death. This guide encourages readers to contemplate their demise as a way to fully embrace living a life with meaning.

Hygge is the art of surrounding yourself in comfort and is at the core of Danish culture in creating a happy space. With simple tips based on new research from The Happiness Institute in Copenhagen, this book reveals what makes a happy home.

Njuta, which means “enjoy” or “delight in,” is the Swedish art of savoring the moment. Focused on finding happiness in even the smallest things, njuta can be applied to every area of life.

The Arabic word sumūd often translates as “steadfastness” or “standing fast.” Today, it is a Palestinian cultural value of perseverance and nonviolent resistance in the face of Israeli occupation. The fifty-eight contributions in this collection remind readers that just as love perseveres, so do the Palestinians, and their struggles and triumphs.