The Serenity Passport

"The Serenity Passport" is just that! It discusses different techniques/beliefs from various cultures on how to achieve peacefulness, mindfulness, calmness. I loved reading the different cultural beliefs and the artwork in the book. The pictures inspire calmness also.

I love the premise of this book, but not the execution. The basic idea is that the author found 30 words and phrases from around the world that had good lessons in them, and then wrote about them. Examples of the words and phrases are flaneur (French for wandering to observe), nuchi gusui (Japanese for use food as medicine in living), dominguear (Spanish for doing things associated with Sundays), fredagsmys (Swedish for Friday coziness) and so on. I had heard of a few of these but others were new.

Each word or phrase was translated in a few words at the top of its entry, and then the author went on for pages about her interpretation of how to use it for mindfulness. I really would have preferred just a small bit of text and more about the actual traditions of the people who practice it, rather than lots of talk about what we do wrong in our culture and what we should try doing to go along with that concept. Most entries were pages long and didn't really provide any new thoughts or brilliant ideas. It was just like the author was trying to expand the 30 words into a full book and perhaps she also really likes to talk.

The art was a bit of a miss for me too. I like the illustrations as they're colorful and whimsical, but they seemed better suited to a children's book than a book of wisdom from around the world. And it felt wrong that they were so cutesy pastel European looking instead of matching the feeling and place of the culture they reflected. The illustrator tried to make each entry look like the region (for instance, for a Navajo word she did two pages of a pastel desert looking scene) but it didn't reflect the actual colors and style of each region so it just felt off to me.

I did like some of the words and phrases and would like to learn more about them, but I didn't really care for all the padding and rambling. It didn't feel as if I got a good idea of how the people themselves would explain each concept. It's also really hard to do a book like this and not have it feel like cultural appropriation to an extreme. The author tried to be respectful, but it did feel like playing philosophical tourist in 30 cultures, led by two white ladies as tour guides in the text and illustrations.

All that said, it is a cute book that many readers are likely to enjoy. There's a big trend right now of trying to get wisdom from phrases in other cultures. Look at all the hygge books and a recent one of flaneuring. This makes a nice addition if you like those types of books, and folks who like mindfulness books are likely to enjoy this one. Lastly, fans of Amelia Flowers' art will be happy, as the book is packed with her illustrations throughout.

I read a temporary digital ARC of this book for the purpose of review.

This is a delightful little book filled with ideas from around the world to practice mindfulness. I loved the idea of taking this singular focus and looking at ways that different cultures apply it. It is a perfect introduction to a lot of practices with descriptions and how-tos. A reader can then research any of these ideas further if they want more details and background. The illustrations make this a fun book to flip through and engage with. The Serenity Passport would be a great gift, especially for those who want quick hits of information about being mindful.

It turns out that the whole world is looking for ways to unplug, live in the moment and appreciate the small things. From hygge to lagom, there are names for this practice in every culture. Hayes includes practical exercises from each culture (meditating, forest bathing) to try to help readers find their inner sunshine in an often dark and depressing world

I thoroughly enjoyed this book with its focus on serenity, calm & well-being tips from around the world and its lovely illustrations. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced reader’s copy of this book book in exchange for an honest review.

I liked the idea of a virtual trip around the world in specific words. The illustrations were wonderful and the mindfulness tips quite lovely.

I loved the pretty cover to this book and the thought of gathering intel on the mindfulness habits of other cultures around the world. I thought the book had cute illustrations and the overall concept of a passport around the world was cute. I love that it is set up in little sections based on what the mindful habit is perataining to. It was a nice book and would make a great addition to a coffee table.

This is a beautifully illustrated interesting book. It was intriguing to learn more about mindfulness. As a sufferer of chronic pain I am open to learning about new ways of coping with it. This book has definitely given me some ideas. I will be recommending it to some friends as well.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

I adored this title and will be using many of these words as mantras during my meditation practice. Although an English speaker by birth, we do miss some of the most beautiful nuances in translation. I was eager to learn more about serene and mindful things and the words given were simply beautiful.

I had read the Happiness Passport and enjoyed learned the words from around the world and enjoyed the quaint art. The Serenity Passport ups the game. Words are still the main feature but the author also included activities to help with serenity each themed with the current word.
I enjoyed this book and it would make a great gift for anyone trying to take a deep breath.

A beautiful journey across the world via 30 words.
The book is an exploration of wellness and mindful habits and customs from different countries across the world.

From meditation to siesta breaks, from yoga to Sunday strolls, the book introduces the readers to positive ways to reconnect with the inner-self.
A great way to learn and explore cultures, accompanied by beautiful illustrations and easy examples suggesting to try something new.

Upeksha - the sense of equanimity is my favourite word from this brilliant book. I loved how beautiful the illustrations were. This book is as much about reading as it is about watching the illustrations. The pictures are indeed worth a thousand words each. They are absolutely lovely and worth the price of the book alone. I want to buy one in glossy hardcover.

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley.

This book was absolutely adorable! Charming illustrations alongside interesting cultural histories and practical suggestions of techniques to try to calm down. I will be trying them all!

A beautiful book calming inspiring.Thirty words thirty ways to focus be mindful of all we do our lives and interactions.The sketches were lovely a book Inwill go back to and will gift to friends,##netgalley #quartobooks,

Thank you to Quarto Publishing Group White Lion Publishing for a temporary digital edition via NetGalley of ‘The Serenity Passport’ written by Megan C Hayes, Ph.D with illustrations by Amelia Flower in exchange for an honest review.

It is subtitled ‘A world tour of peaceful living in 30 words’ with chapters covering Focus & Awareness,
Body & Wellness, Habits & Rituals, Rest & Relaxation, and Patience & Pose with each section assigned six words.

This was such a pleasure to read with bright, colourful illustrations throughout. It contains many suggestions for increasing serenity and mindfulness drawn from world cultures. It is a very practical book with plenty of exercises scattered throughout. So it’s a book to engage with over time rather than a one-off read through.

Personally I found myself drawn to the Japanese Shirin-yoku 'forest-bathing' and Finnish Villasukkapaiva, a 'woollen socks' day.

This is a book that I plan to both purchase for myself and as a gift for friends who are into mindfulness. Finding new ways to promote serenity, peace, and calm seems a positive thing in our increasingly stressful world.

When I started the book, I thought it would be another coffee table book with little to gain from.
But I was pleasantly surprised to have read it.
It is beautiful book which evokes positive vibes in reader, just effortlessly and cosy illustrations do a wonderful job of proving soothing experience.

It is full of knowledge; it is full of us.
How humans who have segregated themselves based on geography, culture and language ;have few common words and rituals; when they enjoy, connect and search serenity.
How different countries seek serenity and how these words and rituals came into being.
Almost all continents are covered and history of various rituals is fascinating.
Not at any do you feel bored; while diving in this book.
Artwork is wonderful and writing is enjoyable and rewarding.
A perfect read in times so disruptive; as we are navigating currently.

Thanks publisher for review copy.

Sometimes the world feels chaotic; the reasons why are different for each of us but all of us could benefit from the calming wisdom in this book. The illustrations are lovely and peaceful and go nicely with the text. The author has sections on a number of topics including Focus & Awareness, Body & Wellness, Habits & Rituals, Rest & Relaxation and Patience & Poise. Each section features a number of terms which are expanded upon. What I particularly liked was that they were linked to sections called Try This which offer ways to put the concepts into practice. This book is a great companion to any mindfulness app that readers use or may be read on its own. I rate it highly.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title in exchange for an honest review. I think that I will buy this one for my home library.

Colorful and peaceful illustrations work well to go along with the text. The book gives us words from multiple languages/cultures that relate in some way to serenity, including information about the word and its usage. Additionally, interspersed are helpful activities to reinforce the serenity theme.

This short book is something one needs to read again and again , slowly understanding each word and practicing the learnings. The learnings are not new, but the words, the calming imagery, and the exercises together make this an essential read. It was fun learning the new terms and the vast meanings behind it.

The author takes concepts from global practices and explains them, often providing ideas of ways to apply them to ones life. The art is bright and cheerful and adds a lot to the words. I was particularly enamored with the Navajo (Diné) word "Hózhó" which focuses on wellness through balanced living, in fact I might make it my theme for 2020. I also love the Swedish cozy word part of "mys" which can be added to any other term to make basically any day cozy (the book specifies "Fredagsmys" and "Yulmys") and "Voorpret," the Dutch term for pre-fun, or anticipation of fun.

I would recommend this book for anyone who loves travel, language, or self-care. It's a journey through different cultures that shows just how much we have in common. It is also very helpful to have the book split into five sections/themes (focus & awareness, body & wellness, habits & rituals, rest & relaxation, patience & poise), as well as exercises related to the words that we can try. There was also a very nice list of further readings at the end; we can pick and choose which topics we want to learn more about. The illustrations make it a beautiful coffee table book, which can also lead to conversations with guests about the words in the book!

In terms of content, most of the concepts can be found in other books on the five themes; if you have been reading up on any of them, there aren't too many new concepts. And this is very much an overview, so if you want to learn more, you will have to find other books on those topics. But overall, it was a very easy read that was inspiring at some points.

This is a cute little book. I really liked the layout and the break down of it all! I would of liked more tips in each section and then at the end. But overall I loved the break down of each word and then the illustrations were also a wonderful touch! This would make a great little gift book or just a book to have on the shelf to remind you of different ways to relax.