What do you think?
Rate this book
How to Winter: Harness Your Mindset to Thrive on Cold, Dark, or Difficult Days
A blend of mindset science, original research, and cultural insights for cultivating a positive “wintertime mindset,” to vanquish winter blues and find joy and comfort in dark times year-round.
Do you dread the end of Daylight Saving Time and grouch about the long, chilly season of gray skies and ice? Do you find yourself in a slump every January and February? What if there were a way to rethink this time of year? Psychologist and winter expert Kari Leibowitz’s galvanizing How to Winter uses mindset science to help readers embrace winter as a season to be enjoyed, not endured—and in turn, learn powerful lessons that can impact our mental wellbeing throughout the year.
Kari Leibowitz moved above the Arctic Circle – where the sun doesn’t rise for two months each winter –expecting to research the season’s negative effects on mental health, only to find that inhabitants actually looked forward to it with delight and enthusiasm. Leibowitz has since travelled to places on earth with some of the coldest, darkest, longest and most intense winters, and discovered the power of “wintertime mindset”— viewing the season as full of opportunity and wonder. Impactful strategies for cultivating this wintertime mindset can teach us not just about braving the gray, cold months of the year, but also the darker and more difficult seasons of life.
• In Tromsø, Norway, people live in rhythm with nature, adapting to the months-long Polar Night by honoring seasonal fluctuations in energy, slowing down, and resting more.
• On the Isle of Lewis, off the coast of Scotland, communal gatherings around roaring fires embrace darkness and provide connection during long nights.
• In Yamagata, Japan, families sink into steaming onsen baths, banishing the chill of winter with healthful soaks that improve sleep and reduce risk of heart attack.
Inspired by cutting-edge psychological and behavioral science research as well as cultures worldwide that find warmth and joy in winter’s extremes, How to Winter provides readers with concrete tools for making winter wonderful wherever they live and harnessing the power of small mindset changes with big impact to help readers embrace every season of life.
Do you dread the end of Daylight Saving Time and grouch about the long, chilly season of gray skies and ice? Do you find yourself in a slump every January and February? What if there were a way to rethink this time of year? Psychologist and winter expert Kari Leibowitz’s galvanizing How to Winter uses mindset science to help readers embrace winter as a season to be enjoyed, not endured—and in turn, learn powerful lessons that can impact our mental wellbeing throughout the year.
Kari Leibowitz moved above the Arctic Circle – where the sun doesn’t rise for two months each winter –expecting to research the season’s negative effects on mental health, only to find that inhabitants actually looked forward to it with delight and enthusiasm. Leibowitz has since travelled to places on earth with some of the coldest, darkest, longest and most intense winters, and discovered the power of “wintertime mindset”— viewing the season as full of opportunity and wonder. Impactful strategies for cultivating this wintertime mindset can teach us not just about braving the gray, cold months of the year, but also the darker and more difficult seasons of life.
• In Tromsø, Norway, people live in rhythm with nature, adapting to the months-long Polar Night by honoring seasonal fluctuations in energy, slowing down, and resting more.
• On the Isle of Lewis, off the coast of Scotland, communal gatherings around roaring fires embrace darkness and provide connection during long nights.
• In Yamagata, Japan, families sink into steaming onsen baths, banishing the chill of winter with healthful soaks that improve sleep and reduce risk of heart attack.
Inspired by cutting-edge psychological and behavioral science research as well as cultures worldwide that find warmth and joy in winter’s extremes, How to Winter provides readers with concrete tools for making winter wonderful wherever they live and harnessing the power of small mindset changes with big impact to help readers embrace every season of life.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published October 22, 2024
533 people are currently reading
9972 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 420 reviews
December 10, 2024
This is a decent book to read in our current season! Kari Leibowitz's research focuses on what "we" can learn from cultures who embrace winter. (I put "we" in quotations because I think a lot of the book is directed towards Americans with desk jobs.) Her core argument is that learning "how to winter" can also help us learn how to generally cope in trying times, which can occur year-round.
The book mostly makes good on the argument, but I felt there was a bit too much celebration of Scandinavian and Japanese customs she didn't really know that well. I feel like we lost the plot when she started going on and on about how saunas are “the great equalizer of Finnish society” where bosses and workers are all the same. Like HUH?!? Beyond this annoyance, there were some helpful notes about what you can control to make your winter experience better.
While Leibowitz mostly focuses on personal changes, she also doesn't ignore the fact that many elements of how people are able to enjoy the winter are not up to them. The final sections of this book discuss various infrastructure improvements that governments need to make, and she notes when recommendations would only be possible for a small group of readers. Her direction of the book towards people with desk jobs became particularly clear in the sections about adjusting your daily work schedule to slow down in the winter. So, I appreciate that she's not claiming this is universal advice, though it could certainly still be disappointing to realize how many of these suggestions would not work for many people.
Leibowitz's 3 main approaches to help us have a better experience of winter are as follows: 1) Celebrate Winter, 2) Make Winter Special, and 3) Get Outside. This is all fairly straightforward, but pretty hard to do! For Approach 1: Celebrate Winter, she suggests first beginning with changing our mindset. This could be done through adjusting the way we talk about winter, anticipating and acknowledging the season with rituals (such as seasonal home decor), and being kind to ourselves when we notice that we are having trouble adjusting to the changes.
Approach 2: Make Winter Special has a lot to do with embracing the darkness and slower season!! Instead of forcing ourselves to ignore the seasonal changes, we can try to use warmer light in our homes, go to bed earlier, and find fun wintertime hobbies that help us treat the season as a special time of year where we do things differently on purpose.
Finally, Approach 3: Get Outside is not just about extreme winter sports and cold plunges (though those are also in here.) Leibowitz shows lots of research about how our time in nature, even if brief, can make a huge different in our moods. Being attentive about the items you observe in the natural world, and taking the leap of faith to go out in the cold (with appropriately warm clothing), can seem like small or inconsequential actions, but they can add up. I will say that I've been trying to go out more regularly since reading this book, or at least notice and remark on how the trees look more sparse, or the fog on a rainy morning makes me feel like I'm in a True Detective episode. These small changes to my otherwise inside routine have made a difference, and I look forward to continuing them.
So, that's all for this one! Nothing groundbreaking, but there are some helpful tips and reminders that could be useful for a small group.
The book mostly makes good on the argument, but I felt there was a bit too much celebration of Scandinavian and Japanese customs she didn't really know that well. I feel like we lost the plot when she started going on and on about how saunas are “the great equalizer of Finnish society” where bosses and workers are all the same. Like HUH?!? Beyond this annoyance, there were some helpful notes about what you can control to make your winter experience better.
While Leibowitz mostly focuses on personal changes, she also doesn't ignore the fact that many elements of how people are able to enjoy the winter are not up to them. The final sections of this book discuss various infrastructure improvements that governments need to make, and she notes when recommendations would only be possible for a small group of readers. Her direction of the book towards people with desk jobs became particularly clear in the sections about adjusting your daily work schedule to slow down in the winter. So, I appreciate that she's not claiming this is universal advice, though it could certainly still be disappointing to realize how many of these suggestions would not work for many people.
Leibowitz's 3 main approaches to help us have a better experience of winter are as follows: 1) Celebrate Winter, 2) Make Winter Special, and 3) Get Outside. This is all fairly straightforward, but pretty hard to do! For Approach 1: Celebrate Winter, she suggests first beginning with changing our mindset. This could be done through adjusting the way we talk about winter, anticipating and acknowledging the season with rituals (such as seasonal home decor), and being kind to ourselves when we notice that we are having trouble adjusting to the changes.
Approach 2: Make Winter Special has a lot to do with embracing the darkness and slower season!! Instead of forcing ourselves to ignore the seasonal changes, we can try to use warmer light in our homes, go to bed earlier, and find fun wintertime hobbies that help us treat the season as a special time of year where we do things differently on purpose.
Finally, Approach 3: Get Outside is not just about extreme winter sports and cold plunges (though those are also in here.) Leibowitz shows lots of research about how our time in nature, even if brief, can make a huge different in our moods. Being attentive about the items you observe in the natural world, and taking the leap of faith to go out in the cold (with appropriately warm clothing), can seem like small or inconsequential actions, but they can add up. I will say that I've been trying to go out more regularly since reading this book, or at least notice and remark on how the trees look more sparse, or the fog on a rainy morning makes me feel like I'm in a True Detective episode. These small changes to my otherwise inside routine have made a difference, and I look forward to continuing them.
So, that's all for this one! Nothing groundbreaking, but there are some helpful tips and reminders that could be useful for a small group.
October 12, 2024
This was a refreshingly balanced look at a season that causes many of us some negative feelings. The basis for it is that people in Nordic countries, in spite of darker and colder winters, tend to experience less seasonal depression than their counterparts at lower latitudes. The book explores why that might be so, and offers some fresh perspectives on winter that are helpful to internalize.
Although a lot of the material seemed to fall under the category of common sense, it's worth seeing it in print and really taking the time to engage with it, analyzing one's own attitude in comparison with that of others. I did find some of it to be a bit repetitive, but I quite enjoyed the book and thought it was practical and even inspiring. The idea that you can change your relationship with winter is interesting. So are the musings on mindset and preparation, which really translate into lots of other areas of life as well.
Thanks to Pan Macmillan | Bluebird and Netgalley for this digital review copy!
Although a lot of the material seemed to fall under the category of common sense, it's worth seeing it in print and really taking the time to engage with it, analyzing one's own attitude in comparison with that of others. I did find some of it to be a bit repetitive, but I quite enjoyed the book and thought it was practical and even inspiring. The idea that you can change your relationship with winter is interesting. So are the musings on mindset and preparation, which really translate into lots of other areas of life as well.
Thanks to Pan Macmillan | Bluebird and Netgalley for this digital review copy!
August 24, 2024
This was a fascinating read. I’m a little bit worried that this book won’t get the exposure it should get, because the people who need to read it might not. After all, people who hate winter might not understand that there’s an alternative. And they also might not understand that learning to love winter can help them with their mindset in so many other ways.
The author of this book teaches a class at Stanford called mindset matters, and she did a lot of the research for this book in Tromso, Norway. I picked it up when I was offered a free copy because I’ve recently planned a winter trip to Tromso and it peaked my interest. I was hoping that the book would address both attitudes toward winter and also attitudes toward dark times in ones life, and it doesn’t do that directly, but it’s there if you search the nuggets of wisdom.
Changing my attitude towards winter is not some thing I’ve really ever thought about, but now it’s fascinating to me. Even living in California, I feel like this book will help me so much when daylight savings hits. The exercises and suggestions at the end of each chapter are really great. And as a therapist, this book would be really fascinating for someone who legitimately suffers from seasonal effective disorder. This book is just very enjoyable to read.
The author of this book teaches a class at Stanford called mindset matters, and she did a lot of the research for this book in Tromso, Norway. I picked it up when I was offered a free copy because I’ve recently planned a winter trip to Tromso and it peaked my interest. I was hoping that the book would address both attitudes toward winter and also attitudes toward dark times in ones life, and it doesn’t do that directly, but it’s there if you search the nuggets of wisdom.
Changing my attitude towards winter is not some thing I’ve really ever thought about, but now it’s fascinating to me. Even living in California, I feel like this book will help me so much when daylight savings hits. The exercises and suggestions at the end of each chapter are really great. And as a therapist, this book would be really fascinating for someone who legitimately suffers from seasonal effective disorder. This book is just very enjoyable to read.
August 14, 2024
Winter both captivates and confounds me.
In some ways, I love winter. I love the intimacy of it. I love the mystery. I love the chill and the wonder and the darkness.
But yeah, there are practical matters to consider. I'm a wheelchair user living in a Midwestern city that most definitely experiences all four seasons. Indianapolis is sort of in-between those cities that experience really intense winter seasons and those cities that barely experience a snowflake.
In some ways, it's the most challenging way to experience winter because my city is good but far from great at facilitating winter, an issue that Dr. Kari Leibowitz talks about in her book "How to Winter: Harness Your Mindset to Thrive on Cold, Dark, or Difficult Days." She addresses the fact that part of what helps us switch into a wintertime mindset is when our environment facilitates peace within those winter blues. It's a lot easier, and as a wheelchair user I feel this, to embrace winter when the roads are paved, the sidewalks are cleared, and I don't have to worry about getting stuck in my wheelchair simply going to work.
There's much to appreciate about "How to Winter," a weaving together of mindset science, original research, and cultural insights. I was most enchanted by "How to Winter" when Leibowitz was immersing us in the cultural insights and experiences she's had along the way of her unique and extensive research.
Because I live in a city that is on the border of winter wonder, the dread of the end of Daylight Saving Time is strong. Heck, even mentioning Daylight Saving Time seems to put my fellow Hoosiers into a grump. We mostly make it through the magic of the holiday, however, by the time January rolls around melancholy seems to set in and hang around until the first signs of spring.
Leibowitz gently nudges us toward an enjoyment of winter - not just tolerating it or enduring it.
"How to Winter" plants us within Leibowitz's initial move to the Arctic Circle, a place where the sun doesn't rise for two months each year, as she begins with a plan to research the season's negative effects on mental health. Instead, however, she encounters a surprise - those around her actually look forward to this with equal parts delight and enthusiasm.
There's nary a fear to be found.
As her own perspectives shifted, Leibowitz reshaped her research and began years of traveling to some of the coldest, darkest, longest, and most intense winters.
She discovered the power of "wintertime mindset." "How to Winter" serves up research, culturla immersion, and very practical strategies for developing a "wintertime mindset."
"How to Winter" is a comprehensively researched yet accessible exploration of how we can truly harness our mindset so that we don't just survive but actually thrive on cold, dark, and difficult days.
In some ways, I love winter. I love the intimacy of it. I love the mystery. I love the chill and the wonder and the darkness.
But yeah, there are practical matters to consider. I'm a wheelchair user living in a Midwestern city that most definitely experiences all four seasons. Indianapolis is sort of in-between those cities that experience really intense winter seasons and those cities that barely experience a snowflake.
In some ways, it's the most challenging way to experience winter because my city is good but far from great at facilitating winter, an issue that Dr. Kari Leibowitz talks about in her book "How to Winter: Harness Your Mindset to Thrive on Cold, Dark, or Difficult Days." She addresses the fact that part of what helps us switch into a wintertime mindset is when our environment facilitates peace within those winter blues. It's a lot easier, and as a wheelchair user I feel this, to embrace winter when the roads are paved, the sidewalks are cleared, and I don't have to worry about getting stuck in my wheelchair simply going to work.
There's much to appreciate about "How to Winter," a weaving together of mindset science, original research, and cultural insights. I was most enchanted by "How to Winter" when Leibowitz was immersing us in the cultural insights and experiences she's had along the way of her unique and extensive research.
Because I live in a city that is on the border of winter wonder, the dread of the end of Daylight Saving Time is strong. Heck, even mentioning Daylight Saving Time seems to put my fellow Hoosiers into a grump. We mostly make it through the magic of the holiday, however, by the time January rolls around melancholy seems to set in and hang around until the first signs of spring.
Leibowitz gently nudges us toward an enjoyment of winter - not just tolerating it or enduring it.
"How to Winter" plants us within Leibowitz's initial move to the Arctic Circle, a place where the sun doesn't rise for two months each year, as she begins with a plan to research the season's negative effects on mental health. Instead, however, she encounters a surprise - those around her actually look forward to this with equal parts delight and enthusiasm.
There's nary a fear to be found.
As her own perspectives shifted, Leibowitz reshaped her research and began years of traveling to some of the coldest, darkest, longest, and most intense winters.
She discovered the power of "wintertime mindset." "How to Winter" serves up research, culturla immersion, and very practical strategies for developing a "wintertime mindset."
"How to Winter" is a comprehensively researched yet accessible exploration of how we can truly harness our mindset so that we don't just survive but actually thrive on cold, dark, and difficult days.
November 17, 2024
This is an easy and helpful read. Some tips were common sense that needed to be reinforced, and others were creative. Written well, but the intro was a bit lengthy. If you suffer from the winter blues, this book may help.
January 10, 2025
"Reclaiming winter is a chance to find intentional joy; to let ourselves anticipate and rest. It's an opportunity to notice, with awe and wonder, what is really in front of us. It's a practice in talking about those delights, sinking into coziness, ritualizing the mundane. It allows us to know ourselves more deeply, breath in crisp air, feel the wind in our face or the rain on our skin. It can propel us to adventure or help find us warmth. Embracing the winter is about embracing our life: all of it, the dark parts and the light." Kari Leibowitz
Winter. For three to five cold months we humans are subjected to cold, gloomy days, dangerous storms, and long, dark nights. It's a season that people try to get away from by traveling south, or begrudgingly tolerate as they hide indoors. But like it or not winter comes every year, and maybe it's worth looking at ways to make the best of it.
How to Winter is a book about how to manage your mindset about winter. Mindset is everything in the mental health field, and it can transform depression and boredom into wonder and excitement. Taking a fresh look at this inevitable transformation of our weather is worth the trouble as it opens up fresh possibilities.
The author, Kari Leibowitz, is a health psychologist and writer who has devoted her research into the power of mindsets with a focus on winter. For the book she traveled extensively to the coldest spots on the planet- Norway, Iceland, and Finland, finding the most remote cities with the longest winters. There she interviewed the residents and found some surprising views about winter and how they cope with it.
Make no mistake- winter weather is to be respected. People should dress appropriately and avoid dangerous conditions when necessary. But with the proper precautions, winter activities like skating, skiing, sledding, and even swimming can have beneficial qualities.
How to prepare your mind for winter starts in November and December, when the weather is turning colder and darker. Rather than dreading the coming winter, find things to look forward to besides just the holidays. When New Year's comes and goes, all that's left are the frigid days of January and February. What can you do in winter that you wouldn't do in summer? Rest and sleep are one thing to catch up on. The end of one year and beginning of another is an ideal time to reflect on things and make new plans. And indoor hobbies like painting, jigsaw puzzles, baking or reading are ideal for wintertime.
Winter is a perfect time to slow things down and appreciate nature, people, and the world around you. The author recommends establishing rituals that bring peace and meaning to the darkness- from small daily rituals to large elaborate ones. She sings the praises of Hygge, a Scandinavian term that refers to coziness, comfort, and pleasant unstructured times with friends and family. Warmer months encourage us to pack in too many activities, but in the long Norwegian winters people seek coziness by lighting candles and fireplaces, and focusing on the unique sounds and smells of winter.
They did a study asking people to go on wintertime "awe walks," where they were instructed to tap into their childlike sense of wonder and look at everything with fresh eyes instead of burying themselves in their phones. People who did this experienced health benefits while also finding a sense of awe to make them more spiritually connected to the world and themselves.
In the final section, the author recommends that people face winter head on and enjoy time outside when they can. Many winter days are quite bearable and allow hiking, biking, and general activities that increase endorphins and make us feel alive. Too much time indoors can make one feel trapped and stuck.
Three activities the book examined were bathing, saunas, and winter swimming, most of which are unique to northern countries. In Iceland, people bathe in geothermal pools in large numbers and report positive results. In Finland, they sweat in saunas during the winter to improve their heart health and sweat out toxins. And the Norwegians took on winter swimming- immersing a body in ice-cold waters- which sounds very unpleasant but surprisingly releases powerful feel-good chemicals once the frigid dip is over.
Reading this book made me take a second look at my own attitudes towards winter. I've never been a fan. But where I live it is unavoidable and can have its charms. Life is precious, so wasting an entire season hoping it will end eventually seems counter-productive. Winter is a great time for reflection, reading, and appreciating the circle of life- a life that will most assuredly return with the flowers of spring.
You can also extend the metaphor of winter mindsets to include almost any other mindset that holds you back. Too often we resign ourselves to reluctantly endure whatever nastiness has enveloped us. This book and its focus on mindsets reminds us that we have the power to see things differently and look for new ways of looking at unpleasant situations, (other than moving to Florida, that is.) Choice one is to avoid bad situations entirely, which sometimes works. Choice two is to grin and bear it, which is the easiest choice. And choice three is to seek a better mindset and learn all that you can about adapting and growing from any situation. That's the best choice but not so easy to attain.
Winter. For three to five cold months we humans are subjected to cold, gloomy days, dangerous storms, and long, dark nights. It's a season that people try to get away from by traveling south, or begrudgingly tolerate as they hide indoors. But like it or not winter comes every year, and maybe it's worth looking at ways to make the best of it.
How to Winter is a book about how to manage your mindset about winter. Mindset is everything in the mental health field, and it can transform depression and boredom into wonder and excitement. Taking a fresh look at this inevitable transformation of our weather is worth the trouble as it opens up fresh possibilities.
The author, Kari Leibowitz, is a health psychologist and writer who has devoted her research into the power of mindsets with a focus on winter. For the book she traveled extensively to the coldest spots on the planet- Norway, Iceland, and Finland, finding the most remote cities with the longest winters. There she interviewed the residents and found some surprising views about winter and how they cope with it.
Make no mistake- winter weather is to be respected. People should dress appropriately and avoid dangerous conditions when necessary. But with the proper precautions, winter activities like skating, skiing, sledding, and even swimming can have beneficial qualities.
How to prepare your mind for winter starts in November and December, when the weather is turning colder and darker. Rather than dreading the coming winter, find things to look forward to besides just the holidays. When New Year's comes and goes, all that's left are the frigid days of January and February. What can you do in winter that you wouldn't do in summer? Rest and sleep are one thing to catch up on. The end of one year and beginning of another is an ideal time to reflect on things and make new plans. And indoor hobbies like painting, jigsaw puzzles, baking or reading are ideal for wintertime.
Winter is a perfect time to slow things down and appreciate nature, people, and the world around you. The author recommends establishing rituals that bring peace and meaning to the darkness- from small daily rituals to large elaborate ones. She sings the praises of Hygge, a Scandinavian term that refers to coziness, comfort, and pleasant unstructured times with friends and family. Warmer months encourage us to pack in too many activities, but in the long Norwegian winters people seek coziness by lighting candles and fireplaces, and focusing on the unique sounds and smells of winter.
They did a study asking people to go on wintertime "awe walks," where they were instructed to tap into their childlike sense of wonder and look at everything with fresh eyes instead of burying themselves in their phones. People who did this experienced health benefits while also finding a sense of awe to make them more spiritually connected to the world and themselves.
In the final section, the author recommends that people face winter head on and enjoy time outside when they can. Many winter days are quite bearable and allow hiking, biking, and general activities that increase endorphins and make us feel alive. Too much time indoors can make one feel trapped and stuck.
Three activities the book examined were bathing, saunas, and winter swimming, most of which are unique to northern countries. In Iceland, people bathe in geothermal pools in large numbers and report positive results. In Finland, they sweat in saunas during the winter to improve their heart health and sweat out toxins. And the Norwegians took on winter swimming- immersing a body in ice-cold waters- which sounds very unpleasant but surprisingly releases powerful feel-good chemicals once the frigid dip is over.
Reading this book made me take a second look at my own attitudes towards winter. I've never been a fan. But where I live it is unavoidable and can have its charms. Life is precious, so wasting an entire season hoping it will end eventually seems counter-productive. Winter is a great time for reflection, reading, and appreciating the circle of life- a life that will most assuredly return with the flowers of spring.
You can also extend the metaphor of winter mindsets to include almost any other mindset that holds you back. Too often we resign ourselves to reluctantly endure whatever nastiness has enveloped us. This book and its focus on mindsets reminds us that we have the power to see things differently and look for new ways of looking at unpleasant situations, (other than moving to Florida, that is.) Choice one is to avoid bad situations entirely, which sometimes works. Choice two is to grin and bear it, which is the easiest choice. And choice three is to seek a better mindset and learn all that you can about adapting and growing from any situation. That's the best choice but not so easy to attain.
December 21, 2024
Honestly, while I know that "How To" is literally in the title, this probably would have done better as a straight up research based book about how different cultures deal with cold and darkness. The anecdotes and the author's little tips cheapened the book for me. I wanted to know more about the research. Alas.
January 28, 2025
TLDR: Despite my initial skepticism, I did wind up enjoying the whole thing and I do recommend it if you're interested.
--------
My fault for choosing by cover alone, but I didn't realize how much science would be in here. I love that there's science, but it's so new, and therefore incomplete. Ok, yes, "mindset" in general has been a part of popular culture forever, from morals in fables to inspirational posters, but to make it reliable science we need more replication, more efforts to disprove, and more diverse locations, climates, & cultures (I don't think Leibowitz ever visited the Southern Hemisphere, nor, though this is aimed at Americans, did she apparently visit Montana, Idaho).
So anyway, I'm focusing more of my attention on the tips. And there too it's rather disappointing, so far, because, again, doesn't everyone interested already know that we need to spend more time outside? That there can be a joy found in bringing out the candles and the sweaters?
I do *very* much appreciate the idea that "winter tiredness" is a thing, and does not necessarily equate to SAD. Simple allowing oneself to sleep more is ok! Granted, not everyone can, especially if they're trying to get more exercise, but try it before scolding yourself for being depressed! It's just that you're being adaptive, and following the cycles of nature; hibernation is ok!
And back to the subtitle of the book. The author theorizes that if one can develop a flexible mindset, one can not only be able to find reasons to enjoy winter, but can also find the 'silver linings' (my idiom) in other difficult times. She doesn't oversimplify as I do, but she does want you to learn from this book things that might help you with loss, illness, other challenges.
Well, I'm not very far in, so come back for more insights when I'm done. :)
Meanwhile, one of my most favorite poems is relevant:
Dust of Snow
By Robert Frost
The way a crow
Shook down on me
The dust of snow
From a hemlock tree
Has given my heart
A change of mood
And saved some part
Of a day I had rued.
Further along and time to record more bookdarted bits:
Seek "apricity, the warmth in the winter sun." I tried it today. It didn't work on my morning walk, but on a later one, when the air got to above freezing, it did. And it reminded me of similar feelings as a child in Wisconsin.
Author talks about the power of language to shape thought. Well, yeah, propaganda, and biased words, branding, etc. And she uses the word "nice" which reminds me of what my mother used to say: "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all." Stop kvetching so much. Call the cold wind Invigorating, or Refreshing, at least if you only have to experience the few minutes between the car and office.
She writes well. I like a little purplish prose sometimes, and so I like: "The long night made space for contemplation: feelings too intense to be looked at in broad daylight crept out of my head and curled by my feet in the evening shadows."
" we can thank winter for making space for the serene."
---
OK done.
Yes, I do like her voice, and did find the text itself worth reading. Even if the science is incomplete, and even if not nearly all the tips are actionable to me. I'm putting this on my 'to reread' shelf.
One off-hand tip is actually rather brilliant. Get dressed for the outdoors, then do a warm-up inside the house, so that going outside gives you relief from being on the verge of overheating. I've already tried that a couple times and I think it works.
"Wise or fierce self-compassion: "
"Sometimes, dealing with our inner selves is like parenting a child: treating the child with compassion doesn't mean giving them whatever they want, or letting them do whatever they want. If a child never wants to take a bath, the compassionate response is not to let them remain filthy, but to try to communicate the necessity of bathing, or to help them make fast time more fun."
" I'm giving myself a chance to do something that feels a little difficult and to overcome a challenge. And if I was able to do that, what else can I do?"
The actual bulleted tips I'm going to note to myself only as it seems beyond fair use to add them here.
Bottom line, yes, this is worth the read if you're interested.
--------
My fault for choosing by cover alone, but I didn't realize how much science would be in here. I love that there's science, but it's so new, and therefore incomplete. Ok, yes, "mindset" in general has been a part of popular culture forever, from morals in fables to inspirational posters, but to make it reliable science we need more replication, more efforts to disprove, and more diverse locations, climates, & cultures (I don't think Leibowitz ever visited the Southern Hemisphere, nor, though this is aimed at Americans, did she apparently visit Montana, Idaho).
So anyway, I'm focusing more of my attention on the tips. And there too it's rather disappointing, so far, because, again, doesn't everyone interested already know that we need to spend more time outside? That there can be a joy found in bringing out the candles and the sweaters?
I do *very* much appreciate the idea that "winter tiredness" is a thing, and does not necessarily equate to SAD. Simple allowing oneself to sleep more is ok! Granted, not everyone can, especially if they're trying to get more exercise, but try it before scolding yourself for being depressed! It's just that you're being adaptive, and following the cycles of nature; hibernation is ok!
And back to the subtitle of the book. The author theorizes that if one can develop a flexible mindset, one can not only be able to find reasons to enjoy winter, but can also find the 'silver linings' (my idiom) in other difficult times. She doesn't oversimplify as I do, but she does want you to learn from this book things that might help you with loss, illness, other challenges.
Well, I'm not very far in, so come back for more insights when I'm done. :)
Meanwhile, one of my most favorite poems is relevant:
Dust of Snow
By Robert Frost
The way a crow
Shook down on me
The dust of snow
From a hemlock tree
Has given my heart
A change of mood
And saved some part
Of a day I had rued.
Further along and time to record more bookdarted bits:
Seek "apricity, the warmth in the winter sun." I tried it today. It didn't work on my morning walk, but on a later one, when the air got to above freezing, it did. And it reminded me of similar feelings as a child in Wisconsin.
Author talks about the power of language to shape thought. Well, yeah, propaganda, and biased words, branding, etc. And she uses the word "nice" which reminds me of what my mother used to say: "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all." Stop kvetching so much. Call the cold wind Invigorating, or Refreshing, at least if you only have to experience the few minutes between the car and office.
She writes well. I like a little purplish prose sometimes, and so I like: "The long night made space for contemplation: feelings too intense to be looked at in broad daylight crept out of my head and curled by my feet in the evening shadows."
" we can thank winter for making space for the serene."
---
OK done.
Yes, I do like her voice, and did find the text itself worth reading. Even if the science is incomplete, and even if not nearly all the tips are actionable to me. I'm putting this on my 'to reread' shelf.
One off-hand tip is actually rather brilliant. Get dressed for the outdoors, then do a warm-up inside the house, so that going outside gives you relief from being on the verge of overheating. I've already tried that a couple times and I think it works.
"Wise or fierce self-compassion: "
"Sometimes, dealing with our inner selves is like parenting a child: treating the child with compassion doesn't mean giving them whatever they want, or letting them do whatever they want. If a child never wants to take a bath, the compassionate response is not to let them remain filthy, but to try to communicate the necessity of bathing, or to help them make fast time more fun."
" I'm giving myself a chance to do something that feels a little difficult and to overcome a challenge. And if I was able to do that, what else can I do?"
The actual bulleted tips I'm going to note to myself only as it seems beyond fair use to add them here.
Bottom line, yes, this is worth the read if you're interested.
March 14, 2025
It took me most of the winter to finish this book. The message is mainly about how attitude affects how we experience winter (or anything else for that matter). The book also examined ways different cultures dealt with winter extremes. It got repetitive and at the end the author admits that attitude, when confronted with extreme realities, can only take you so far. This book could have been about half its current length and still have been just as effective.
January 31, 2025
Many cultures find winter to be a restful and exciting time of year. Snow becomes a beautiful occurrence when you approach it with the right mindset. But some cultures encourage an attitude of despair and grumpiness in the winter, making summer the star of the year, and forcing winter into a narrow box of grouchy grumbling. This book will give you practical tips for enjoying winter no matter how bleak it may first appear.
When I used to work an office job, I would go to work in the dark and leave in the dark and never see the sun in my little indoor office. I had the winter doldrums for sure. But now that I am master of my own work schedule, and I can go outdoors in the winter when the sun is shining, I find that I enjoy winter so much more! Even when days are dark or cloudy, my mindset is completely different. I find the darkness restful, and I don't push myself to be so active in the winter. I embrace the cold and make it into something cozy. Instead of focusing on the cold, I focus on the crisp clean feeling in the air, and I appreciate the warmth of fuzzy socks and a hot cup of tea even more.
No matter what your schedule may be, or how little sunlight your area receives in the winter, you can find gratitude and appreciation for all the delightful things that winter brings. I love that this book gives real practical ways to enjoy winter. Get outside. Dress warmly. Sleep more. Enjoy warm foods. Embrace candlelight and low lamps. Celebrate holidays all winter long, not just at Christmas. Make time for calm activities. Notice nature.
My favorite part of this book was the chapter that talked about rest. I realized that I don't let myself rest enough, especially in the winter. I always thought of sleep as sort of a waste of time when I could be doing productive things, but those productive things are not going to happen if you don't have a healthy foundation of rest. Mental rest, physical rest, spiritual rest; all these can be cultivated in winter more than any other season.
I used to think I had Seasonal Affective Disorder, because I would be so worn down and depressed in the winter. After reading this book, I'm convinced that (for most people) Seasonal Affective Disorder is a myth. Only the most extreme cases might actually be medically diagnosed with SAD. But for the rest of us, we just have a culture of griping and grouching in the winter. For myself, I want to cultivate an attitude of rest, gratitude, and delight in the winter.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review.
When I used to work an office job, I would go to work in the dark and leave in the dark and never see the sun in my little indoor office. I had the winter doldrums for sure. But now that I am master of my own work schedule, and I can go outdoors in the winter when the sun is shining, I find that I enjoy winter so much more! Even when days are dark or cloudy, my mindset is completely different. I find the darkness restful, and I don't push myself to be so active in the winter. I embrace the cold and make it into something cozy. Instead of focusing on the cold, I focus on the crisp clean feeling in the air, and I appreciate the warmth of fuzzy socks and a hot cup of tea even more.
No matter what your schedule may be, or how little sunlight your area receives in the winter, you can find gratitude and appreciation for all the delightful things that winter brings. I love that this book gives real practical ways to enjoy winter. Get outside. Dress warmly. Sleep more. Enjoy warm foods. Embrace candlelight and low lamps. Celebrate holidays all winter long, not just at Christmas. Make time for calm activities. Notice nature.
My favorite part of this book was the chapter that talked about rest. I realized that I don't let myself rest enough, especially in the winter. I always thought of sleep as sort of a waste of time when I could be doing productive things, but those productive things are not going to happen if you don't have a healthy foundation of rest. Mental rest, physical rest, spiritual rest; all these can be cultivated in winter more than any other season.
I used to think I had Seasonal Affective Disorder, because I would be so worn down and depressed in the winter. After reading this book, I'm convinced that (for most people) Seasonal Affective Disorder is a myth. Only the most extreme cases might actually be medically diagnosed with SAD. But for the rest of us, we just have a culture of griping and grouching in the winter. For myself, I want to cultivate an attitude of rest, gratitude, and delight in the winter.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review.
December 9, 2024
This was such a good read. I am already an unashamed winter lover, so not much of the advice in here was really new to me, but I would urge anyone who struggles with the cold and/or the dark to read this and take it to heart. Everything the author learns and suggests just reinforced why I enjoy the season, even after the holidays are done.
February 19, 2025
The book encouraged me to experience winter more deeply and fully embrace it. While much of the content is common sense, with some repetition and suggestions that may not be feasible for everyone due to time, financial, or geographical reasons, I still found many ideas inspiring. I plan to implement some of them into my next winter: shifting my mindset, preparing for winter, creating new winter rituals, taking awe walks, going on night walks, stargazing, bathing in heat and cold, engaging in slow hobbies, cultivating more coziness indoors… appreciating the benefits of darkness and stillness, while still staying active, spending lots of time outside, and experiencing winter with all my senses. The book also made me want to visit Tromso, the Isle of Lewis, and Edmonton.
I’d recommend it, even if it doesn’t offer groundbreaking new insights.
"Our winter story is, in part, our life story. What do you want yours to say?"
🧤❄️☕📚🕯️🍪🛁💤🥾🏔️🚲🌌
I’d recommend it, even if it doesn’t offer groundbreaking new insights.
"Our winter story is, in part, our life story. What do you want yours to say?"
🧤❄️☕📚🕯️🍪🛁💤🥾🏔️🚲🌌
January 2, 2025
Great concept, but it became repetitive very quickly and by page 120 I closed the book
December 16, 2024
Contains some useful ideas about approaching winter with a more positive mindset but is often repetitive and some of the tips ignore the limitations and financial concerns of most people's lives -- jump in a cold body of water with a heated shelter nearby, don't work as hard when the days are shorter, take a sauna regularly, live in places that have an infrastructure for cold weather. More adaptable ideas include preparing for the end of daylight savings time, stop feeling guilty about not being as energetic as you are in warmer months, dress appropriately for the weather (though this can be problematic when you have to go between the cold and very warm places without a place to shed and store layers), check your reality (is being outside really as bad as you thought it would be?), put up twinkly lights or burn big, fat candles. Lean into winter and try spending more time outside.
Like most books of this type, the author has a few good ideas and repeats them, including summarizing suggestions at the end of each chapter in a list. While I do not appreciate this style, readers of self-improvement books probably will.
Like most books of this type, the author has a few good ideas and repeats them, including summarizing suggestions at the end of each chapter in a list. While I do not appreciate this style, readers of self-improvement books probably will.
November 6, 2024
This is the book I didn’t know I needed! As a born-and-raised Jersey Shore dweller, just like Kari, I too had a hard time coming to terms with the changing seasons. Every October brought the same dread that it was getting colder, darker, and overall more gloomy. I also, as many of us do, lack vitamin D, and often just feel better in the summer months. But this book changed my mindset around winter, and emphasized how important the changing weather can be. Kari offers helpful tips for not only persevering, but appreciating the winter months. And it was the perfect pub date, just as the winter months are slowly approaching.
I enjoyed learning about the different cultures that Kari describes across her travels, from Tromso in Norway to Finland, Japanese hot baths to California. It was eye-opening to understand the ways other people around the world enjoy the winter months, and put into perspective my own approach to the colder and shorter days. Even in the midst of reading this book, I found myself putting Kari’s tips and tricks for developing a better winter mindset to the test, and can actually say it has helped in just under a month of trying!
I also appreciated that this book encouraged me to think about my personal relationship with our earth, and the global warming crisis. Now that I understand how important winter is to many climates and cultures, I will work harder to contribute to fighting global warming and participate in efforts to protect our earth.
If you feel that you may have Seasonal Depression or are just not a fan of the cold, dark months of the year, I strongly encourage you to pick up this book. When you think about it, would you rather waste 6-7 months of every year depressed and anxious about the winter, or would you rather spend a week or two reading this book and developing affective coping skills to enjoy your life?
I enjoyed learning about the different cultures that Kari describes across her travels, from Tromso in Norway to Finland, Japanese hot baths to California. It was eye-opening to understand the ways other people around the world enjoy the winter months, and put into perspective my own approach to the colder and shorter days. Even in the midst of reading this book, I found myself putting Kari’s tips and tricks for developing a better winter mindset to the test, and can actually say it has helped in just under a month of trying!
I also appreciated that this book encouraged me to think about my personal relationship with our earth, and the global warming crisis. Now that I understand how important winter is to many climates and cultures, I will work harder to contribute to fighting global warming and participate in efforts to protect our earth.
If you feel that you may have Seasonal Depression or are just not a fan of the cold, dark months of the year, I strongly encourage you to pick up this book. When you think about it, would you rather waste 6-7 months of every year depressed and anxious about the winter, or would you rather spend a week or two reading this book and developing affective coping skills to enjoy your life?
January 15, 2025
This book provided me with a different perspective regarding the winter season. Many individuals have to cope with the loss of daylight and seasonal blues and develop many ways to process the challenges.
I will be sure to be more compassionate going forward regarding season changes. It was very informative.
I will be sure to be more compassionate going forward regarding season changes. It was very informative.
January 3, 2025
I live in the Pacific Northwest, there are so many grey, rainy days I lose count. I am always battling the winter months, looking for ways to navigate low energy. How to Winter started out slow, a lot of general observations and advice to change one's mindset. Easier said than done. About half way I really began to appreciate the way the author unpacked the negative feelings about the season and gave specific ways to engage and feel joy in the shorter, darker days. A lovely book, a book best read in Winter. Highly recommended.
February 14, 2025
I've been thinking about getting a sweatshirt that says, "Did I tell you about the book I'm reading?" I have referenced this COUNTLESS times lately.
December 24, 2024
This book summed up: suck it up buttercup.
Like most self help books I’m not sure the advice here was anything earth shattering. It probably was a good dose of things I needed to hear. It was organized well and all main points were summarize at the end of the chapter. I’ll probably put somethings into practice but only cause I want to and not cause the book told me too.
Like most self help books I’m not sure the advice here was anything earth shattering. It probably was a good dose of things I needed to hear. It was organized well and all main points were summarize at the end of the chapter. I’ll probably put somethings into practice but only cause I want to and not cause the book told me too.
January 2, 2025
I absolutely LOVED this book. As someone with an already positive winter mindset, I was naturally drawn to this books and read it so fast, absorbed it like a sponge. By the time I finished this book, I’ve already added new rituals to my winter season. I have more candles, fireplace ambiance, new winter hobbies, etc in a span of a the time it took me to read this book.
But who should read this book? Those who hate winter and dread it. It reframes the importance of winter not only for our mindsets but for our communities, traditions, natural rhythms, and for the world. Winter is an important and vital season and can be enjoyed (if not more!) as much as spring, summer, and fall.
Lights some candles, grab a cup of hot cocoa or tea, and crack open this book! ❄️☃️🧊✨
But who should read this book? Those who hate winter and dread it. It reframes the importance of winter not only for our mindsets but for our communities, traditions, natural rhythms, and for the world. Winter is an important and vital season and can be enjoyed (if not more!) as much as spring, summer, and fall.
Lights some candles, grab a cup of hot cocoa or tea, and crack open this book! ❄️☃️🧊✨
January 3, 2025
The first quarter of the book was interesting but it got redundant.
December 9, 2024
Well written but the basic gist is 'change your mindset'. The author is absolutely right but the book seems to be the same mantra on repeat throughout.
December 12, 2024
Do you moan about the end of Daylight Savings Time? Hate when it gets dark before 5pm? This book is for you. Such a great book about mindset psychology and falling in love with winter and the natural rhythms of the year.
————-
“Embracing winter is about embracing our life: all of it, the dark parts and the light. Our winter story is, in part, our life story. What do you want yours to say?” -page 265
“Adapting to winter is also practice adjusting to whatever is in front of us. There are seasons of the year—and seasons of life—for putting ourselves out there, for pushing ourselves, for striving and learning and growing. And there are seasons for going inward, for slowing down, for healing and taking stock…Learning to accept, even embrace, wherever we are, whenever we are, is the practice of a lifetime. Knowing when to slow down and when to speed up is wisdom. The ability to listen to ourselves, to match the natural world, to work with circumstances rather than fight against them are skills that will aid us in every venture we undertake. And winter gives us the chance to rehearse every year.” -page 70
————-
“Embracing winter is about embracing our life: all of it, the dark parts and the light. Our winter story is, in part, our life story. What do you want yours to say?” -page 265
“Adapting to winter is also practice adjusting to whatever is in front of us. There are seasons of the year—and seasons of life—for putting ourselves out there, for pushing ourselves, for striving and learning and growing. And there are seasons for going inward, for slowing down, for healing and taking stock…Learning to accept, even embrace, wherever we are, whenever we are, is the practice of a lifetime. Knowing when to slow down and when to speed up is wisdom. The ability to listen to ourselves, to match the natural world, to work with circumstances rather than fight against them are skills that will aid us in every venture we undertake. And winter gives us the chance to rehearse every year.” -page 70
November 14, 2024
This book and I found each other at the literal perfect moment. I discovered and began reading this on the autumnal daylight savings day.
When I was a kid I loved winter, but as an adult I mostly feel doom and gloom over the long nights and icy days. A year or so ago, I recognized that I need either to move to a warmer climate or learn to embrace winter when it comes. I want to stay close to family, so I'm opting for the latter.
Those who know me will be shocked, but after reading this book I'm confident that I can fall in love with winter again. Two-years-ago-me would have fainted at the thought!
When I was a kid I loved winter, but as an adult I mostly feel doom and gloom over the long nights and icy days. A year or so ago, I recognized that I need either to move to a warmer climate or learn to embrace winter when it comes. I want to stay close to family, so I'm opting for the latter.
Those who know me will be shocked, but after reading this book I'm confident that I can fall in love with winter again. Two-years-ago-me would have fainted at the thought!
November 16, 2024
Seasonal sadness b gone ☃️
March 23, 2025
When I first came across this book, I was skeptical. “Could there really be a book that tells you useful ways to hate winter less?” Well, yes! And a great place to start is to stop expecting winter to be awful–and something worth hating…Which is exactly what you are gently told by the author, who admits she herself formerly struggled with winter and understands its hardships. You feel seen.
When I happened upon this book, I’ll confess I was guilty of hating winter myself. As I’ve always said, summer is the BEST season. In fact, as this book points out, it is very commonplace (in US culture especially) to hate on winter, or any perceived “bad” weather. “I’m so sick of this gloomy weather” we say to each other. But what is meant as some honest commiserating between friends and acquaintances, is actually kind of problematic. You see, as this book also points out, my own personal hate for winter isn’t going to make it go away, or make the season shorter. In fact, take it or leave it, every single year I still have to live through the 3-4 months of winter, as does the rest of the world if you live far enough from the equator. So why not find a way to enjoy these 3-4 wintery months instead? Hmmm….
If you are intrigued, then I highly suggest you give this book a try. Leibowitz’s writing style with storytelling woven throughout made it easy to stay engaged with the content. The author also dove into the culture of other countries who embrace winter, even places that experience polar night, where the sun doesn’t rise for a period of time. When faced with the puzzling revelation that people in other countries can thrive during winter in these conditions, I found it almost comical that I had never given my dislike for the season much thought. I never questioned why I felt winter was so awful–yet it had (negatively) affected the quality of my adult life every year. Until of course this book took all of those common winter beliefs, formed them into words which prod & defend, and gently placed them right in front of my eyes to read and think about.
One thing that this book does really well, is giving the reader concrete “winter practices” to implement to help enjoy winter instead of hating it. In this regard, it really does read as a “how-to” guide. Each of these strategies are explained in detail and then summarized at the end of each chapter. The best part is, I found them to be completely realistic. An early running theme in the book is the power of your mindset (be it positive or negative). So of course, the first winter practice explored within the book is to set positive winter expectations (preferably as fall dwindles). Deliberately think of things you are looking forward to about the season and keep them at the forefront of your mind.
Another favorite winter practice is “Big Light Off” which enlists you to set up your space with small lamps, candles, etc to really lean into a more warm, cozy atmosphere for when the days are shorter and the sun sets early. These small winter practices might seem like no big deal, but like your mindset towards winter, they matter a lot.
If all of the above has sold you, and you are ready to read this book–great! A small suggestion is to read it during the fall when winter is approaching. Of course, you can read it anytime, but doing so in the fall will keep Leibowitz’s words fresher in your head and might just help you embrace winter for the first time ever!
Looking at nonhuman life on Earth, it becomes apparent how foolish the notion is that we can enter and exit the winter without changing our sleep, diet, or social behavior. Instead, we can take our cues from nature and adopt our own seasonal rhythms”
When I happened upon this book, I’ll confess I was guilty of hating winter myself. As I’ve always said, summer is the BEST season. In fact, as this book points out, it is very commonplace (in US culture especially) to hate on winter, or any perceived “bad” weather. “I’m so sick of this gloomy weather” we say to each other. But what is meant as some honest commiserating between friends and acquaintances, is actually kind of problematic. You see, as this book also points out, my own personal hate for winter isn’t going to make it go away, or make the season shorter. In fact, take it or leave it, every single year I still have to live through the 3-4 months of winter, as does the rest of the world if you live far enough from the equator. So why not find a way to enjoy these 3-4 wintery months instead? Hmmm….
Learning to work with the [winter] darkness, rather than against it, is a micropractice in finding the possibilities amidst any challenging or unpleasant situation beyond our control. And fighting it is ultimately futile: darkness falls whether we wish it to or not”
If you are intrigued, then I highly suggest you give this book a try. Leibowitz’s writing style with storytelling woven throughout made it easy to stay engaged with the content. The author also dove into the culture of other countries who embrace winter, even places that experience polar night, where the sun doesn’t rise for a period of time. When faced with the puzzling revelation that people in other countries can thrive during winter in these conditions, I found it almost comical that I had never given my dislike for the season much thought. I never questioned why I felt winter was so awful–yet it had (negatively) affected the quality of my adult life every year. Until of course this book took all of those common winter beliefs, formed them into words which prod & defend, and gently placed them right in front of my eyes to read and think about.
When we write off winter, we resign ourselves to settling for crumbs of happiness; we decide it’s okay to be miserable for one to six months of the year. We let the little unpleasantries, the pinpricks of cold and the annoyance of wet and the fatigue of dark grind us down without realizing it
One thing that this book does really well, is giving the reader concrete “winter practices” to implement to help enjoy winter instead of hating it. In this regard, it really does read as a “how-to” guide. Each of these strategies are explained in detail and then summarized at the end of each chapter. The best part is, I found them to be completely realistic. An early running theme in the book is the power of your mindset (be it positive or negative). So of course, the first winter practice explored within the book is to set positive winter expectations (preferably as fall dwindles). Deliberately think of things you are looking forward to about the season and keep them at the forefront of your mind.
When we have the mindset–subconscious or otherwise–that “winter is dreadful” or “winter is limiting” we expect that winter will be lifeless and boring. By expecting winter to be terrible, we might be nocebo-ing [the opposite of the placebo effect] our way into the season”
Another favorite winter practice is “Big Light Off” which enlists you to set up your space with small lamps, candles, etc to really lean into a more warm, cozy atmosphere for when the days are shorter and the sun sets early. These small winter practices might seem like no big deal, but like your mindset towards winter, they matter a lot.
If all of the above has sold you, and you are ready to read this book–great! A small suggestion is to read it during the fall when winter is approaching. Of course, you can read it anytime, but doing so in the fall will keep Leibowitz’s words fresher in your head and might just help you embrace winter for the first time ever!
Where I grew up, recess was regularly canceled and substituted for indoor movie-watching when the weather was considered too cold, wet, or snowy. “If you take your kids inside because the weather isn’t perfect, what is that teaching them?”
January 10, 2025
This book was able to completely change my mindset on winter and allow me to fully appreciate the beauty and benefits of the cold season.
Kari Leibowitz takes a scientific yet entertaining approach to sharing how being miserable in winter is a choice, and a mindset shift is all you need. She studied the people and cultures in Norway, Finland, Sweden, and others to better understand how those people find happiness in the dark and bitter cold of their long winters, and she was surprised to discover that they love and are happiest in winter. She provides plenty of ideas of how we can better enjoy the season from creating rituals that make you excited for the late afternoon darkness (i.e. lighting candles, drinking tea, getting cozy under a favorite blanket), to taking awe walks to notice the beauty in our nature and surroundings. She also investigates the scientific benefits of winter swimming, saunas, cold air, and more. She may have even convinced me I should do a polar plunge… But she definitely convinced me that I should use a sauna as often as possible!
I really enjoyed this book and although some sections felt repetitive and redundant, it allowed her tips and suggestions to really sink in. I’m actually looking forward to appreciating all that winter has to offer this year and won’t be wishing it to hurry along like I have in the past.
Kari Leibowitz takes a scientific yet entertaining approach to sharing how being miserable in winter is a choice, and a mindset shift is all you need. She studied the people and cultures in Norway, Finland, Sweden, and others to better understand how those people find happiness in the dark and bitter cold of their long winters, and she was surprised to discover that they love and are happiest in winter. She provides plenty of ideas of how we can better enjoy the season from creating rituals that make you excited for the late afternoon darkness (i.e. lighting candles, drinking tea, getting cozy under a favorite blanket), to taking awe walks to notice the beauty in our nature and surroundings. She also investigates the scientific benefits of winter swimming, saunas, cold air, and more. She may have even convinced me I should do a polar plunge… But she definitely convinced me that I should use a sauna as often as possible!
I really enjoyed this book and although some sections felt repetitive and redundant, it allowed her tips and suggestions to really sink in. I’m actually looking forward to appreciating all that winter has to offer this year and won’t be wishing it to hurry along like I have in the past.
January 16, 2025
As a self-admitted winter-hater and someone who struggles with SAD, this was a really good read for me. I struggle during the winter season (albeit our very mild Southern version) and love being equipped with suggestions to change my mindset. The book’s focus is two fold: 1) changing—broadening—one’s winter mindset (which then changes one’s experience of winter); and 2) ideas and practices and beloved traditions from around the world that make winter something to look forward to.
While I don’t live in Norway with its amazing winter infrastructure, or Finland with its sauna culture, or Iceland with its geothermal hot springs around every corner, I can cozy up on a dreary Atlanta day and decide that I’m resting — rather than bored.
“This view ignores the critical work being done under the surface. It pretends that we can all go, nonstop, all the time, working and living and loving and full capacity, unceasingly. But we can’t, and there’s much to be gained by not trying, and by gifting ourselves, a season to restore.”
“Winter is full of opportunities … embracing quiet, coziness, and slowness; a time to embrace recuperation and rest”.
(4 stars because it’s more repetitive than needed).
While I don’t live in Norway with its amazing winter infrastructure, or Finland with its sauna culture, or Iceland with its geothermal hot springs around every corner, I can cozy up on a dreary Atlanta day and decide that I’m resting — rather than bored.
“This view ignores the critical work being done under the surface. It pretends that we can all go, nonstop, all the time, working and living and loving and full capacity, unceasingly. But we can’t, and there’s much to be gained by not trying, and by gifting ourselves, a season to restore.”
“Winter is full of opportunities … embracing quiet, coziness, and slowness; a time to embrace recuperation and rest”.
(4 stars because it’s more repetitive than needed).
December 17, 2024
Kari Leibowitz’s How to Winter is a refreshing and practical guide to embracing the colder months with a positive mindset. Drawing on her research into Scandinavian culture and the concept of “wintering well,” Leibowitz explores how small shifts in perspective and daily habits can transform the way we experience winter.
The book delves into the Nordic mindset of seeing winter not as something to endure but as an opportunity for rest, reflection, and even joy. Leibowitz combines scientific insights, anecdotes, and actionable tips, encouraging readers to lean into cozy moments, prioritize social connection, and cultivate gratitude during the darkest months.
What sets How to Winter apart is its balance between inspiration and practicality. It’s not just about lighting candles and sipping hot cocoa (though those are nice too!); Leibowitz emphasizes mindfulness, reframing challenges, and finding light—both literally and metaphorically—during the season.
This book is a must-read for anyone who dreads winter or struggles with seasonal changes. Whether you live in a snowy climate or simply need a mindset shift during life’s “colder seasons,” How to Winter will leave you feeling empowered to embrace the coziness, beauty, and potential of winter!❄️
January 10, 2025
If the season of winter has 1000 haters I am one of them. If winter has 0 haters, I am dead. <—- Me before reading this book. It combines science with authors personal experiences studying at the most northern university in the world in Norway and observing cultures that embrace winter (Denmark, Canada, Alaska, etc). It’s completely dark for 2 months out of the year in Norway they aren’t as depressed and negative about winter as we are. Highly recommend if you live in Maine and it’s dark at 4:45 PM and you’re hating your life
Displaying 1 - 30 of 420 reviews