Summer Vacation Tips: The Books We Recommend

As summer's days off approach, the editorial team shares four reading experiences that have made an impact in various ways, from Albert Camus' existential classic to Marlen Haushofer's evocative dystopia and the life philosophy that characterizes Shaolin Spirit. Whether you’re looking for entertainment, classics, or new perspectives, you'll find reading material to take with you to the beach, the hammock, or a late summer evening in the swing.

Gentlemen, Klas Östergren

Gentlemen (from 1980) is a novel I love to return to every summer. Klas Östergren depicts the Morgan brothers with such presence that the apartment on Hornsgatan feels as real as the characters themselves. Through post-war Sweden, 60s jazz clubs, and 70s Stockholm, a story unfolds where the line between truth and fantasy is almost blurred.

It is a novel filled with characters you don't want to leave, and each time I read it again, I discover new layers in their world in Södermalm. Between the lines, there is also a timeless elegance, where well-tied ties and carefully chosen details contribute to the mythical world surrounding the brothers.  

The Stranger, Albert Camus

"Today, mom died. Or maybe yesterday, I don't know." This is how Nobel laureate Albert Camus begins The Stranger, a novel that has become one of modern literature's most significant works and a book I gladly recommend for summer reading.

We follow Meursault, who seems indifferent to the world and its expectations, and who becomes a murderer on a warm summer's day. It is not only his actions that are scrutinized, but also his way of thinking – something the world feels a need to understand and explain. Perhaps you as a reader do as well. The novel's stripped-down language leaves ample room for personal interpretations and explores themes such as freedom, meaning, and what it means to be human.

Perhaps you do not sympathize with the protagonist at all. And maybe that is precisely the point.

The Wall, Marlen Haushofer

"Many people dream of being left alone. Chopping wood, growing potatoes, and a complete lack of wifi. Or you could read The Wall."

A middle-aged woman is staying in a hunting lodge when she discovers that an invisible wall has suddenly separated her from the outside world. On the other side of the wall, all life seems to have ceased, and she finds herself alone in a remote cabin in the Alps with her dog, a cat, a cow, and a notebook. To survive, she is forced to learn to live off the land and records her solitary days, until one day when the paper runs out.

The Wall depicts her struggle for survival, but also her thoughts on loneliness, freedom, and humanity's relationship with nature. This was a book that sparked many discussions in my book club a couple of years ago. Is the wall really there? 

Shaolin Spirit: The Way to Self-Mastery, Shi Heng Yi

"A foundational book for those who want to unwind, sharpen the mind, and find strength without chasing more."

This summer, I recommend Shaolin Spirit. In a time where self-help often revolves around performance, efficiency, and optimizing every waking minute, Shaolin Spirit feels like something entirely different. Shi Heng Yi, founder of Shaolin Temple Europe, brings the reader closer to Shaolin's philosophy.

Where body and mind are not seen as separate parts, but as something that needs to be trained together. It is a book about discipline, presence, and inner calm, but also about how we can become better at facing both ourselves and, above all, other people.