What do you think?
Rate this book
Sauna: The Power of Deep Heat
'This beautiful and timely book will appeal to anyone looking to deepen their experience, with or without the added joy of a cold swim.' Kate Rew, author of The Outdoor Swimmers' Handbook
'An essential guide to a movement reborn, blending modernity and tradition, design and wellness, community and nature.' Sarah Douglas, editor in chief, Wallpaper magazine
There is a new wave of sauna culture spreading throughout the UK and beyond. Saunas are being built in unique settings providing tech-free spaces in which to gather, share stories and enjoy nature. The tradition has a rich history, filled with rituals that encourage us to soak up the mental and physical health benefits of deep heat.
This book honors the old, embraces the new, and plunges headlong into the transformative power of steam.
'Smartly written and beautifully illustrated ... a celebration of a cultural resurgence and a reminder of the power of connecting with nature and something larger than ourselves.' Mikkel Aaland, author of Sweat
'An essential guide to a movement reborn, blending modernity and tradition, design and wellness, community and nature.' Sarah Douglas, editor in chief, Wallpaper magazine
There is a new wave of sauna culture spreading throughout the UK and beyond. Saunas are being built in unique settings providing tech-free spaces in which to gather, share stories and enjoy nature. The tradition has a rich history, filled with rituals that encourage us to soak up the mental and physical health benefits of deep heat.
This book honors the old, embraces the new, and plunges headlong into the transformative power of steam.
'Smartly written and beautifully illustrated ... a celebration of a cultural resurgence and a reminder of the power of connecting with nature and something larger than ourselves.' Mikkel Aaland, author of Sweat
- GenresNonfiction
257 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 3, 2023
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
August 5, 2025
Love me a good sauna but this was a bit of a drag
September 5, 2024
Nice book. Choosing the right sauna heater is key to enjoying a relaxing sauna experience. Electric heaters are popular for their ease and quick heating, ideal for home use. Wood-burning heaters offer a traditional rustic feel with the charm of crackling firewood perfect for those off the grid. Gas Sauna Heaters For more info visit https://avidehome.com/ are powerful and heat large spaces rapidly, making them suitable for commercial settings. Infrared heaters provide a gentler energy efficient heat, focusing on warming your body directly. Each type has its own benefits, so consider your preferences, sauna size and budget to find the perfect fit. With the right heater, your sauna will be a soothing retreat from the everyday hustle.
July 3, 2024
so hyped to be getting a sauna soon let's go
November 12, 2024
So atmospheric for non fiction! Reinvigorated my excitement for our home sauna.
July 5, 2026
Enjoying this book okay, but it needs a fact-checker and is just not my favorite I’ve read about sauna. It seems a little thrown-together and random in sequencing, but the worst thing is that I can’t rely on a lot of what she says.
Some information is wrong, such as for this insane statement on page 106:
“But what about in countries like the UK, Ireland and South Korea, we have to go back millennia to find any homegrown sweat-bathing rituals? For these nations, it’s like looking at a recipe for a melt-in-the-mouth chocolate cake and realizing they don’t have any of the ingredients. It’s about starting from scratch, appropriating, reworking and tweaking the best bits from other cultures.”
How has this woman, in the writing of this book, never learned of Korean jimjilbang and hanjeungmak? It’s really weird to pick on South Korea and lump it in with British and Irish “lacks” in this way.
Moreover, later in the book she talks about structure is used as saunas in Ireland and Scotland on and off *since* the Bronze age. So which is it? What’s the truth?
Then on p. 144, indirect contradiction of what we just learned differently about Ireland, there’s a whole section on “Irish sweat houses” dating to as recently as the 1900s – though it’s hard to be sure because none of the dates referenced on this page make any sense together.
Other important information is simply neglected. I never, despite all the mentions of “smoke” saunas, got any clear idea what actually makes this type of sauna different from others… such whether it involves sitting in an actually smoky space – which sounds like something to avoid until someone educates me.
This book is too ramshackle for me.
Some information is wrong, such as for this insane statement on page 106:
“But what about in countries like the UK, Ireland and South Korea, we have to go back millennia to find any homegrown sweat-bathing rituals? For these nations, it’s like looking at a recipe for a melt-in-the-mouth chocolate cake and realizing they don’t have any of the ingredients. It’s about starting from scratch, appropriating, reworking and tweaking the best bits from other cultures.”
How has this woman, in the writing of this book, never learned of Korean jimjilbang and hanjeungmak? It’s really weird to pick on South Korea and lump it in with British and Irish “lacks” in this way.
Moreover, later in the book she talks about structure is used as saunas in Ireland and Scotland on and off *since* the Bronze age. So which is it? What’s the truth?
Then on p. 144, indirect contradiction of what we just learned differently about Ireland, there’s a whole section on “Irish sweat houses” dating to as recently as the 1900s – though it’s hard to be sure because none of the dates referenced on this page make any sense together.
Other important information is simply neglected. I never, despite all the mentions of “smoke” saunas, got any clear idea what actually makes this type of sauna different from others… such whether it involves sitting in an actually smoky space – which sounds like something to avoid until someone educates me.
This book is too ramshackle for me.
January 15, 2026
A great book for the coffee table, wonderful pictures and a great insight into Sauanas and Sauna culture
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews