Sisu, the Finnish Art of Strength

The Art of Manliness

Society & Culture, Education, Philosophy

4.7 • 14.5K Ratings

🗓️ 24 March 2021

⏱️ 35 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

In Finland, "sisu" is a concept that, while it can't be strictly translated into English, roughly corresponds to a combination of bravery, resilience, grit, and determination. My guest today will help us unpack it further, and offers advice on how everyone can live life with more sisu. Her name is Joanna Nylund and she's the author of Sisu: The Finnish Art of Courage. Joanna explains what sisu is and how it was exemplified in the David and Goliath story of the Finns facing down the Russians during the Winter War. We then talk about what it is about Finland that birthed the quality of sisu and ways to develop it even if you're not Finnish, including embracing discomfort, getting out despite the weather, and seeking silence and solitude as a way to develop inner strength. We also talk about the Finnish practice of retreating to a rustic cabin in the summer to reacquaint oneself with simplicity, manual labor, and nature. We end our conversation with the sisu way of communication, and how to foster sisu in children. Get the show notes aom.is/sisu.

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	Brut McKay here and welcome to another edition of the Art of Manliness podcast.
0:11.1	In Finland, Sisu is a concept that while it can't be strictly translated into English,
0:15.5	roughly corresponds to a combination of bravery, resilience, grit, and determination.
0:20.1	My guest table will help us unpack it further and offers advice on how everyone can live
0:23.3	a life with more Sisu.
0:24.9	Her name is Joanna Nyland and she's the author of Sisu, The Finish Art of Courage.
0:28.3	Joanna explains what Sisu is and how is exemplified in the David and Goliath story of the
0:32.2	Finns facing down the Russians during the Winter War.
0:34.7	We then talk about what it is about Finland that birthed the quality of Sisu in ways
0:38.2	developed even if you're not finished, including embracing discomfort, getting out despite
0:42.0	the weather, and seeking silence and solitude as a way to develop inner strength.
0:45.6	We also talk about the finished practice of retreating to a rustic cabin in the summer
0:48.9	to re-equaint oneself with simplicity, manual labor, and nature, and we inter-conversation
0:53.0	with the Sisu way of communication and how to foster Sisu and children.
0:56.8	Visit the shows over at www.shonutsatawim.ias.
0:59.8	Slash Sisu.
1:00.8	Joanna joins in now via ClearCast.io.
1:06.8	Alright, Joanna Nyland, welcome to the show.
1:17.8	Thank you.
1:18.8	Thank you so much, Britt.
1:19.8	So you are the author of a book called Sisu, The Finish Art of Courage.
1:24.2	You've written about Sisu on the site before, and you say it's like this untranslatable
	...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from The Art of Manliness, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of The Art of Manliness and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.