MacLehose Press signs 'definitive' trade book on the art and science of sauna from Dr Lassi Liikkanen

MacLehose Press has signed the "definitive" trade book on the art and science of sauna from Dr Lassi Liikkanen.

Publisher Katharina Bielenberg and Quercus managing director Jon Butler bought world rights (excluding Finland) to Finnish Sauna: Steam, Wood, Stone & How to Build Your Own for publication in September 2025, from Elina Ahlbäck of the Ahlbäck Agency in Helsinki.

The book will be published in the same format and style as Norwegian Wood, and explains the fast-growing global resurgence of interest in the health benefits of sauna, which has featured in multiple trend reports over the past year.

The synopsis continues: "From the history, science and tradition of the practice to how to build and maintain a sauna of your own, this is the perfect introduction to löyly – the magical steam that rises from the heated stones – and the very Finnish art of living well."

Liikkanen is a designer, author and founder. He is a thought-leader in Finnish sauna design and technology matters and has more than a decade of experience in the Finnish tech industry. He has published more than 80 peer-reviewed articles and conference papers across product design, interactive technology, music psychology, cognitive neuroscience and saunas.

Butler said: "Hardly a week goes by without a big ‘trend’ piece in the Guardian or New York Times proclaiming 2025 the year that sauna finally goes mainstream in the English-speaking world. We are only a few thousand years behind the Finns, then… but so excited to bring Lassi’s definitive book on the construction, culture and history of sauna to readers later this year. Both a gorgeous object and packed full of wisdom, advice and insight from one of the world’s leading experts in the field, we hope that Finnish Sauna will inspire readers everywhere to learn the life-changing secrets of löyly."

Ahlbäck said: "Finnish Sauna is conquering the world, and with amazing speed! Only a year ago at London Book Fair 2024, Katharina Bielenberg wanted to find a book for MacLehose about how to build your own sauna. Our agency found the leading expert, Lassi Liikkanen, on this topic, and Quercus/MacLehose will publish this unique book in September 2025."