The behind the myth of the Scandinavian utopia Booth, Michael. creator text nyu 2016 First Picador paperback edition. monographic eng

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pages cm "Journalist Michael Booth has lived among the Scandinavians for more than ten years, growing increasingly frustrated with the rose-tinted view of this part of the world offered up by the Western media. In this timely book he leaves his adopted home of Denmark and embarks on a journey through all five of the Nordic countries to discover who these curious tribes are, the secrets of their success and, most intriguing of all, what they think of each other. Why are the Danes so happy, despite having the highest taxes? Do the Finns really have the best education system? Are the Icelanders really feral? How are the Norwegians spending their fantastic oil wealth? And why do all of them hate the Swedes? In The Almost Nearly Perfect People Michael Booth explains who the Scandinavians are, how they differ and why, their quirks and foibles, and explores why these societies have become so successful and models for the world. Along the way a more nuanced, often darker picture emerges of a region plagued by taboos, characterized by suffocating parochialism and populated by extremists of various shades. They may very well be almost nearly perfect, but it isn't easy being Scandinavian. - For readers of Bill Bryson, Sarah Lyall, and Euny Hong"-- Michael Booth. Scandinavians TRAVEL / Europe / Scandinavia HISTORY / Europe / Scandinavia SOCIAL SCIENCE / Customs & Traditions Scandinavia Civilization 21st century Scandinavia Social conditions 21st century Scandinavia Social life and customs 21st century DL 41 .B66 2016 305.83/95 TRV009120 HIS044000 SOC005000 9781250081568 (paperback) 2015016514 DLC 150427 20220427123321.0 18593284 eng