5.0 out of 5 stars How to Become Productive and Content - it takes a society

A.C. · March 30, 2023

What if you had a government that took care of every citizen from before the time they were born? Health care, education, etc? It turns out that this can be a good strategy for creating individuals who are well-educated, content, and productive. In the United States we don't have very many safety nets compared to the Nordic countries. By the time any significant help kicks in, a citizen may be in such a horrible state that there is almost no return, or if there is return it is going to be very expensive and a huge challenge on all sides. A nearly vertical uphill struggle.Partanen has lived in both Scandinavia and the United States. She first explains--based on first-hand knowledge--that the levels of anxiety and depression experienced in the United States are not as typical in Finland. Then she explains why: the Finish government doesn't invest in helping poor people; the government invests in all its citizens, so that they don't become disadvantaged.Of course, such an approach assumes that one can stomach a society where everyone does well. Perhaps that is at odds with the American dream? It might be missing a small group that is so wealthy that it has its own unique set of mental and physical and emotional problems. But I think I could handle the absence of such a group.Partanen notes that Finland didn't come to this solution automatically. They restructured their society systematically after studying other countries around the world to identify methods that seemed to work. When it then turned out they were testing highest in the world in education, and were gaining praise from other countries, at first they didn't believe it; that was not their self image.Change is possible. Positive change is possible.Read this book. Imagine. Vote.

4.0 out of 5 stars It is a wonderful read, but criticizes the US a bit much.

H.F. · September 17, 2018

I like the information on Nordic attitudes toward many of the problematic areas of our times. It leans heavily on reactions in the US to the most problematic issues. It could bring up more of the differences between Nordic countries and others without Nordic solutions. For example, France is a socialist country, but has a much larger and diverse population. It has huge issues closer to the US in many ways. While this isn't a thorough book on Nordic beliefs, as well as the problems in Nordic countries, it is a wonderful expose' on Nordic beliefs. It could be viewed as a recommendation on fixing attitudes in the US.

5.0 out of 5 stars A "Must-Read" Book

D. · July 17, 2016

THE NORDIC THEORY OF EVERYTHING: In Search of a Better Lifeby Anu Partanen.Reviewed by C J Singh (Berkeley, California).A "Must-Read" Book.Noticing the high praise by Robert Reich, Chancellor’s Professor of Public Policy at UC Berkeley, I purchased a copy last week. Yesterday, at the Books Inc Store, Berkeley, I attended the author’s lively presentation. She answered audience questions with precise knowledge, concision, and grace.“THE NORDIC THEORY OF EVERYTHING: In Search of a Better Life," documented with more than 400 research citations and written in highly engaging style is an excellent example of lucid critical analysis.The widely held stereotype in the US of Nordic countries is that they are “nanny states” that discourage individuality and impose high taxes. In fact, the Nordic countries foster enhanced adult individuality by minimizing dependencies on family members and employers. And their Nordic countries' taxes are comparable to the US taxes.Just how they accomplish is convincingly detailed in the book.The subtitle “In Search of a Better Life” accurately describes the author’s view-point and tone. An immigrant to the US who arrived from Finland eight years ago, now in love with the country of her adoption, she is also proud of her heritage. Rightly so, the Nordic countries have been consistently top-ranked as the happiest. The US is not even in the top ten.Partanen offers suggestions based on the “The Nordic Theory of Love” (Chapter 2): for better “Family Values for Real" (Chapter 3); for children “Attaining Educational Success” (Chapter 4); for better health care “How Universal Health Care Could Set You Free” (Chapter 5). The titles and subtitles of the next four chapters are also equally apt: “Ask What Your Country Can Do for You”; “Bringing Back the American Dream”; “Business as Unusual: How to Run a Company in the Twenty-First Century”; “The Pursuit of Happiness: It’s Time to Rethink Success.”Recently, I posted an update of my review of the earlier edition of the most widely adopted college textbook in the US: Diane Hacker and Nancy Sumner’s “A Writer’s Reference: Eighth Edition.” Anu Partenen’s “THE NORDIC THEORY OF EVERYTHING: In Search of a Better Life” merits just as wide adoption for all college students.Not only for college students, I whole-heartedly recommend this book to all readers.(May I add thatafter having posted reviews of more than 120 books on Bolo.com, this is the first that I recommend as a "must-read.") -- C J Singh-------------

Comparaison US-FI

M. · September 6, 2017

L'auteure, journaliste finlandaise émigré aux US, dresse une comparaison entre les systèmes américain et nordique en matière d'éducation, santé, vie pro, etc. Elle s'attarde peut être un peu trop sur l'éducation et prend surtout le cas de la Finlande. Ce dernier n'étant pas un pays scandinave, les différences sont parfois estompées volontairement.Se lit facilement et prête à sourire régulièrement.

easy read and really informative

E. · June 13, 2019

Really well researched and well written, eye opening. I'm European and although I had some understanding of the american social system, after reading this book I fully appreciated the lunacy of some of the policies and systems over there, and got an even better understanding of the way the Nordic countries consider their children and their people and how the whole system is set to be fair to all. Really enjoyable due to the examples and nice narrating style.

eye opener for a simple yet progressive approach to education, lifestyle, eating habits and health.

S.K. · April 14, 2021

Firstly 5 stars for quick delivery.Back in 2020, 3 months delivery time was estimated.Got my hands on it in Feb and a day's delivery was wonderful.About the book, eye opener for a simple yet progressive approach to education, lifestyle, eating habits and health.Gives us an idea of what we can tweak in our life to work towards a stressfree life.Does emphasize on State's contribution a lot.But people bring the change.Although too much comparison with US isn't fair. US still is miles better than rest of the world if not versus the Nordic countries.Must read .

A must for anyone interested in politics.

j.l. · May 3, 2020

The author totally nails a sweet spot between relevance and detail explaining the public policies that make a modern society great.I had read two of the books she mentions and found that she conveys their key ideas better than the originals!Very highly recommended!

So easy to read it should be obligatory

M. · December 21, 2016

This could easily be called "The European Theory of Everything - from a Nordic Perspective". It had me nodding in agreement right from the start. The US is not vilified nor are the Nordic countries glorified, however there is a clear, even brutal, clarification of the differences between European v. US society and how detrimental the consequences are as Europe becomes increasingly Americanised.Highly recommended reading, a true "must-read" in my opinion - a Swiss/British/German with a dash of French perspective.