The almost nearly perfect people
Subtitle: behind the myth of the Scandinavian utopia
By: Michael Booth
Edition: First Picador paperback edition.
Published: 2016
Language: eng
Number of pages: 388
ISBN-13: 9781250081568
Copyright date: 2014
Subjects: Social conditions; Social life and customs; Civilization; Scandinavians
Other titles: Behind the myth of the Scandinavian utopia
Description: "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"--
Notes: Includes index.

"Originally published in the United Kingdom by Jonathan Cape, a division of the Random House Group, Ltd."--Title page verso.