The Nordic Theory of Everything: In Search of a Better Life

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.

I enjoyed this, it’s much more Finnish than Nordic and I felt the balance of the healthcare chapter was more bashing the US than promoting the Nordics (and the USA is the reference point throughout) but all in all very interesting.

I can't recommend this book highly enough! It is enlightening, inspirational - politicans take note: change IS possible - the Finns overhauled their education system in ten years, where the "extra tuition" industry doesn't even exist and equal opportunities to succeed are offered to each child, irrespective of wealth/status! The Finns enjoy a healthy work-life balance and an affordable healthcare system - what a fantastic model to follow in today's wealth-driven, materialistic society.

The book is fantastic! I have lived in Finland for eleven years after moving from my home land of Canada. She eloquently writes about how the Nordic welfare ideology of equality impacts citizens and their marriages and families. Her observations are grounded in extensive research. Her book is a must read for anyone interested in understanding ways of organising that promote well being for everyone.

If you are Finnish or American you would give this book 5 star because the issues covered here are about you and your country. As a Brit, it was certainly interesting to hear aspects of the Finnish system, but we already know how terrible things like the US university or healthcare system are. So parts of the book that explain in detail the anxieties of living in the US felt like dead wood to me and I wanted to skip parts. Enjoyable and enlightening, but I probably would have prioritised other books.

Have never lived or visited the USA and neither have I lived in Nordic land apart from a brief visit to Copenhagen. Have always been interested though in organisation of public service systems and Anu's treatise on how Nordics have organised themselves should be a lesson for people around the world striving to make life that little bit better for fellow citizens.

Very good book. You come to realise our mistakes in educating our children and also the book opens our eyes on the benefits of getting independent from an early age.

This book is a fine expose on the so called land of the free which in reality has nothing to offer a European and in terms of healthcare and a few more things is a banana Republic. Brits beware, if you don't wake up this is the fate that awaits you.

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.

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 .

Absolutely brilliant book! Partanen mingles well-researched statistics with personal anecdotes and journalistic storytelling to craft an engaging and convincing argument for the Nordic mindset. Her cautious but persuasive arguments aren't aimed at demeaning the U.S., but rather at showing us that we have room to grow. She acknowledges that the U.S. did much to move the world forward past monarchies and into democratic societies. However, what many of us fail to see is that the U.S. has stagnated and other nations have moved on ahead of us. We think that we're the land of opportunity and freedom, but unfortunately we have less of each of these than we realize. I particularly loved understanding the Nordic mindset behind their policies: their view of love and what enables people and societies to thrive. It's fascinating. Every U.S. citizen should read this book!

Absolutely EXCELLENT! The same important lessons for the U.S. also apply to Canada - with certain exceptions, above all medical care. The system of medical care in Canada is FAR better than in the U.S., for reasons that are common knowledge. In Canada, the system for education and the funding for it is also much better than in the U.S., at all levels, and as a result the costs of getting a good education in Canada are far less of a concern than they are in the U.S. . I note also that the book has very good reviews from Americans - in spite of the U.S. not being shown in a favourable light in some respects, notably medical care and the costs of education. Canadians should also pay careful attention to this very important book - because of the lessons it has for them too. In my view the book in also very "well balanced" because its Finnish author Anu Partanen goes to great trouble to describe the good points and the bad points about life in both the U.S. and her native country which is Finland. It is also very well documented, as evidenced by the long list of references cited.

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!