The Nordic Theory of Everything

April 4, 2016
In this outsider’s examination of the American way of life, Finnish-born journalist Partanen compares the United States to the Nordic countries: Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, and Iceland. Partanen draws from her first-hand experiences as a recent transplant to America, recounting her culture shock and struggle to adapt. She skillfully deconstructs healthcare, the educational system, the family unit, and governmental participation in everyday life, among other things, to point out how American society is flawed and where it can learn from the Nordic countries, especially what she calls “the Nordic theory of love”: “that authentic love and friendship are possible only between individuals who are independent and equal.” As she observes, this belief resembles the classical American ideals of individualism and self-reliance, and for this reason, Americans should find it appealing. Partanen concludes by stating that the U.S., by drawing on the example of Nordic societies, “could possibly return itself to its former glory as the best country in the world.” It’s a passionate and intelligent argument, though perhaps an overly idealized attempt to fix complicated issues, and more valuable as a conversation starter than a utopian blueprint. Agent: Kimberly Witherspoon, Inkwell Management.

May 1, 2016

Finnish journalist Partanen moved to the United States in 2008. Shell-shocked by cultural and public policy differences between her homeland and adopted country, she was spurred to write this exploration of Nordic culture as superior to American cultural norms. Using a combination of personal experience, interviews, and statistics, Partanen puts forth a compelling case that many of the qualities of Nordic society would be a welcome change for America. The author primarily focuses on the prism of public policy as it relates to the family unit. This highly readable and entertaining work is timely as the conversation about inequality and the role of social services in this country has never been more relevant. However, it is flawed when considering the tradeoffs that might be involved in adopting these attitudes and policies, and oftentimes dismissive of cultural history that might make such alterations challenging to American cultural norms. VERDICT While the approach may make it a hard sell to those not already converted to the policy prescriptions of Nordic countries, this accessible work should find an audience among readers of popular social science.--Ben Neal, Blackwater Regional Lib., VA

Copyright 2016 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 1, 2016
A Finnish journalist offers a surprising theory of why Americans are neither currently upwardly mobile nor free. Partanen, who came to New York in 2008, married an American writer/teacher, and lives in Brooklyn, enlists her Nordic sensibility to delineate what has gone wrong with the so-called American dream. In recent years, Finland has been featured as the poster country for the most livable, best educated (especially in early education and math), and even happiest society (alongside neighbors Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and even Iceland). In her careful, evenhanded series of thoughtful essays, Partanen, who just became an American citizen, parses the recipe for Nordic success that even the self-congratulatory "exceptional" American may want to ponder and adapt. Having arrived in the U.S. full of excitement to embrace American "optimism, gumption, ingenuity, and knack for magically transforming challenging circumstances into profitable advantage," she found herself mystified and frustrated by the hindrances of living--e.g., getting credit cards or cable TV and understanding the hidden fees; buying affordable health insurance, thus forcing her to depend on her new husband's plan, which in turn forced him to find a suitable full-time job; the bewildering, utterly inequitable tax code; paying for higher education and, eventually, day care for the children they wanted. In short, Partanen was appalled by how the anxiety for affording the basics of life rendered Americans completely dependent on spouses, family, employers, and government, unable to restore themselves on vacations they feared to take (lest they lose their jobs) and so chronically insecure about their children's chances of having a better life than they did (which has resulted in the "helicopter parent" phenomenon). Step by step, the author sifts through the Nordic system of universal health care, early education, and equitable taxes, a system that frees citizens to be autonomous and creative without stress--a "well-being state" rather than a "welfare state." An earnest, well-written work worth heeding, especially in our current toxic political climate.

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