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

By Anu Partanen

At a 2012 conference on social mobility, Ed Miliband said: ‘If you want the American dream, go to Finland.’ For decades, the country best known for opportunity had been the United States, but that crown has now been taken by our Nordic neighbours. When journalist Anu Partanen moved from her Scandinavian home to the US in 2008, she quickly went from being a confident, successful professional to a wary, self-doubting mess. She found that navigating the basics of everyday life – buying a mobile, filing taxes, education and childcare – were more complicated and stressful than anything she had encountered before. As Partanen got to know Americans better, she discovered that they shared her deep apprehension, and to learn why she looked closely at the differences between life in her Nordic home country and the US. In The Nordic Theory of Everything, Partanen focuses on four key relationships: between parents and children, men and women, employees and employers, and the government and its citizens. She debunks the criticism that the Nordics are socialist nanny states, revealing instead that it is we who are far more enmeshed in unhealthy dependencies than we realise. Her conclusion: the Nordic approach allows citizens to enjoy more individual freedom and independence. Filled with fascinating insights, advice and practical solutions, The Nordic Theory of Everything makes a convincing argument that we can rebuild society, rekindle optimism and restore true freedom to our lives, while pursuing the ‘American’ dream by following the Nordic way of life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Duckworth Overlook
• Release date: Oct 27, 2017
• ISBN: 9780715652046

Anu Partanen

Anu Partanen’s work has appeared in the New York Times and the Atlantic. A journalist in Helsinki for many years, she has also worked at Fortune magazine as a visiting reporter through the Innovation Journalism Fellowship at Stanford University. She lives in New York City.

Reviews for The Nordic Theory of Everything

[kellswitch_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I initially picked up this book because I am very interested in the Nordic approach to schools and education and while the author didn’t go into that as much as I had hoped I found their overall approach to services and general well-care of their citizens fascinating…and depressing considering how far, far from anything like this the United States is.I appreciated the author's personalization of the issues, using her own experiences to show the differences, both pro and con and her writing style is very approachable and flowed well. The only truly negative thing I have to say is by the end of this book I cringed every time she used the term Nordic theory of love. I understand the importance of that phrase and its meaning within the book, but every other paragraph was a bit much. There is a lot to look at and think about in this book, I doubt everything could be easily transferred over to the U.S. but there are so many ideas that could and should be at least tried in order to make our country and the lives of our citizens better.

[mdoris_6 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is the most amazing book and I just have to rave about it. It will be near the top of the list for best reads of the year for me. The Nordic Theory of Everything: In Search of a Better Life by Anu Partanen is written by a skilled Finnish born and raised journalist who is presently living in the U.S. with her American husband. It is a comparison/contrast between the two cultures in all the critical features that bring us peace and happiness....affordable high quality health care, day care, education, living wages, paid vacations, independence (and more) so that we can devote ourselves to the things that really matter.. I could quote paragraph after paragraph where she "gets" things argued or researched perfectly in favour of the "Nordic Way of Love" where equity of access and independence is the huge critical societal feature. Oh boy do they have things figured out!I am writing this as a Canadian and many of her concerns are true in our world as well. The "luck of birth" favours us greatly or unfairly too. She convincingly argues that a culture of equity gives advantage to all. For our future well being the playing field must be leveled at the very least at the starting gate and in childhood.

[paul_s-289480 · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

Part rage against America, part memoir of a young pampered woman who just discovered the outside world. Dripping with condescension and full of trite slogans.

[michtelassn · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book was an eye-opener: Well written, and clearly made the point as to why the United States is loosing in economic competitiveness, its people being the most "free" in the world, and not ranking as well in happiness, effectiveness of education, and more. What is really shame is the United States has chosen the path which has resulted in this -- mainly through disinformation. For example it is not the Nordic countries that are socialist "nanny states," but instead it is the United States which has become the nation that is enmeshed in unhealthy dependencies than we realize. The book focuses on four key issues: (1) family, parents and children; (2) men and women; (3) employees and employers; (4) government and citizens.