The Almost Nearly Perfect People

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The Almost Nearly Perfect People Page 43

by Michael Booth

Nobel prizes, 312–13

  Nokia, 7, 285–6

  Noma, 6, 95

  Nordic countries: potential union, 391–3

  Nordskott, 190–1

  Nørretranders, Tor, 65

  Norway, 161–216; agriculture, 193; alcohol consumption, 158, 166, 171, 248, 249; butter crisis, 211; clothes for climate, 191; corruption, 41, 205; and Denmark, 111, 163–4, 193–5, 211–13, 374; defining statistic, 62; economic performance, 202–3; education, 203; environmentalism, 205–7; fishing industry, 7, 188, 207; fjords, 190–1; gas industry, 197, 202; gender equality, 184, 185, 214, 364–5; happiness, 4–5; history, 21, 23, 24, 165–6, 176, 374; and Iceland, 144, 146; immigration and multiculturalism, 168–9, 172–85, 215, 322; isolationism, 209–13; landscape and rural areas, 172, 187–91; monarchy, 373–6, 378; national character, 8–9, 11–13; national day, 163–71, 178–9; neighbours’ jokes about, 212–13; and Nobel peace prize, 313; Norwegian Americans, 10; Norwegian languages, 214; oil industry, 5, 7, 62, 187, 192–8, 202, 204–8; parties and celebrations, 17, 163–71, 178–9; population, 187–8, 192; R&D investment, 202–3; regional costume, 164–5; regional dialects, 388; rural areas, 59; Sami people, 186–7; social cohesion, 215–16; social conformity, 90; societies, clubs and groups, 41; superstition, 152; and Sweden, 163–4, 165–6, 195–6, 211, 294–5, 303; taciturnity, 240; tourism, 210; trust levels, 41, 44, 215–16; TV, 189–90, 214–15; 22/7, 171–85; wealth, 192–3, 197–205; welfare state, 203, 204; work ethic, 202, 203, 207–8

  Norwegian Air, 89

  Norwegian Constitution Day, 163–71, 178–9

  Not the Nine O’Clock News (TV series), 11

  nuclear industry, 354

  Nykøbing, 88, 89, 91–3

  Obama, Barack, 295, 313

  Oddsson, Davið, 130, 140, 158

  oil industry, 5, 7, 62, 187, 192–8, 202, 204–8

  Olaf I Tryggvason, king of Norway, 133

  Olsen Gang, 110

  Olympic Games, 247

  Oppeid, 188–9

  Ørsted, H. C., 392

  Oslo, 171, 186–7, 188

  Oslo bombings (2011), 172–85

  Ostrobothnia, 250–1

  Oulu, 284, 287

  overskud, 29

  Øygard, Svein Harald, 130

  Pacino, Al, 284

  Palme, Lisbet, 348

  Palme, Olof, 319–20, 347–9, 353, 362

  Palmerston, Lord, 23

  Pálsson, Gísli, 129, 136, 143, 145, 146

  Parikka, Pekka, 266

  Paris, 51

  parking, 29

  parties and celebrations: Denmark, 17–18, 19–20, 98–102, 170; Finland, 17, 166; national days, 163–71, 178–9; Norway, 17, 163–71, 178–9; Sweden, 17, 20, 166–7, 170, 293–4, 306–8

  Pedersen, Ove Kaj, 55–6, 58, 67, 68, 71, 122–3

  Peltonen, Matti, 245–50

  Pennanen, Eila, 252–3

  pensions, 68, 74

  Perry, Katy, 298

  Pettersson, Christer, 348

  Philips Petroleum, 193

  Phillips-Martinsson, Jean, 301

  philosophy, 25

  Pickett, Kate, 33–4, 49

  Pietism, 152

  pigs see bacon industry

  Pink, 298

  PISA see Programme for International Student Assessment

  plants see flora and fauna

  police, 348

  pop music, 6, 7, 257, 298, 385

  Popenoe, David, 369–70

  pork see bacon industry

  pornography, 319–20

  Portugal, 34, 67

  Porvoo, 283

  Porvoo, Diet of (1809), 259

  Porvoo Cathedral, 280

  prisons, 214

  productivity see work ethic and productivity

  Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), 70–1, 275

  Progress Party (Fremskrittsparti; Norway), 175–6, 180–1, 203, 322, 328

  public services: Denmark, 70–5, 78–9, 119; see also health and health care; welfare state

  Putin, Vladimir, 273

  puukkojunkkarit, 250

  Pyt, 30

  queuing, 195–6

  Quisling, Vidkun, 176

  quislings, 176

  racism see immigration and multiculturalism

  railways, 79, 189–90, 283

  Rasmussen, Anders Fogh, 6, 118

  Rasmussen, Annegrethe, 94

  Rausing, Hans, 94

  Rausing. Sigrid, 357

  recycling, 256

  Redzepi, René, 6, 95

  Reepalu, Ilmar, 325

  Refn, Nicolas Winding, 6

  Reinfeldt, Fredrik, 345

  religion: Christianity, 85–7, 96, 149, 152, 225, 352; Hinduism, 108–9

  republicanism, 376–8

  restaurants, 6, 95, 372–3

  Reykjavik, 129, 130–2, 137, 149, 151, 187

  Riis, Bjarne, 118

  Ringkøbing, 107–8

  riots, 321–9

  roads: crossing, 2, 313–14; tolls, 62

  Robinowitc, Christina Johansson, 357–8, 362

  Robyn, 385

  Rockwool Research Foundation, 59–60, 66–7

  Roma, 215

  Roskilde, Treaty of (1658), 22

  Rotten Banana Denmark, 57–8, 83–5, 107–12

  Rousseau, Jean-Jacques, 359

  Rovaniemi, 219, 268

  Rowe, Dr Elizabeth Ashman, 10, 52–3, 138

  Rowling, J. K., 10

  rudeness see manners

  Runeberg, Johan Ludvig, 262

  Russia, 227, 252, 264–73

  SAAB, 297

  Saari, Matti Juhanni, 279–80

  Saarinen, Tero, 255

  Sachs, Jeffrey, 4

  Sætre, Simen, 202, 203–5

  Salmiakki Koskenkorva, 245

  Sami people, 186–7

  Sandmose, Aksel Nielsen, 88–9

  Sankt Hans celebration, 17–18

  Santa Claus, 219–21

  Satisfaction with Life Index, 1

  saunas, 232–7

  savings, 68

  Schatz, Roman: attitude to Finns, 227–9, 230; on Finnish alcohol consumption, 253; on Finnish history, 272; on Finnish society, 289; on Finnish taciturnity, 238, 242; on Finnish women, 286; on Swedes, 263; on Swedish Finns, 260–1

  Scheinen, Patrick, 275–8, 279, 280

  Schleswig, 23, 26

  school shootings, 279–80

  Scotland, 147

  seaside resorts, 109

  Second World War (1939–45): Denmark, 23–4, 167; Finland, 252, 253, 265–8; Iceland, 157; Norway, 166, 176; Sweden, 266, 354–6

  sex, attitudes to, 84, 319–20

  shark meat, 131–2

  shops: Danish, 1, 5, 8, 92; malls, 324; Swedish, 7, 297, 298

  shyness, 240, 301–2

  SIAN, 182

  Sibelius, Jean, 244, 262

  Sigurðardóttir, Jóhanna, 130

  Sigurðsson, Hreiðar Már, 139

  Silvia, queen of Sweden, 375, 377

  Simonsson, Magnus, 376–7

  Singapore, 276

  sisu, 251–2

  Skåne, 22, 381

  Skaptadóttir, Unnur Dís, 143–4, 146

  Skapofsi, 139

  Skype, 7

  Slyngstad, Yngve, 189, 199–201, 205–6, 211

  smask, 29

  smoking, 73, 158

  social cohesion: Denmark, 39–61, 102–4, 117; Norway, 215–16

  social conformity: Denmark, 2, 88–106; Finland, 225; folkelig, 102–6; hygge, 98–102; Jante Law, 88–97; Norway, 90; Sweden, 90, 305, 313–14, 344–70

  social connectedness, 39–43, 140–2

  Social Democratic Alliance Party (Iceland), 130

  Social Democratic Party (Denmark), 26

  Social Democrats (Sweden), 344–63

  social mobility, 388–9; see also class issues

  societies, clubs and groups, 39–41, 42–3

  Søndervig, 109

  Sonkajärvi, 287–8

  Sontag, Susan, 249,
300–1, 390

  South Korea, 47, 49

  Soviet Union see Russia

  Søvndal, Villy, 73

  Spain, 67, 332

  Spears, Britney, 298

  Spotify, 7

  Sree Abirami Amman temple, 108–9

  Sri Lanka, 108

  Stadil, Christian, 118

  Stalin, Joseph, 265–6, 267

  Starck, Philippe, 137

  Statoil, 197, 197, 205

  Sterling, 145

  Stiglitz, Joseph, 33

  Stockholm: advantages, 187; architecture, 315; Berns hotel, 316; Gamla stan, 249; history museum, 314–15, 320, 321; National Museum, 319, 320; Nobel Museum, 312–13; Stockholm Globe, 316; Swedish attitude to, 188

  Stockholm Bloodbath (1520), 21

  Stoltenberg, Jens, 172–3, 215

  Store Bededag (Great Prayer Day), 102

  Strandvejen, 29, 57

  Strokkur, 155, 156

  success, attitudes to, 94–6

  suicide rates, 223, 250

  summer houses, 19–20, 225

  Sundberg-Weitman, Brita, 357

  Suomi-Ruotsi-maaottelu see Finland–Sweden International

  superstition, 148–53

  Sutton Hoo, 9

  Sverigedemokraterna see Sweden Democrats

  Sweden, 291–386; advanced industries, 45–6; alcohol consumption, 158, 247, 248–9, 293, 300, 321, 384; arms industry, 355; army haircuts, 263; attitude to love, 229–30; business life, 304, 352–4; as centralised state, 344–63, 368–70; childcare, 357, 365, 367–70; civic rights, 356–8; class issues, 371–9; clothes, 372; corruption, 41; crime, 321–30, 368, 384; culture, 385–6; current problems, 382–3; defining statistic, 62; and Denmark, 111, 294–5, 298–9, 304, 380–2; diet, 384; divorce rates, 361; driving laws, 323, 346; economic performance, 79–80, 296–7, 385; education, 279, 295; elderly care, 384–5; employment laws, 19, 79, 345–6, 352–3; eugenics, 356–7; family life, 358–60; femininity of culture, 263, 365–6; and Finland, 258–63, 266–7, 294–5; freedom of speech, 335–9, 341–2; future, 382–6; gender equality, 320, 346–7, 357, 364–70; and Germany, 354; happiness, 4–5; history, 21–2, 23, 165–6, 167, 266–7, 352, 354, 374–5; HIV/AIDS, 357; housing estates, 321–9; and Iceland, 137; image abroad, 294–5, 298–9, 380–2; immigration and multiculturalism, 53–4, 62, 296, 321–43, 355–6, 390–1; influence internationally, 294–6; literature, 298, 385; love of being alone, 361; love of consensus, 303–5; manners and etiquette, 240, 306–8, 310–19; media, 384; and modernity, 210, 350, 353; monarchy, 373–9; national character, 8–9, 11–13; national day, 166–7; nationalism, 353; north–south divide, 388; and Norway, 163–4, 165–6, 195–6, 211, 294–5, 303; nuclear industry, 354; parental leave, 364; parties and celebrations, 17, 20, 166–7, 170, 293–4, 306–8; police, 348; pop music, 7, 298, 385; population, 294; pride in buildings, 153; R&D investment, 202; and regional geopolitics, 209; religion, 86–7, 96, 352; republicanism, 376–8; saunas, 232; in Second World War, 266, 354–6; self-image, 301; self-sufficiency and autonomy, 359–70; sexual liberation, 319–20; shops, 7, 297, 298; shyness, 301–2; social conformity, 90, 305, 313–14, 344–70; societies, clubs and groups, 40–1; Swedish Americans, 10–11; Swedish language, 278; taciturnity, 240, 300–4, 308–19; taxation, 81, 357, 383; taxis, 323; technology, 7; trade unions, 352–4; transgender issues, 357; trust levels, 41, 44, 45–6, 53–4, 323; unemployment, 297, 333–4; urban migration, 59; wealth distribution, 35, 53; welfare state, 330–1, 344, 347, 383

  Sweden Democrats (Sverigedemokraterna), 322, 326, 334, 335, 336–7, 339–43

  Swedish People’s Party (Finland), 260

  Sweyn Forkbeard, 51

  Switzerland, 211, 282

  taciturnity: Denmark, 240; Finland, 237–43, 289; Iceland, 240; Norway, 240; Sweden, 240, 300–4, 308–19

  Taiwan, 276

  tango, 257

  taxation: Danish fat tax, 118–19; Denmark, 1, 2, 5, 62–9, 74–9, 81–2; Iceland, 157–8; Sweden, 81, 357, 383

  taxis, 323

  teachers see education

  technology, 7, 45–6, 51, 160, 285–6

  Tetra Pak, 297

  Thingvellir, 156

  Thirty Years War (1618–48), 340

  Thisted, 110

  Thorning-Schmidt, Helle, 77

  Thorsteinsdóttir, Helga Margret, 141

  Thorvaldsen, Bertel, 25

  Thurman, Uma, 11

  Timbuktu (artist), 183

  Tjøtta, 169

  toasts, 308

  tobacco: chewing, 319; see also smoking

  Togo, 4

  Tolkien, J. R. R., 10, 264

  Tønder, 42

  tourism, 110, 131, 159, 210, 222

  trade unions, 39, 40, 352–4

  Trældal, Torgeir, 211

  Trägårdh, Lars, 359, 360

  Tranæs, Torben, 59, 66–7, 80–1, 124

  transgender issues, 357

  Transparency International, 41, 47

  Trelleborg, 50–1

  Trier, Lars von, 6

  Trudeau, Pierre, 349

  True Finn Party (Finland), 261, 289

  trust levels, 30, 41–56, 117, 215–16, 323

  trustworthiness, 228, 254–5

  TV series, 2, 6, 30, 76–7, 189–90, 214–15

  22/7, 171–85

  UK: alcohol consumption, 245; attitude to folkloric traditions, 167; attitude to loss of empire, 121; attitude to the state, 361; childcare, 365; crime, 250; education, 278; English language, 9–10; happiness, 1; and Iceland financial crash, 137; immigration and multiculturalism, 390, 391; influence on Scandinavia, 11; and modernity, 350; Napoleonic wars, 22; Scandinavian influences on, 8–10, 51; social mobility, 389; suicide rates, 250; trust levels, 41; wealth distribution, 34, 56

  Updike, John, 6

  unemployment, 297, 333–4; see also employment laws

  Upstairs Downstairs (TV series), 11

  urban migration, 57–60, 110–11

  USA: attitude to the state, 361; childcare, 370; crime, 250; debt, 128; and Finland, 268, 280; freedom concept, 362, 389; and global warming, 121; happiness, 36; and Iceland, 133, 157–8; immigration and multiculturalism, 331; internal migration, 276; and Palme, 347–8, 349; Scandinavian influences on, 10–11; social mobility, 389; suicide rates, 250; trust levels, 41, 45, 47, 53; wealth distribution and social malady, 34

  Uti Vår Hage (TV series), 214–15

  Utøya, 171; see also Breivik, Anders Behring

  Vanuatu, 36

  Vasa (ship), 314–15

  Vatnajökull, 154

  Venstre Party (Denmark), 68, 119

  Vietnam War (1954–75), 347

  Vikings: drinking customs, 305; influence on England, 9–10, 51; influence on Nordic society, 51–3, 54–5, 137–8, 352; Jelling stones, 85–6; modern propaganda about, 320; re-enactments, 50–1

  Vinterberg, Thomas, 6

  Volvo, 297

  Vyborg, 268

  wages, 62

  Wahlroos, Björn ‘Nalle’, 260

  Wallenberg family, 353–4

  wealth distribution: Denmark, 32–6, 37, 48–9, 56–61, 76–8; and happiness, 33–8; Sweden, 35, 53

  welfare state: Denmark, 19, 26, 48–9, 51–2, 55–6, 58, 64–6, 74–8, 331; and happiness, 48–9; Iceland, 158; Norway, 203, 204; Sweden, 330–1, 344, 347, 383; and trust levels, 51–2, 55–6

  West Ham FC, 139

  Westfjords, 152

  Wetterberg, Gunnar, 392

  Whisky Belt Denmark, 57

  Wife-carrying World Championships, 287–8

  wildlife see flora and fauna

  Wilkinson, Richard, 33–4, 35–7, 49, 95–6, 121–2

  wind turbine industry, 45

  Winfrey, Oprah, 3

  Winter War (1939–40), 252, 265–6

  The Winter War (film), 266

  wireless technology, 51

  Wollstonecraft, Mary, 114–15, 122, 306

  women see gender issues

  work ethic and productivity, 18–19, 80–2, 202, 203, 20
7–8

  World Happiness Poll, 4

  World Islamic Call Society, 328

  World War II see Second World War

  Yorkshire, 9

  Acknowledgements

  As you can probably imagine, my Danish friends and family are an exceptionally patient, tolerant, supportive and, above all, forgiving group of people. To them I would like to say, firstly, thank you for all your support and for listening to my various theories about your society and, secondly, sorry if I have been a little hard on your compatriots at times. If I promise to keep my mouth shut from now on, is it okay if I stay a little longer?

  I would also like to thank my British publisher, Dan Franklin at Jonathan Cape, for all of his support during what has been an unusually long gestation period for this book and to Kris Potter for his work on the cover.

  Norwegian anthropologist Lindis Sloan was kind enough to check through the Norwegian chapters for me (thanks, too, to her husband Roddie for the unforgettable sea-urchin-safari experience). Samppa Rouhtula was similarly helpful in terms of the Finland chapters. Needless to say, their generosity does not mean that either Sampa or Lindis are in any way responsible for any errors or wild inaccuracies to be found within these pages. They are entirely my own work. I didn’t have the nerve to ask any of my Swedish friends to check the Swedish chapters, which explains why there are probably so many mistakes in them. And why I will very likely soon have significantly fewer Swedish friends.

  I would also like to thank – in no particular order – either for granting me a useful interview or simply for listening patiently while I explained to them my latest theory about the region in which they were born, and about which they know far more than I ever will: Laura Kolbe, Bertel Haarder, Tor Nørretranders, Roman Schatz, Thomas Hylland Eriksen, Anne Knudsen, Henrik Berggren, Karen-Marie Lillelund, Cecilie Frøkjær, Professor Richard Wilkinson, Christian Bjørnskov, Mike from Trelleborg, Dr Elizabeth Ashman Rowe, Åke Daun, Ove Kaj Pedersen, Mogens Lykketoft, Torben Tranæs, Martin Ågerup, Bent Dupont, Annegrethe Rasmussen, Richard Jenkins, Sree Abhirami Upasaki, Stefan Jonsson, Professor Gíslí Pálsson, Terry Gunnell, Sindri Freysson, Bjarni Brynjólfsson, Inga Jessen, Professor Unnur Dís Skaptadóttir, Morten Høglund, Sindre Bangstad, Yngve Slyngstad, Simen Sætre, the Finnish and Rovaniemi tourist boards, the Finnish Foreign Ministry, Heikki Aittokoski, Matti Peltonen, Paulina Ahokas, Neil Hardwick, the wife-carriers of Sonkajärvi, Dick Fredholm, Ilmar Reepalu, Professor Patrick Scheinin, Bejzat Becirov, Ulf Nilson, René Redzepi, Santa Claus and his elves.

  This ebook is copyright material and must not be copied, reproduced, transferred, distributed, leased, licensed or publicly performed or used in any way except as specifically permitted inwriting by the publishers, as allowed under the terms and conditions under which it was purchased or as strictly permitted by applicable copyright law. Any unauthorised distribution or use of this text may be a direct infringement of the author’s and publisher’s rights and those responsible may be liable in law accordingly.

 

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