When journalist Anu Partanen agreed to leave her native Finland for a life in the U.S. with her new American husband, she hadn't really thought about what she might be giving up. After all, she'd be in the States, the land long considered "the world's shining beacon of freedom, independence, individualism, and opportunity." But in 2010, Finland and the other countries of the Nordic region ranked significantly better as places to live, based on five categories: education, health, quality of life, economic competitiveness and political environment.
Curious as to why this was so, Partanen compared the U.S. with Finland in several major areas--paid maternity and paternity leave, day care for preschoolers, the educational system from kindergarten through college, health care and health insurance, taxes, help for the poor and elderly, and starting and running businesses. In the clear, concise prose of The Nordic Theory of Everything, Partanen argues the pros and cons of these varied aspects of life in both countries, with the conclusion that the U.S. has lost its way, and is stuck in a past that no longer works and which no longer provides a safe, healthy and happy environment for its citizens to grow and enjoy life. Fortunately, she does offer suggestions and solutions to bring the U.S. forward, so that Americans can stop obsessing over money, job security, the proper schools for our children and health care, and learn to relax and be happy. Based on Partanen's analysis, for those in the U.S. searching for the American dream, it's a good time to move to Finland. --Lee E. Cart, freelance writer and book reviewer