"Northern Europe, the Land of Ice and Fire" Author: [English] Michael Booth

. . ISBN:?9787807681014

. . Original title: The Almost Nearly Perfect People: The Truth About The Nordic Miracle

. . Content introduction?. .

In 1539, in the "Sea Chart" drawn by Olas Magnus, this was still a borderland frequented by sea monsters. After sleeping for nearly 500 years, it suddenly became the Earth. Among the areas with the strongest sense of happiness in the world, only heaven can rival it.

The "Nordic Mystery" has gradually evolved into one of the most intoxicating myths in the world today. What changes have happened to the place where the Aurora shines? The secrets here are unknown even to the nearest neighbors. According to Europeans with the shortest direct distance, they clearly stated that in fact, they still know the Amazon rainforest better.

Finally, an Englishman who considers himself humorous, brave and sincere boldly walked into this legendary place covered with a veil, opened the window of the mysterious neighbor, demanded the truth, and found out. Restore the most faithful interpretation of the phenomenon-level "Nordic craze" that has enveloped the world.

If there is really a trace behind happiness, this will be a trip worth it.

If you haven’t heard of “Jandey’s Law”, here are the tips the author gives in Danish before reading this book:

“Slap af” ."

"Rolig nu (Relax)"

"Deter lige meget (It doesn't matter)"

"Glem det (Forget it. ”

. . About the author?. .

Michael Booth is an observer who has the closest geographical and psychological distance from the five Nordic countries and yet does not lose his objectivity. If you are curious and patient enough and endure this Englishman's picky and excessive humor, he will tell you truthfully and sincerely about a Nordic country that is far closer to reality than you imagine. Booth has published four non-fiction books: Just As Well I'm Leaving, nominated as a writer by The Irish Times; Eat, Pray, Eat, nominated for the 2012 British Travel Publication Award; Sacré Cordon Bleu, listed on the BBC Radio 4's reading program; Sushi and Beyond won the 2010 Food Excellence Award and was made into a documentary. Currently living in Denmark with his wife and children.

. . Wonderful short review. .

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A British man living in Denmark has a first-rate ability to complain. The author discusses Denmark very vividly and in detail, but he obviously doesn't like Denmark, probably because of interpersonal frustrations. In other Nordic countries, the author only has a fleeting visit, and the topics discussed are much more grand, such as Iceland's economic crisis and elf superstition, Norway's Racism and oil tycoon characters, Finland’s split personality and complex history. The author doesn't like Iceland and Norway very much, but he likes Finland and Sweden quite a lot. He especially has the most cautious attitude toward Sweden, which can also be said to be respect. Although he expressed it very restrainedly, I guess it may be because Sweden is similar to the British and has a developed economy. , social anxiety, political differences, etc.

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It’s really interesting. I wanted to give a copy to each of my friends who traveled to Europe together. I suddenly became familiar with these countries that I thought “seemed to be almost the same”. In-depth understanding

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It is plain and interesting. It interprets the unique characteristics and contradictions of each country from the vague homogeneity of the five Nordic countries. It is really an introduction. An excellent book on Nordic culture. There are occasional mistranslations, but overall the author's joking British accent is translated well. What's more, the editor's title is really ridiculous%

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First This is the first time I have such a detailed understanding of the five Nordic countries, from history, humanities to society.

There are many interesting jokes in it, and one of the more impressive ones is to the effect that if you see an elephant, Americans will say that I will be rich if I get ivory. The French will say that the Creator can create such amazing animals, while the Finns will say that we wonder what the elephants think of us.

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Denmark: Taxes of 58 to 72 thus support a huge public sector, pursue absolute equality, are obsessed with the flag, have low expectations, so satisfaction is high hygge Jandai’s Law (don’t Thought you were smarter than us series).

Iceland: has a small population, about 400,000. It has gone bankrupt due to overdraft of fishing quotas, and a small group of families controls Iceland's media banks and other monopoly industries. It is greatly influenced by the legends of Denmark and elves.

Norway: Oslo, the capital, occupies 70% of the North Sea oil plants and has invested a lot of profits. Constitution Day has become an opportunity for racial integration. Social welfare is high, and citizens gradually lack motivation to work. It has always been the protagonist of jokes in neighboring countries

Finland: Santa Claus is curious about how he looks in other people's minds. He likes saunas and talks little. Silent but direct (sisu), loves to drink heavily and has a well-developed education (the gap between different schools is small: the state allocates funds for education and training to study for a doctorate, and provides individual tutoring to poor students). Gender is equal. Women also received higher education. After independence from Sweden in 1807, it was controlled by Russia, and then* The communists carried the red flag and the middle class (white flag) had a civil war, and then the white flag won, causing 37,000 casualties. This war was the only major division in Finnish history. Later, in order to protect St. Petersburg (Leningrad), Stalin asked Finland for the Hanko Port and some islands, but was rejected. So 200,000 Finnish soldiers resisted the 1,200,000 Soviet Red Army. The two sides fought for three months in a weather of minus 40 degrees. At the end of the battle, more than 26,000 Finns were killed, while the Soviet death rate was more than 12,700. This war reawakened the patriotic enthusiasm of the Finns and saved the country that was about to fall apart

Sweden: Like Donald Duck As a textbook example of the opposite of Swedish personality, he is shy and full of insecurities. He is rude and isolationist. He likes to visit the countryside and eat biscuits and talks in a low voice. He refuses controversial topics. He prefers stairs to elevators. When visiting the Lobster Festival, he is on time. It depends on the situation. Slippers, sitting on the right side of the hostess, you need to give a brief toast, and then the guests raise their glasses and look at each other. Only after the hostess takes a sip can other guests take a sip. Be careful not to clink glasses. In Scandinavia, clinking glasses with others is a proletarian practice. Malm?’s rose garden (immigration residence), a racial protection plan was implemented in 1922, and a sterilization plan was implemented for some inferior women and criminal youths. At the same time, During World War II, he acted as a neutral force on the surface, but actually cooperated with the Nazis and betrayed other Nordic brothers. He chose a pragmatic path and threw the child into the nursery soon after giving birth. He encouraged the child to live an independent life from an early age, but it also caused a lack of character

***Same characteristics: class equality does not accept the high social welfare brought by the gentleman culture and high taxes

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Elephant joke: one Germany, one A Finn, and a Frenchman were in Africa, and they saw an elephant. Germany said: 'If I kill this elephant and sell the ivory, how much money will I make? ’ The French said: ‘What a beautiful animal, and the creation is truly miraculous. ’ And the Finn said, ‘Oh, God, I wonder what this elephant thinks of Finland. ’

Quoted from page 227

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The name of the barber shop is a straightforward “haircut”. A bar is just called a "bar." The store selling clothes, shoes and hats boldly attracts the attention of passers-by and uses a dazzling name, which is nothing more than "clothes, shoes and hats"; the bookstore is called Bog Handler, which means "bookseller." One retail store seemed offended by the shameless self-promotion of the store next door and used only "No. 16" as its name; another store seemed to be afraid of being accused of being arrogant and used only stoppen as its name, which means "store." ". Not only do these retailers lack marketing skills, they despise and abandon all conventional sales techniques. Only one store dared to break away from these five elements and boldly stood out among Nickelback retail stores: "Bettina Shoe Store".