The Almost Nearly Perfect People
The Almost Nearly Perfect People by Michael Booth, published by Vintage Books on February 5, 2015, is a travel narrative that explores the complexities of Scandinavian culture. In this edition, Booth draws on his extensive experience living among the Scandinavians to investigate the paradoxes and character traits that define these nations. He embarks on a journey through all five Nordic countries, examining their unique attributes and the often surprising perceptions they hold of one another.
Readers will find a blend of travel and essays that delve into intriguing aspects of life in Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Iceland, and Norway. The book presents a nuanced view of the region, revealing both its celebrated qualities and its underlying challenges. Topics such as happiness, societal norms, and cultural taboos are explored, offering insights into the complexities of these seemingly idyllic societies. With 406 pages, this edition provides a comprehensive look at the Nordic experience through Booth’s keen observations and engaging narrative style.
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‘The next Bill Bryson.’ New York Times
Winner of the Best Narrative Travel Book Award from the British Guild of Travel Writers
The Danes are the happiest people in the world, and pay the highest taxes.
‘Neutral’ Sweden is one of the biggest arms manufacturers in the world.
Finns have the largest per capita gun ownership after the US and Yemen.
54 per cent of Icelanders believe in elves.
Norway is the richest country on earth.
5 per cent of Danish men have had sex with an animal.
Michael Booth has lived among the Scandinavians, on and off, for over ten years, perplexed by their many strange paradoxes and character traits and equally bemused by the unquestioning enthusiasm for all things Nordic and hygge that has engulfed the rest of the world.
He leaves his adopted home of Denmark and embarks on a journey through all five of the Nordic countries to discover who these curious tribes are, the secrets of their success and, most intriguing of all, what they think of each other. Along the way a more nuanced, often darker picture emerges of a region plagued by taboos, characterised by suffocating parochialism and populated by extremists of various shades.
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