Anu Partanen (2) (1975–)

As a Finn, I know how "great" our system is and support it wholeheartedly. However, this book could (and should?) have been a blog or a piece in a journal, because it really only has one point which is repeated over and over for 6+ hours.
I completely agree that our sytem is way better, but the author really lacks any criticism towards the systems and parts of the text are really misinformed if not completely untruthful. Few random experiences here and there do not really make anything credible.

Also, I neve want to hear about the Nordic theory of love again. Ever.

Oh, and the narrator was a bit awful: I undertand if no one who could pronounce Finnish was available, but i really detest chanigng to al ower pitch when "speaking as a man". Shudder.… (meer)

This book gave me so much to think about. She plays the greatest hits of aspects of American society that have never made much sense to me, and contrasts our lifestyles with those of her home country, Finland. Why in the USA are women forced back to work so early after giving birth? Why do we have such a patchwork of uneven child care? Why are our schools focusing so early on academics, rather than allowing children to play and experience the world while young? Why are we so focused on testing, rather than real learning? And I don't even have room for all of the questions I have about our still vastly unfair health care system. or our workaholic lifestyles. These are not new concerns for me. These are things I have wondered about for decades.

This book gives me insight into another way of doing things, also not perfect, but far ahead in terms of providing a secure existence for its citizens. I think this very important book will open the eyes of many Americans, and encourage us to demand a better life from our system of government.… (meer)