
The Almost Nearly Perfect People
Behind the Myth of the Scandinavian Utopia
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Narrated by:
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Ralph Lister
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By:
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Michael Booth
About this listen
Journalist Michael Booth has lived among the Scandinavians for more than 10 years, and he has grown increasingly frustrated with the rose-tinted view of this part of the world offered up by the Western media. In this timely audiobook, 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 one another.
Why are the Danes so happy, despite having the highest taxes? Do the Finns really have the best education system? Are the Icelanders as feral as they sometimes appear? How are the Norwegians spending their fantastic oil wealth? And why do all of them hate the Swedes?
In The Almost Nearly Perfect People, Michael Booth explains who the Scandinavians are, how they differ and why, and what their quirks and foibles are; and he explores why these societies have become so successful and models for the world. Along the way a more nuanced, often darker picture emerges of a region plagued by taboos, characterized by suffocating parochialism, and populated by extremists of various shades. They may very well be almost nearly perfect, but it isn't easy being Scandinavian.
©2014 Michael Booth (P)2015 TantorListeners also enjoyed...
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Story
Three years ago, a Carnelian bead came into Catrine Jarman's temporary possession. River Kings sees her trace the path of this ancient piece of jewelry back to eighth-century Baghdad and India, discovering along the way that the Vikings' route was far more varied than we might think—that with them came people from the Middle East, and that the reason for this unexpected integration between the Eastern and Western worlds may well have been a slave trade running through the Silk Road, all the way to Britain.
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interesting story
- By Edwin L. Carlson on 04-05-25
By: Cat Jarman
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A Brief History of Korea
- Isolation, War, Despotism and Revival: The Fascinating Story of a Resilient But Divided People
- By: Michael J. Seth
- Narrated by: Sean Runnette
- Length: 9 hrs and 36 mins
- Unabridged
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Korea was one of the last countries in Asia to be visited by Westerners, and its borders have remained largely unchanged since it was unified in the seventh century. Though it is one of the world's oldest and most ethnically homogeneous states, Korea was not born in a vacuum. Geographically isolated, the country was heavily influenced by powerful China and was often used as a bridge to the mainland by Japan. Calling themselves as "a shrimp among whales", Koreans borrowed elements of government, culture, and religion, all the while fiercely fighting to maintain independence.
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Loved the historical context but ..
- By Kathy on 01-06-20
By: Michael J. Seth
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How It Feels to Find Yourself
- Navigating Life's Changes with Purpose, Clarity, and Heart
- By: Meera Lee Patel
- Narrated by: Sharmila Devar
- Length: 2 hrs and 47 mins
- Unabridged
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Meera Lee Patel encourages us to sharpen our internal compasses—so we can discover our purpose, let go of what we’ve outgrown, and navigate challenging relationships with confidence. How It Feels to Find Yourself provides comfort for the difficult moments in life while serving as a source for deeper learning. It is a valuable gift for anyone who is facing uncertainty or entering a new chapter in life. Each page creates nostalgia for the places and experiences we’ve already encountered, while shining a hopeful light toward where we are headed next.
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Relativity... it felt like she took my life out of my head and wrote a book!
- By Danean Messner on 01-20-25
By: Meera Lee Patel
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Am I There Yet?
- The Loop-de-Loop, Zigzagging Journey to Adulthood
- By: Mari Andrew
- Narrated by: Mari Andrew
- Length: 3 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
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In the journey toward adulthood, it is easy to find yourself treading the path of those who came before you; the path often appears straight and narrow, with a few bumps in the road, and a little scenery to keep you inspired. But what if you don’t want to walk a worn path? What if you want to wander? What if there is no map to guide you through the detours life throws your way?
By: Mari Andrew
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The Girl from Norway
- By: Emma Pass
- Narrated by: Nathan Nolan, Rachel August
- Length: 10 hrs and 27 mins
- Unabridged
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1942. When Helda Dahlstrøm flees her abusive husband and Nazi-occupied Norway with her eight-year-old son she doesn't know if they'll make it out alive. In her desperate journey to safety she'll find safety on the rocky shores of the Shetland Islands, rescued by Canadian Flight Sergeant Bill Gauthier. As WWII's destruction rages at their doorsteps, can love find its way through the rubble?
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An easy read and not two different generations
- By paula wright on 11-10-23
By: Emma Pass
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Viking Economics:
- How the Scandinavians Got It Right - And How We Can, Too
- By: George Lakey
- Narrated by: Chris Roman
- Length: 7 hrs and 26 mins
- Unabridged
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In Viking Economics - perhaps the most fun economics audiobook you've ever listened to - George Lakey dispels these myths. He explores the inner-workings of the Nordic economies that boast the world's happiest, most productive workers, and explains how, if we can enact some of the changes the Scandinavians fought for, surprisingly recently, we too can embrace equality in our economic policy.
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We’ll researched book
- By Sami on 08-22-19
By: George Lakey
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I Guess I Haven't Learned That Yet
- Discovering New Ways of Living When the Old Ways Stop Working
- By: Shauna Niequist
- Narrated by: Shauna Niequist
- Length: 6 hrs and 21 mins
- Unabridged
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Just after her fortieth birthday, author Shauna Niequist found herself in a season of chaos, change, and loss unlike anything she'd ever faced. She discovered that many of the beliefs and practices that she usually turned to were no longer serving her.
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It’s ok but feels unfinished
- By andern on 05-05-22
By: Shauna Niequist
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The Art of Making Memories
- How to Create and Remember Happy Moments
- By: Meik Wiking
- Narrated by: Meik Wiking
- Length: 4 hrs and 34 mins
- Unabridged
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Memories are the cornerstones of our identity, shaping who we are, how we act, and how we feel. In his work as a happiness researcher, Meik Wiking has learned that people are happier if they hold a positive, nostalgic view of the past. But how do we make and keep the memories that bring us lasting joy? The Art of Making Memories examines how mental images are made, stored, and recalled in our brains, as well as the "art of letting go" - why we tend to forget certain moments to make room for deeper, more meaningful ones.
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Pineapple
- By Mary on 12-25-22
By: Meik Wiking
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A Brief History of Japan
- Samurai, Shogun and Zen: The Extraordinary Story of the Land of the Rising Sun
- By: Jonathan Clements
- Narrated by: Julian Elfer
- Length: 8 hrs and 41 mins
- Unabridged
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With intelligence and wit, author Jonathan Clements blends documentary and storytelling styles to connect the past, present, and future of Japan, and in broad yet detailed strokes reveals a country of paradoxes: a modern nation steeped in ancient traditions; a democracy with an emperor as head of state; a famously safe society built on 108 volcanoes resting on the world's most active earthquake zone; a fast-paced urban and technologically advanced country whose land consists predominantly of mountains and forests.
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A Brief Review of the Book
- By Than on 12-07-19
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Surrounded by Liars
- How to Stop Half-Truths, Deception, and Gaslighting from Ruining Your Life
- By: Thomas Erikson
- Narrated by: David John
- Length: 10 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
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Do you ever have the feeling that your friend isn’t telling you the whole story? Or that your colleague’s answer doesn’t quite add up? Whether in your personal or social life, professional life, or on the news or media, sorting the lies from the truth can be exhausting and make you feel constantly on edge. In the latest installment of the Surrounded by Idiots series, Thomas Erikson shows you how to identify and deal with the liars in your life.
By: Thomas Erikson
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The Year of Living Danishly
- Uncovering the Secrets of the World's Happiest Country
- By: Helen Russell
- Narrated by: Lucy Price-Lewis
- Length: 9 hrs and 39 mins
- Unabridged
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When she was suddenly given the opportunity of a new life in rural Jutland, journalist and archetypal Londoner Helen Russell discovered a startling statistic: the happiest place on earth isn't Disneyland but Denmark, a land often thought of by foreigners as consisting entirely of long, dark winters, cured herring, Lego and pastries. What is the secret to their success? Are happy Danes born or made?
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Interesting content. Unfortunate delivery.
- By Jennifer Soudagar on 11-13-15
By: Helen Russell
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The Longest Road
- Overland in Search of America, from Key West to the Arctic Ocean
- By: Philip Caputo
- Narrated by: Pete Larkin
- Length: 11 hrs and 50 mins
- Unabridged
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Philip Caputo, who had just turned 70, his wife, and their two English setters took off in a truck hauling an Airstream camper from Key West, Florida, en route via back roads and state routes to Deadhorse, Alaska. The journey took four months and covered 17,000 miles, during which Caputo interviewed more than 80 Americans from all walks of life to get a picture of what their lives and the life of the nation are really about in the 21st century.
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Very Disappointing
- By Amazon Customer on 03-25-18
By: Philip Caputo
The +/- of the Scandinavians
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Interesting but Meandering
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Where does The Almost Nearly Perfect People rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?
This is one of the better audio books I've completed. Ralph Lister's performance is excellent and captures the pithy evaluations of Booth's book.Who was your favorite character and why?
Lister is best when he's giving voice to Booth's own skepticism in the form of the back and forth in the interviews with various Nordic anthropologists and scholars.Which character – as performed by Ralph Lister – was your favorite?
I'm just going to say "see above" in this one. Ugh. Great job Audible.If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?
Question everything: Neither Iceland nor Finland can really be considered Scandinavian, but they are considered Nordic.A witty British take on the Nordic set
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surprisingly entertaining
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okay
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good book
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Great overview
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It’s Long but Worth it
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Further, I do not find the author prejudiced, simply at times irreverent. For instance, he is oddly insistent against all constitutional monarchies. As a Yank I rather enjoy the authors own "House of Windsor" royal family and do not begrudge the various Scandinavian crowned heads.
In summary: A book well done and well read.
Delightful Treck Through The North!
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Fun listen. Well written and well read.
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