A thorough look at policy differences between the United States and Nordic countries.

As we’re still applying cold water after the Finnish PM’s sick burn on the American dream, this is a great book to get up to speed with the Nordic model of economic and social policies.

Written by a Finn who had lived in the U.S. for 8 years when the book was published, this is a personal account of someone living in the American system with a Nordic perspective. She doesn’t claim to have all the answers, but gives great insight into many possibilities in need of serious discussion and consideration. It's incredible how far behind the curve the U.S. is on social policies.

Paid vacation, parent/child relationships, equal maternity leave and provisions, daycare, schooling, university, healthcare, and elder care are many of the policies discussed. There's a ton I wanted to comment on here, but I'm trying to keep this short. A great book to consider if you have knee-jerk reactions to the words welfare or socialism.