Description

Why is
Finland consistently named ‘the happiest country in the world’?

Drawing on his forty-year immersion in Finnish life, journalist Tim Bird reflects on this reputation and whether Finns, famed for their ‘sisu’ (quiet resilience), dark winters and passion for heavy metal, actually recognise it.

From its landscape, culture and chequered history to its language, literature and wholehearted commitment to the West, he provides an entertaining and affectionate portrait of his adopted home and how it has changed since the 1980s.

Challenging the stereotype of a cold and introverted country, Happy Land invites us to step inside Finland’s true psyche, ponder its place in the world, and learn the secrets of its special brand of contentment.

Publisher Review

‘Packed full of personal anecdote and rich in observation, this is a book that delves deeper into Finnish culture. Tim Bird’s astute observation and gentle humour come from an obvious love of his adopted home country. Warm and witty, with just the right amount of wacky, Happy Land has me plotting my own Finnish adventure’ — Kate Wickers, author of Shape of a Boy ‘An entertaining, informative and wide-ranging travel memoir, Happy Land takes a sideways look at Finnish history, landscapes, culture, cuisine and identity, from sauna etiquette to egalitarianism, forest bathing to heavy metal. Written with warmth and charm, it underlines why this oft-overlooked Nordic nation deserves greater international attention’ — Shafik Meghji, author of Small Earthquakes ‘This hugely enjoyable journey through life in Finland resonates deeply with my own experience and understanding of this extraordinary, wonderful country’ — Bruce J. Oreck, former US ambassador to Finland