Swedish Mentality

This was a very interesting book that enjoyed reading a lot. However, I do not entirely agree with previous reviewers who summarized the content of the book as saying that Sweden is dull and that Swedes has distaste for novelty. However, I still found all the other reviews helpful. Maybe I am biased because I am Swedish myself, but his book is a little bit more nuanced than that. The book was not anti-Swedish and not self-congratulatory.In general I would be suspicious of any book that tries to claim or identify national or ethnic characteristics. Such books are often either self congratulatory or hateful, especially those which claim not to be. Secondly it is a very hard subject to study objectively. If you do it by surveys the answers will be affected by local beliefs and prejudices, and local interpretation of words will distort the results. However, Åke Daun still succeeds in doing what seems to be an objective assessment of Swedish Mentality. I am impressed by his efforts and he convinced me.I can add that even though I am deeply affected by my Swedish Mentality I have partially escaped it and become a lot more tolerant of those who do not share it. That is a result of me living abroad for so many years. However, we are all "affected" and perhaps "damaged" by our culture and our childhood environment. That is true not just for Swedes!If I were to summarize this book in just a few words I would say that Swedes are on average more pragmatic, quiet, non-aggressive, conflict-avoiding, rational, honest, diligent, punctual, orderly, and yes envious too. It should be noted that, this are the kind of personality traits that make the Swedish welfare system possible. Swedes are quite different from Americans and Southern European in behavior and thinking patterns which make culture clashes possible in those cases. Swedes are also surprisingly similar to the Japanese. Swedes prefer engineering and mechanical creativity over artistic creativity (again on average) which has resulted in some impressive accomplishments in technology and industry but not as many great accomplishments in art. I can add that Susan Sontag apparently had a very negative impression of Sweden, but I know some Americans who have a positive impression of Sweden.One aspect of Swedish thinking that Åke Daun discusses which I have seen myself can cause some significant clashes between Americans and Swedes is the Swedish dislike for pride or "bragging". In America you are supposed to sell yourself, and talk "you're self up", and "show yourself", something that is a great "sin" in Sweden. By the way, I no longer think this way. Instead I easily adapt to the expectations of both countries (I am writing in America). In the beginning I had a hard time with the way Americans used the word "aggressive". One lady told me while watching my son play soccer, "your son is so aggressive", and when she saw that I was insulted she added "which is great". "Aggressive" in Sweden is always "bad" but here it can be something positive.Another Swedish peculiarity that causes some funny situations when Swedes come to America is the Swedish propensity for "thanking", especially for something in the past that they already said thanks for. Add imperfect English to the brew and you will understand why so many Swedes keep telling people they meet "Thank you for the last time". This always confuses Americans until the Swede has figured this out.Åke Daun believes that the Swedish Mentality is partially a result of "Protestant ethics" which tend to expound "impersonal virtues" like honesty and diligence at the expense of "interpersonal virtues" such as warmth and forbearance. He also believes the Homogeneity of the country has a lot to do with it. However, he also attributes Swedish mentality to the short growing seasons, the land reforms, and the hard work and diligence required in Swedish peasant society. On page 202 he states "Playfulness, tenderness, and anger over not getting what one wants, which today are recognized as basic elements of children's psychology, were given much less attention in peasant society".Finally, in brief, this was a very diligent and surprisingly objective analysis of Swedish Mentality. However, since he did not take enough care to avoid giving those "skimming the book" a negative impression of Sweden, in combination with the fact that it is a little outdated (Sweden has changed a lot), and the fact that I see these sort of books potentially dangerous, I will knock a star.

Wonderful book! Explains so much.I am around a large number swedes and Danish persons. I can honestly say, he nailed it. While a couple of personalities are always unquie to the individual , the general overview is so accurate it is scary. I disagree with a previous reviewer in that this is outdated. I am not Swedish ( Danish / German ancestors) but am American surrounded by swedes and hav been to the country over 6 times. I have many friends there.. His book is still on par... From an American culture perspective . Helped me a lot!The only thing I can say is that can be misinterpreted as bragging is that swedes will never ask about anyone else and only talk avoid themselves .. Not bragging in the classic sense but to ask you about yourself seems to be some kind of violation.. Probing. That is unwanted therefore it is never done. So it can seem to an American that they are self absorbed and feel only they are "right". That is eluded to in this book . The attitude of never offering help because it would assume you would be unable I help yourself ... An insult . I have personally experienced this. Where an American would jump to help, a swede will not . Åke, talks about this and thus the definition of bragging is deferent than an American position. It is all about taking care of yourself despite the socialistic values if the country.Åke is also generous with his time, as I wrote him and asked these very same questions.. He replied in kind and was very interests I. The interchange between Americans as rhe book was written with the British in mind.A good purchase !

I am not an expert in this field but rather read the book to better understand my heritage. It was heavy, slow reading at first but I warmed to the book and enjoyed it.

The author is a native Swede writing in Swedish, reporting and analyzing the perspectives of immigrants from various cultures living in Sweden about how Swedes are different, while simultaneously trying to explain how the Swedes see themselves. As an American living in Sweden I find the process convoluted, the translation confusing and the end result simplifying to the point of reinforcing the stereotypes addressed. As such it’s a very interesting read, in that it showcases an extremely ironic perspective in the Escher-esque way the author’s ideas fold back on themselves, although I suspect that was not the author’s intent.

A effort to measure and describe the collective personality of the Swedish people, based on a number of cross-national opinion surveys. It makes some interesting points -- for example, the "typical Swedish characteric" cited most often by Swedes is shyness. In general, however, the conclusions are way overdrawn. If (say) 30% of Swedes exhibit a given characteristic, compared to (say) 20% of the European average, this gets described as a "Swedish characteristic". Also, the surveys on which the book is based were taken in the 1970's and 1980's, when attitudes of young people showed marked differences from those of older people in some respects -- differences that usually pushed them in a less "Swedish" direction. Interesting, but I wouldn't base any assumptions about individual Swedes on it

Product arrived and was in excellent condition just as you had said it would be. Thanks and enjoying reading it and have learned a lot already. Will order from you again.Have blessed day!

Or not, either way this is a truly honest look at us. Ancestral Memories abound. On a par with Kirstan Lavensdotter!

On the whole I found the book a little dull, it paints the picture of average life, but is this really Sweden, perhaps it once was. A little bit outdated I think, but worth a read if only to try and understand your parents generation.

This book, written in the eighties, nevertheless gave me a far better insight into Swedishness. It is scholarly, with all the usual care taken not to stereotype, but gives plenty of food for thought.