Modern-Day Vikings: A Practical Guide to Interacting with the Swedes (The Interact Series) (Paperback)

by Christina, Johansson Robino... (Author), Lisa, Werner Carr (Author) "Could a ninth-century admonition against jumping to conclusions really carry any weight in the twenty-first century?..." (more)
Key Phrases: Swedish Model, World War, Social Democrats (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Modern-Day Vikings is a window into contemporary Sweden. True to its title, the book traces many of Sweden's cultural traits back to its Viking heritage: self-sufficiency, fairness, egalitarianism, and democracy. But this just scratches the surface; the authors also examine the famous "cradle-to-grave" social democracy and the social and economic challenges brought on by immigration and other twenty-first century changes. Robinowitz and Carr explore the values underlying modern Swedish culture, such as lagom (moderation), the law of Jante (personal modesty), communication styles, and business practices. A most enjoyable chapter is "The Seasons and their Power," where readers get a glimpse of the "complete Swede" as characterized by the four seasons especially the Summer Swede.

About the Author
Christina Johansson Robinowitz is a cross-cultural coach, trainer and consultant. A native of Sweden and long time resident of the US she works with multinational companies and international organizations, specialising in Swedish/US Intercultural relations. Lisa Werner Carr an American of Swedish descent, is ap rofessional journalist and has lived and worked in Swedne. Now based in Dallas she is a Web content developer and contributing editor to Sweden & America Magazine.

Product Details

• Paperback: 216 pages
• Publisher: Intercultural Press (October 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1877864889
• ISBN-13: 978-1877864889
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #254,657 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great insight, July 8, 2002

By	Robert F. Weir "robfweir" (Rochester, NY USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

My former wife was born in Sweden and immigrated with her parents to this country when she was 9 years old. Married 8 years, Lena was continually questioning why she viewed the world in certain ways while others couldn't see things the same way. The insights in this book got her thinking about what was special in her Swedish upbringing and why she was taught to look at some subjects differently. Reward systems, her acceptance of certain conflicts and her questioning mind were revealed to her as a result of reading this book. Since then, I have purchased an additional copy to share with a colleague recently hired by a Swedish company and Lena has given her Dad a copy. A must read for both Swedes and Americans who interact with Swedish people.

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Swedish delight of getting things in the right proportio, January 17, 2005

By	George F. Simons "at diversophy.com" (Mandelieu Napoule, Cote d'Azur, France) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Lagom bok. Writing a book is easy. Getting it "just right" is the hard part. Lagom, as the authors of Modern-Day Vikings tell us is the Swedish delight of getting things in the right proportion, including what is fitting and appropriate, no more, no less, and, in this case, writing a bok about one's people without being either overbearing or falsely modest.

Not too many of us, I suspect, have learned Swedish history other than as an appendix to what other great powers were about in times past. So the authors have been kind enough to sketch on the canvas of a single chapter the flow of events that take us from prehistory through Viking times to the unique, modern day Swedish model of society.

History helps us understand culture and behavior and even allows us to see what triggers the stereotypes we acquire about others. "Sex, suicide, socialism and spirits," as the authors point out, are the false headlines most of us have absorbed about Swedes because we had so little familiarity with the real article. A Swedish friend of mine in her 50's complains that living in France she is still looked on as a svenska flicka ("loose Swedish girl") by some-not by me, of course. Too many Bergman films in my youth have left me still surprised to find so many cheery Swedes.

We learn how Modern Day Vikings value themselves and their history. Swedes appreciate modesty and above all, equality to a fault. They have wholesome homegrown virtues to bring to the marketplace of cultures, and, like all peoples in the great modern global exchange, these are being weighed and measured by the world of competition and the challenge of sustainability. In particular the Swedish smörgasbord of values is being rearranged by a new generation who are leading their country and the world in world-class digital entrepreneurship.

As for the welfare state, that has brought so many to exclaim, "It would never work here," they are probably right. There is a time and place for everything and the time and place for this unique social triumph was Sweden in the middle 1900's. The challenges of immigration and multiculturalism are taxing this system and calling for a fresh wave of creativity in Swedish politics. There are no easy solutions, but one suspects that the Swedish combination of fairness and self-sufficiency will express themselves in fresh socially responsible solutions.

Readers who want to get to the do's and don't's of living and working with Swedes will be amply rewarded in the second half of the book, particularly if they are patient with the first half. They will look at Swedish communication styles manners and business behaviors with far more insight having delved into the authors' careful descriptions and illustrations of Swedish values in action, which like the nordic seasons have both bright and equally dark sides. Going to work or going to dinner, there is no shortage of solid prescription and attention to detail. Robinowitz and Carr are careful to simplify what can be simplified, identify rules where they exist, and to point out, that, as in any culture, taking a good look at what the other guests are doing can help you figure out whether to take your shoes off or not.

Finally, you don't have to be on your way to Sweden to have an excuse to read this book. Robinowitz and Carr, whose rich experience of Swedish culture comes from both living inside of it and seeing it at a distanc have made Modern Day Vikings a good book to curl up with in any season.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Useful for Appreciating Swedes, December 2, 2005

By	Jonathan D. Stubbs "JStubbs.com" (Luleå, Sweden) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This one is a keeper. I bought it after living in Sweden for a bit over 4½ years. There were things about living in Sweden that I was having trouble appreciating; sometimes there was an underlying "cultural current" that wouldn't decode for me. After the first read, Robinowitz & Carr's book gave me some more pieces to the puzzle I was holding. Subsequent readings have added more pieces.

I strongly recommend purchase of your own copy of this book for reference and note-taking. Any culture is a set of unwritten rules. The authors have done an excellent job of capturing much of that which is unwritten. The book starts with a brief history of Sweden - which helps to give a perspective on modern Swedes and Swedish culture. In following chapters they go on to give a good overview of modern Sweden and some of the more visible aspects of Swedish culture. A part about the Swedish flag is typical of the kind of information they give (Swedes seem to use their flag to declare their Swedish identity in contrast, Americans might be said to give the US flag a loyalty). The chapter on a cultural value/belief/behavior called "Jantelagen" was particularly valuable as it helped me to better understand behaviors and to "release the right responses" during the course of daily living activities (Edward T. Hall writes about releasing the right responses in "Understanding Cultural Differences").

Other chapters give clear and easy to read descriptions of a number of important social and business values, beliefs and behaviors. I figure that the amount I spent on this book is nothing in comparison to the value it has returned. Time invested in reading has saved me time later as I more quickly understood unspoken parts of "messages". If you're going to have more than a superficial, touristy kind of contact with Swedes - in Sweden or anywhere else in the world - you'll likely be glad for the advice this book offers.