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Earl B. Gustafson
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The Swedish Secret: What the United States Can Learn from Sweden’s Story Paperback – April 7, 2006

by Earl Gustafson (Author)
4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 9 ratings
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Imagine a country where very few people are homeless; there has been no war for 200 years; there is high-quality health care for all; there is excellent free public education a living wage is the norm and there is low unemployment; voter participation is high and political advertising on TV and radio is prohibited by law; the economy grows without creating extremes of wealth alongside poverty; and there is little national debt. You don’t have to imagine this country. It is Sweden today. The Swedish Secret: What the United States Can Learn from Sweden’s Story elucidates the remarkable similarities and differences between two cultures that have shared similar paths yet now inhabit markedly different spheres. Earl Gustafson, a former Minnesota state senator and judge, contrasts Sweden—small, wealthy, egalitarian, neutral—with the United States: huge, rich, and at odds with itself and the world. He traces the historical, economic, and social conditions of each country, describes the divergent and ultimately successful course taken by Sweden, and explores what the United States can learn from its counterpart’s example.
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  1. Print length
    180 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Syren Book Company
  4. Publication date
    April 7, 2006
  5. Dimensions
    6.25 x 1 x 9.25 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0929636600
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0929636603
  8. See all details
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4.2 out of 5 stars
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Top reviews from the United States

  • baj
    5.0 out of 5 stars Very thought provoking!
    Reviewed in the United States on January 15, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    I ordered this because I have long admired various perceived attributes of Scandinavians, and the Swedes, in particular. This book is excellent, honest and down to earth. I think that it should be "required reading" of every elected official in America! Perhaps that would promote more positive government results. I heartily recommend this book to all who sense something going very wrong in our country, and sincerely looking for effective solutions!
    3 people found this helpful
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  • aman4allseasons
    3.0 out of 5 stars No documentation
    Reviewed in the United States on October 25, 2011
    Verified Purchase
    I had high expectations when I first ordered this book; but was disappointed with the lack of documentation on the stats the author mentions. so it reads more like a college lecture and it's up to the reader to check for themselves to see if they are accurate.

    Tho informative, I found myself skipping chapters that dealt with American history; so it is my opinion that the author, to broaden the appeal wrote those chapters for the Swedish readers.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Pontus S.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting reading (even) for a Swede
    Reviewed in the United States on January 30, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    I'm a Swede who moved to the US a couple of months ago and was hoping that this book would help me understand the history of US. And so it did.

    What I wasn't expecting was to learn a lot about my own country as well! All the way back to the Vikings.

    Well written with humerus inserts made me read this book back to back. Recommended!
    One person found this helpful
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  • spock
    5.0 out of 5 stars Authentic patriotism
    Reviewed in the United States on February 3, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    A brilliant and bold vision for true patriots!
    One person found this helpful
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  • JB1976
    2.0 out of 5 stars Some good points, but missing the obvious.
    Reviewed in the United States on December 27, 2012
    Scandinavia, even far more than the European norm, is a homogenous society (well, it was when this great framework was created). It also suffers under no obligation to defend itself and so hasn't bothered to for a couple of centuries. The culture values hard work (see protestant work ethic, even though they've jettisoned the religious part). The United States is, more than any other nation in history, ever, is heterogenous to an amazing degree. This leads, very naturally, to friction as the bits bump into each other in the melting pot. Some cultures here value hard work, others do not yet more others devote their hard work to pursuits not condusive to national well-being. The USA has also had to expend vast resources defending not only itself but the rest of the 'civilized' world (sweden very much included). These two nations are apples and oranges.
    Sweden is also quite likely the canary in the coal mine regarding the clash of Western, liberal values and the values of traditional Islam. The Swedes, like all Europeans and indeed mny Americans, pride themselves on their acceptance of other cultures while making no value judgements on that culture. Basically, they have decided to tolerate, indeed promote, coddle & support people who are most often intolerant of their host's culture. Sweden is in the worst position precisely because of it's 'liberal' policies. The near total absence of religious faith among ethnic Swedes also disarms them, the traditional family is an endangered species and they are not even meeting replacement levels of population growth (2.1 kids). The mostly intolerant (or tolerant of the intolerant in their community) muslim population that has found Sweden to b the land of milk and honey (all those lovely 'free' social services - all they needs must do is make it to Sweden; they can even then send for their family) is explding not just with an ever increasing flow of immigrants but a birth rate more in keeping with the lands of their origins.
    The crisis will come first to a European country. Smart money is on Sweden. Lessons to be learned? Absolutely. Not all of them are positive, hoever.
    6 people found this helpful
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  • Nichole Helmstetler
    5.0 out of 5 stars Must read for every American
    Reviewed in the United States on January 26, 2016
    I read this while doing research for a paper and it completely opened my mind and changed my views.
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  • LTROI
    3.0 out of 5 stars Not what I was hoping for.
    Reviewed in the United States on April 6, 2010
    The book was something of a disappointment. It focused far more on an overview of American History (particularly in the 20th century) than anything else. Far more about what is wrong with the USA, and not much about what is right about Sweden. If the reader wants to learn about Sweden, the reader would be far better off with a good book of Swedish history. I really did not learn anything that I didn't already know.
    8 people found this helpful
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