Happy Land

Why is Finland consistently named 'the happiest country in the world'?

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

Exploring a nation whose deference to its Soviet neighbour became a whole-hearted commitment to the EU and Nato within thirty years, he provides an affectionate portrait of its distinctive way of life. From its chequered history to its traditional landscape, language, literature, cuisine, egalitarianism, prized education system, treatment of minorities and place in the world, Tim offers something for anyone interested in this land of a thousand lakes. 

Moving beyond the stereotypes of a silent, cold and unfriendly country, Happy Land invites us to step inside Finland's true psyche and discover the secrets of its special brand of contentment.