• The Almost Nearly Perfect People

  • Behind the Myth of the Scandinavian Utopia
  • By: Michael Booth
  • Narrated by: Ralph Lister
  • Length: 13 hrs and 15 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (654 ratings)

Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
The Almost Nearly Perfect People  By  cover art

The Almost Nearly Perfect People

By: Michael Booth
Narrated by: Ralph Lister
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $18.91

Buy for $18.91

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

Journalist Michael Booth has lived among the Scandinavians for more than 10 years, and he has grown increasingly frustrated with the rose-tinted view of this part of the world offered up by the Western media. In this timely audiobook, he leaves his adopted home of Denmark and embarks on a journey through all five of the Nordic countries to discover who these curious tribes are, the secrets of their success, and, most intriguing of all, what they think of one another.

Why are the Danes so happy, despite having the highest taxes? Do the Finns really have the best education system? Are the Icelanders as feral as they sometimes appear? How are the Norwegians spending their fantastic oil wealth? And why do all of them hate the Swedes?

In The Almost Nearly Perfect People, Michael Booth explains who the Scandinavians are, how they differ and why, and what their quirks and foibles are; and he explores why these societies have become so successful and models for the world. Along the way a more nuanced, often darker picture emerges of a region plagued by taboos, characterized by suffocating parochialism, and populated by extremists of various shades. They may very well be almost nearly perfect, but it isn't easy being Scandinavian.

©2014 Michael Booth (P)2015 Tantor
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History

Critic reviews

"[A] quick and enjoyable read that is perfect for readers interested in deeper understanding of the cultures behind the headlines." ( Library Journal)
"Narrator Ralph Lister does a splendid job covering this informative and often humorous look at Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, and Iceland.... Lister's sterling pronunciation of personal and place names as well as regional terms adds to the feeling of being in each distinct country." (AudioFile)

What listeners say about The Almost Nearly Perfect People

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    377
  • 4 Stars
    196
  • 3 Stars
    60
  • 2 Stars
    17
  • 1 Stars
    4
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    424
  • 4 Stars
    110
  • 3 Stars
    36
  • 2 Stars
    5
  • 1 Stars
    2
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    331
  • 4 Stars
    156
  • 3 Stars
    57
  • 2 Stars
    18
  • 1 Stars
    5

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Obsessed with bad politics

The narration and writing were excellent but Booth views are In desperate need of some nuance. He thinks if you’re not left you must be far right. He is hyper concerned with Nazis and paints anyone with issues regarding immigration as toying with race based nationalism. Despite presenting facts that show globalism as a mixed bag, Booth calls everyone that isn’t into as much immigration as possible a racist, beliefs that conservatives are an extreme minority despite polls and can’t parcel out the center-right and the far-right. On several occasions he references how things are in America and completely gets them wrong. The book has a number of good stories and interesting facts but it’s marred by being hyper focused on attacking opposing political views. Would have been great without the propaganda.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

33 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Half Genius

First of all the reading is absolutely great, the perfect match to the source material.

The book itself I would split into two halves: the incredible travelogue half, which masterfully describes the cultures and is full of hilarious stories, and the lefty political half which is just muddled and naive (especially given the current climate in Europe). If you have any interest in Scandinavia please do listen to this audiobook, the practical stories and observations here are incredible. It's all just a little weighed down by the authors' politics.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

22 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Amazing! Anthropological, historical, entertaining

This is a deep dive into the Nordic/Scandinavian societies of Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Iceland. It goes through each country, compares, contrasts, and is all written by a cynical Brit who is surprised to hear that these countries are consistently ranked among the happiest in the world.

It weaves in enough data and information to be meaningful, but keeps it in the form of a story enough that you're entertained.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

19 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

Interesting topic but very opinionated author

Scandinavia and the Nordic countries are fascinating. The author unfortunately is rather opinionated and very biased. There is a lot of British bias which makes it seem as if he is eager to criticize or find fault. It is strongly biased enough that it sometimes makes it frustrating to listen to, even though it is often also enjoyable. In particular the chapters about Iceland are judgmental and biased to the point of being unfair. Hi travel very frequently in the Nordic world and was excited to see a book about the politics and culture of this area. It was just too pedantic and judgmental. Enjoyable only because of the topic but frustrating at times because of the authors delight in fault finding even if it means purposely ignoring evidence and facts.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

19 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Delightful Treck Through The North!

I recommend this work as good primer on all things "Nordic". Good humored, well observed and analyzed there is plenty enough to interest just about every curiosity. Some of the later chapters are even a bit intellectual; though perhaps the author might plead inebriation in mitigation.

Further, I do not find the author prejudiced, simply at times irreverent. For instance, he is oddly insistent against all constitutional monarchies. As a Yank I rather enjoy the authors own "House of Windsor" royal family and do not begrudge the various Scandinavian crowned heads.

In summary: A book well done and well read.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

12 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

The +/- of the Scandinavians

The author of this book is an Englishman married to a Dane living in Denmark. He writes about all the Scandinavian countries and the idiosyncrasies of each. It made me laugh out loud and appreciate Scandinavians even more - warts and all.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Entertaining but of little use.

The author does a wonderful job of telling a story and has a lovely wit. I enjoyed the book as an introduction to a part of the world I knew relatively little about.

The narrator does an excellent job. it's hard to believe that the narrator is not the author as he clearly understands and expresses every nuance perfectly. The narration is probably the strongest aspect of the audiobook.

I read nonfiction to clarify my view of the world and my understanding of human nature as well as to refine my own view of how things should be politically. This book was of no help in that regard as the author shows upsides and downsides to every aspect of life in each of the Nordic countries. Too often, he contradicts himself by playing devil's advocate a bit too enthusiastically.

Finally, like the book, The Spirit Level, which the author frequently references, he draws far too many inferences from correlation, rather than extending the argument to actual evidence of causation.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A fabulous tour

What a fabulous tour of Scandanavia and the Nordic peoples, places, prospects, and problems. We join Booth as he glances at the nations and regions from both below and above, enabling us to put into context the admiration and opprobrium cast from afar and lodged from within and among the residents of these states. I'll let it simmer for a couple of weeks and then listen again!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

the stuff you find 😊

in looking for information on my family's Norwegian blood line, I came across this book. From the "sample" I was hooked, thru Audible I was able to share with my family great humor and person-to-person conversation-like writing that Mr. Booth accomplishes in this book. thank you 👍

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Funny and fair

Would you listen to The Almost Nearly Perfect People again? Why?

Loved this book. The author stays within the authority he has to back his opinions, and is thoughtful while keeping it light. He gets to all the things you wonder about but doesn't overdo it or get too analytical.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I really enjoyed the narration throughout. The performance seemed to perfectly capture the author's tone and humour.

Any additional comments?

I went to Sweden for the first time shortly after I read the book, and while I didn't necessarily see everything the way the author did, having listened to the book before I went definitely increased my enjoyment of the trip.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

5 people found this helpful