Finntopia

Reviews / Votes

As inequality reaches eye-watering levels around the world, this book contains some fascinating and important lessons on how policies like progressive taxation and investing in public services can lead to more equal - and happier - societies. -- Danny Sriskandarajah, Chief Executive, Oxfam GB An absorbing, insightful and scholarly book, grounded in emancipatory hope and humility, that captures the very essence of why Finland has become one of the most equitable countries in a highly unequal world. -- Paul Stepney, Adjunct Professor of Social Work, Tampere University, Finland Finland is one of the fairest, most inclusive and dynamic countries to live in. This is not because it is small or culturally homogeneous, or enjoys a great deal of oil wealth. As Danny Dorling and Annika Koljonen show us in this marvellous book, it is because of what Finns have learned about 'caring for each other more and more cleverly' over recent decades. We would do well to follow their example. -- Simon Reid-Henry, Reader in Geography, Queen Mary University of London, and Senior Researcher at the Peace Research Institute in Oslo Finntopia is the remarkable story of a country on Europe's perceived fringes that should instead be in the centre of our view for creating a better society. Dorling and Koljonen provide a compelling picture of why Finland may not be the Utopia that it sometimes is portrayed as, but can still teach us many lessons about a different kind of politics, one that has the interest of people at its heart. -- Benjamin Hennig, Professor of Geography, University of Iceland Among the world's countries, Finland ranks at or near the top in air quality, education, equality, happiness, honest government, milk consumption, opportunities for children, preparedness, safety, trust in its police, and many other things. Eighty years ago, most of those things were not true. How did Finland become so successful, so quickly, across such a broad spectrum? How can other countries achieve Finland's happiness? Read this wonderful book, and learn the answers! -- Jared Diamond, Professor of Geography, UCLA, and Pulitzer-Prize-winning author of Guns, Germs and Steel Good enough to be true - just like the story of Finland. -- Anna Sievala, journalist, Joensuu ... in simple terms, the image of Finland I see in your book is precisely how I see things. -- Markku Loytonen, Professor of Geography, University of Helsinki A fascinating book which reads like a detective story. It makes one wonder if the secret behind the happiness of Finns is their ignorance of their own happiness. There is much to learn from Finntopia, even for a native Finn. -- Juha Kaakinen, chief executive of the Y-Foundation (that has built 6,500 homes for the homeless in Finland) Danny Dorling and Annika Koljonen's portrait of Finland's socio-political system and history is a thought-provoking read. They convincingly demonstrate that the most profitable investment any institution or country can make is to invest in the well-being, education, and capabilities of its people. -- Mikko Weckroth, postdoctoral researcher, Helsinki Institute of Sustainability Science