Exploring an Alien Culture: What can we learn from the Vikings, Scandinavian Immigrants and Nordic People Today?

An interesting and candid examination of those attitudes and values which influence "progress" (education, gender equality, prosperity, green energy technology, business ethics, health care, economic opportunity, transparent and responsive democracy). This book explores evidence of culture from the Vikings, Scandinavian immigrants and Nordic people today in an attempt to explain why Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden lead the world in progress. In spite of limited resources, a difficult climate, and a challenging geography, unique Nordic attitudes and values have produced world class progress.
A comparison of Nordic and American culture reveals well-defined differences in attitudes and values, for example: American individualism versus Nordic group identity, American competition versus Nordic cooperation, American ideologies versus Nordic practical thinking, and American deference to authority versus Nordic equality. These and other differences might explain why Nordic countries lead the world in progress while the United States does not rank high on progress indexes when compared with other developed countries. A basic understanding of both Nordic culture and American culture--why we do things the way we do--could enhance our understanding of current issues such as, education strategies, health care alternatives, environmental issues, the proper role of government, business ethics, and income disparity.
"Exploring an Alien Culture" is generously documented and contains an extensive bibliography.