Elizabeth Buchanan’s new book So You Want to Own Greenland? explores the history of the country – why it matters, who covets it and how it could become the next global flashpoint. She’s well placed then, to give us her top five books on Scandinavia.
The Almost Nearly Perfect People by Michael Booth
Packed full of weird and wonderful facts, this charts the unique culture of Scandinavia. Published a decade ago, this is a vital lie of the land given the recent geopolitical events in Europe which has upended Scandinavian neutrality.
The Shortest History of Scandinavia by Mart Kuldepp
A compact, concise book that charts the political and social history of the region. Scandinavian nations have a hushed history of wicked actions – from engagement with Nazi Germany to colonial empire ambitions.
Viking Economics by George Lakey
“Why can’t we be more like the Scandinavians?” is a question asked globally. Most of their economies have enabled enviable social service benchmarks for citizens, while also managing to fill national coffers with resource rents. Here, Lakey seeks to figure out their secret.
Scandinavia: Authentic Recipes & Ingredients by Gísli Egill Hrafnsson and Inga Elsa Bergþórsdóttir
One to tantalise the tastebuds. Danish pork belly followed by strawberry and walnut cake? Say no more.
The Viking Heart by Arthur Herman
This book delves into the global reach of the Vikings, once thought to be isolated to Scandinavia. Herman examines the implications of their existence centuries ago on the modern world.