How to be Swedish: A Quick Guide to Swedishness in 55 Steps

by Matthias Kamann

Are you going to travel to Sweden? Or moving there for your studies, work or love? Are you afraid of a Swedish culture shock?
Matthias, a "professional new-Swede," explains how to act like a typical Swede, in 55 easy steps.

For example, in this book you'll learn how to:
Interact with Swedes, without embarrassing yourself Celebrate Swedish traditions Flirt like a Swede Find out why:
... Swedes are obsessed with sunshine, nature and a socializing activity called fika ... Swedes don't work in July ... Swedes dance like little frogs around a pole that looks like a gigantic phallus ... and many more steps how to smoothly blend in among Swedes.
Learn what Swedish people fear and desire.
This Sweden guide will get you prepared for a fantastisk time in Sweden.

Genres: Nonfiction, Travel, Humor, Sweden

156 pages, Paperback

Published February 2, 2017

Reviews

[Michaela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Am swedish now

[Keenan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can't say for sure how accurate the book is until I visit, but if true, Sweden seems to be a fun place to be if you're an independent soul with a love of nature, equality, and apparently drunken hookups. Really wish the author took time to fix the many misspellings (apparently smoking is bad for your 'lounges') but he makes up for it with a sense of humour which is quick and easy to appreciate :)

[Birgit · Rating 3 out of 5]

After a student of our Swedish course recommended the book How to be Swedish by Mathias Kamann, I decided to order the book. I really liked this book, because it gave a lot of information about swedish habits which I already knew, but also which I didn't know yet. I wasn't really informed about the sexual habits of Swedes for instance, but I also didn't know that the real vikings didn't have horns. It was also the first time I heard about Fredagsmys, but a lot of habits I already knew, but it was a fun book that sums up all of those habits. So it's really a good resource to have all information in one book. In that matter the book really succeeds. It was a joy of reading it, because the book contains a lot of information without getting too theoretically and it's a quick read because of the lightness with which the book was written. It's a real recommendation for people who learn Swedish or love to travel to Sweden!

[Vanessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book as a gift and I’m glad I did. Newly introduced to Swedes, it was interesting to know their culture and customs.

This book explains anything about Sweden in most witty, funny and cute way. It’s definitely a light read so you could just read a chapter a day before you go to bed. That’s also something I liked this book.

[TUDORACHE ALICE · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are thinking to move to Sweden this is a must read! If you just moved in Sweden, this will make the life easier to understand. And finally true facts about Swedish people said with a lot of fun.

[Jacob · Rating 4 out of 5]

A super easy and funny read that covers and explains a lot about Swedish culture in a quick and humorous fashion. After spending a semester in Sweden this spring, I was quietly nodding my head and grinning through almost every page and its accuracy. Some parts were almost exact narratives of experiences I have had, so when I found out the author was an exchange student who went to the exact university that I went to in Växjö, it made sense. It is clear that the author’s native language is not English so the wording is unusual in some places, but overall not too distracting.

[Gnanakumar · Rating 3 out of 5]

A handy guide on Swedish culture and way of living

The author is originally from Germany and has written this book after living in Sweden for more than ten years. The book has succinctly covered almost everything about Swedish culture and how to become one in 55 chapters. It was interesting to learn about the Viking ancestry, which other Scandinavian countries have roots in its history. I recommend it to those who want to know more about Swedish culture. "You can always go back to this book and check whether you still follow the steps to Swedishness correctly," said the author.

[Sheila · Rating 2 out of 5]

Would have greatly benefited from an editor with English as their native language, and possibly having a few Swedes with a wider selection of age ranges and interests read it prior to publication. None of my friends have black leather jackets, and several of them wear brightly-colored socks! And the section on how much Swedes love music completely left out the active folk-music scene in Sweden.

Seriously--ending almost every chapter with "Now, soon to be Swede,..." got to be extremely tiring. I almost didn't finish, and it's only 150 pages.

[Lill ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

informative book, written in a fun way

could easily have been 5 stars BUT

1. page 134 : we celebrate St Lucia on 13th December and not on the 10th

2. page 102 : Our women’s national football team should have been mentioned. We have ALWAYS been outperforming the men’s team. When this book was written in 2015, the men’s team was ranked between position 33-44 on the Fifa ranking. However, our women’s team, was ranked between place 5 and 8! Unbelievable that the author just skipped this and yes I do think it’s just disrespect towards us women to only mention the men’s team and Zlatan.

-1 ⭐️

[Mahmudur Rahman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this book will be the best guidebook when you first arrive in Sweden. You have no idea about what the Swedish do, like, dislikes. Reading this book, you will be able to learn about the culture, what to do and not to do in Sweden, and with the Swedish People. The best part of this book is that it is more reader-friendly (You will find beginner-friendly English words). Learn lots of things about Swedish after reading this book, and hope I don't face an awkward situation or pissed any Swedes after knowing their culture and habits by reading this book.

[Martynas Ma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent guide about Sweden and their people. There are some stereotypes that need to be explained. I am travelling to Sweden annually for about 10 years already this book is the summary of jokes and myths people commonly tell here. Would buy that book again. I found it in Almhult's IKEA and would recommend to anybody in love with the Scandinavian lifestyle.

[Gigi Maroulis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this book while I was visiting my boyfriend over the holidays and we decided to read it together while together and even when we went back to distance. The book was a very fun read. There were several laughs we had and even though my boyfriend couldn't agree to all of it, it definitely was entertaining and has given me some stuff to consider when I decide to move to Sweden.

[Alireza Nazarahari · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book provides an overview of the Swedish culture and some hints on how to get integerated (in a funny language). My main issue is that, I think I started the book with the wrong motivation (getting a better/deeper understanding of Swedish sulture, customs and rules of social interaction) and I cant say I reading this book made a significant impact on me.

[Komuniststar · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ne samo brz u uvod u švedstvo nego i duhovit i u onih nekoliko točaka koje sam mogo provjerit/doživit točan. 55 (zapravo 56) točaka pokriva sve od svakodnevnog života, preko posla i druženja do klime i kužine.

[Rachael · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute!

Not a perfect book, but funny and sweet and actually pretty informative for such a quick, light read. I chuckled a lot while reading this book and read several parts aloud to whomever happened to be in the room with me.

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who spent summers in my Swedish merfar's house, this was scarily accurate. It made me laugh so hard. Grandpa had herring at every meal. I was not entertained at all. It doesn't talk about how if they can't have coffee milk is the normal daytime drink though.

[Siham sihame · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a guide I recommend to anyone planning to travel or move to Sweden, it will help you understand the mentality of the Swedes, their culture, their food, their holidays and celebrations, how they think about nature, animals, dating, neighbors, co-workers, etc.
As I know a lot of Swedes, I reconfirmed my thoughts about the Swedes through this book.

[Leah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super fun info written a really witty way!

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

After traveling in Sweden for 3 weeks, I can verify that this is all true! Fun read.

[Rob · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny

Interesting and very funny to read about Swedish culture. The book is advisable for anyone who lives near or interaction with Swedes.

[Fleur · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick and dirty list of Swedish oddities. Not laugh out loud funny, but good for some chuckles. The author's English is reasonably good, but clearly the book was not proof read by an anglophone.

[Flasch63 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very funny because most of it is super accurate 😂

[Eswee42 · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ok read. Funny but not very explanatory.

[Stacie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun book about the quirks of living in Sweden from the perspective of an American who immigrated there. Not sure how much is tru-ish but offered some insights about learning another way to be human.

[bookreader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Informative but so poorly edited and filled with typos that I wonder if the Swedish is correct.

[Stefano · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interessante, carino e simpatico

[Sandra M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this for a quick glimpse into the minds of Swedes and Swedish life ahead of my move to Stockholm back in 2021!

[Alexandra Slager · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny written book with nice quirks/habits from the Swedes that you wouldn't know/find out so soon.

[CHRISTY · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fun tongue and cheek look at Swedish stereotypes.

[Liz Lefroy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars for the bants, and for some of the genuinely useful insights into the shoe, fika, and fish-based customs of this wonderful country. The book is a little repetitive and (of course) leans into cultural stereotypes. But - hej! It’s super-affectionate and Sweden comes out on top.