Jose Mendieta’s Reviews > The Nordic Theory of Everything: In Search of a Better Life > Status Update

I feel the authors empathy in these pages. She’s showcasing the common conversations of everyday Americans with how they depend on employers for health care, what if the daycare price increases, marry a wealthy partner, will my job fire me for using my PTO. But she praises our freedom of individuality and our love for our families and friends

She made me realize that American parents do go crazy to get their children into college. The dependency (even when in the uni), to me seemed normal. But it’s not? Our parents give up their lives to get us thru at least high school. Ofc it varies but she also said prestige isn’t something they chase because they already have it (education, healthcare, wage, community support) HOLY HELL

First few pages and she described Americans as anxious sisu. Sisu a Finland word for grit. Ngl I do view Europeans as sissies. But, would u rather be a sissy and let your gov coddle you with 10 months parental leave or be a hard worker and get back in 2 weeks?*

*you gotta go back to work or less they don’t pay you. And you got bills to pay. Hence the anxiety diagnosis