Modern Day Vikings

Many people think of Sweden as a compilation of four stereotypes: sex, suicide, socialism, and spirits. Unfair and just plain incorrect according to Christina Johansson Robinowitz and Lisa Werner Carr, this bicultural author team. True to its title, the book traces many of Sweden's cultural traits back to its Viking heritage: self-sufficiency, fairness, egalitarianism, and democracy. But this just scratches the surface; the authors also examine the famous 'cradle-to-grave' social democracy and the social and economic challenges brought on by immigration and other twenty-first century changes. Robinowitz and Carr explore the values underlying modern Swedish culture, such as lagom (moderation), the law of Jante (personal modesty), communication styles, and business practices. A most enjoyable chapter is 'The Seasons and their Power,' where readers get a glimpse of the 'complete Swede' as characterized by the four seasons-especially the Summer Swede. Christina Johansson Robinowitz is a cross-cultural coach, trainer, and consultant. A native of Sweden and long-time resident of the United States, she works with multinational companies and international organizations, specializing in Swedish-U.S. intercultural relations. Lisa Werner Carr, an American of Swedish descent, is a professional journalist and has lived and worked in Sweden. Now based in Dallas, she is a Web content developer and contributing editor to the magazine Sweden & America.