Book reviews by students (2): non-fiction

Book review: How to be Danish                                                             by Julian (course 15-16)

“How To Be Danish”, first published in 2012, is written by Patrick Kingsley, a journalist and foreign correspondent for The Guardian. The book is in fact a series of interconnected essays, focusing both on the tremendous changes that Denmark as a country and the Danes as a society have undergone in a mere two decades and a half – which is, from a historical perspective, a very short period of time – and the challenges that lie ahead. The author looks into almost each and every aspect of Danish life, amongst others the international – and somewhat unexpected – huge success of the TV series The Killing which was followed in its home country by an amazingly consistent 40% of the population. Denmark’s “extraordinary culinary revival” is also extensively covered, as it is Copenhagen’s “Noma”, which has been rated as the best restaurant in the world for several years in a row. He also writes in detail, with understandable appreciation, about the breath and width of the Danish social services network, encompassing childcare, healthcare and education, which are all completely free, including university education and most of its living costs, and the very peculiar “folke” schools, open to everyone regardless of age and life experience, which focus on Humanities. This was certainly my favourite part of the book, as reality in Denmark, today, seems to prove that it is possible to devise and operate, successfully, such a generous social benefits system. “Students aren’t seen as a burden on the state, but as people whose skills will one day support it,” writes the author. “They’re future participants in Danish life, and they’re treated as such.” However, Kingsley is not oblivious to the many current and foreseeable challenges Denmark faces: on the one hand, demographic issues– an increase in the number of pensioners coupled with a decrease of tax collection; on the other hand, integration issues – it is challenging not only for recently arrived immigrants, but also for second generation ones to fit the “Danish norm”. Although the scope of the book is not vast but small, Kingsley succeeds in portraying the quality and complexity of life in Denmark with a fresh perspective and a reporter’s sharp insight. It is an easy, enlightening and highly recommended read.