What are the real Swedish Values? Who is the real Swedish Model? In recent times, we have come to favour all things Scandi — their food, furnishings, fiction, fashion, and general way of life. We seem to regard the Swedes and their Scandinavian neighbours as altogether more sophisticated, admirable, and evolved than us. We have all aspired to be Swedish, to live in their perfectly designed society from the future. But what if we have invested all our faith in a fantasy? What if Sweden has in fact never been as moderate, egalitarian, dignified, or tolerant as it would like to (have us) think? The recent rise to political prominence of an openly neo-Nazi party has begun to crack the illusion, and here now is Swede Elisabeth Åsbrink, who loves her country ‘but not blindly’, presenting twenty-five of her nation’s key words and icons afresh, in order to give the world a clearer-eyed understanding of this fascinating country …

Made in Sweden: Studies in Popular Music serves as a comprehensive and rigorous introduction to the history, sociology and musicology of twentieth-century Swedish popular music. The volume consists of essays by leading scholars of Swedish popular music and covers the major figures, styles and social contexts of pop music in Swedish. Although the vast majority of the contributors are Swedish, the essays are expressly written for an international English-speaking audience. No knowledge of Swedish music or culture will be assumed. Each essay provides adequate context so readers understand why the figure or genre under discussion is of lasting significance to Swedish popular music; each section features a brief introduction by the volume editors. The book presents a general description of the history and background of Swedish popular music, followed by essays that are organized into thematic sections: The Historical Development of the Swedish Popular-Music Mainstream; The Swedishness of Swedish Popular-Music Genres; Professionalization and Diversification; and Swedish Artist Personas. Contributors: Jonas Bjälesjö Alf Björnberg Thomas Bossius Peter Dahlén Olle Edström Karin L. Eriksson Rasmus Fleischer Sverker Hyltén-Cavallius Lars Lilliestam Ulf Lindberg Morten Michelsen Susanna Nordström Marita Rhedin Henrik Smith-Sivertsen Ann Werner Kajsa Widegren

How does a child become a criminal? How does a father lose a son? An epic crime novel with the excitement of Jo Nesbo's Headhunters and the narrative depth of We Need to Talk About Kevin, The Father is inspired by the extraordinary true story of three brothers who committed ten audacious bank robberies in Sweden over the course of just two years. None had committed a crime before. All were under twenty-four years old. When their incredible spree had come to an end amid the glare of the international media, all of them would be changed forever as individuals and as a family. This intoxicating, heartbreaking thriller tells the story of how three boys are transformed over the course of their lives from innocent children to the most wanted criminals in Sweden. And of the man who made them that way: their father.

The thrilling sequel to the ripped-from-the-headlines crime novel about three brothers who became Sweden's most wanted criminals, and the father who made them that way. After six years in prison, Leo Duvnjac is free. Prosecuted for numerous crimes--including ten bank robberies, planting a bomb in Stockholm's Central Station, and pulling off northern Europe's largest-ever weapons theft--he was convicted of just two robberies in the end. Unreformed, Leo has spent his imprisonment plotting one final heist, but he only has a brief window following his release to pull it off. The plan is to steal more than 100 million Swedish crowns from Sweden's largest police station--and then disappear forever. It is a decision that will threaten what remains of his relationships with his father and brothers, who also went to prison for the earlier robberies, and set him on a collision course with the aggressive cop who sent them to jail, John Broncks.

*The basis for the wonderfully funny and moving TV series developed by Amy Poehler and Scout Productions* A charming, practical, and unsentimental approach to putting a home in order while reflecting on the tiny joys that make up a long life. In Sweden there is a kind of decluttering called döstädning, dö meaning “death” and städning meaning “cleaning.” This surprising and invigorating process of clearing out unnecessary belongings can be undertaken at any age or life stage but should be done sooner than later, before others have to do it for you. In The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning, artist Margareta Magnusson, with Scandinavian humor and wisdom, instructs readers to embrace minimalism. Her radical and joyous method for putting things in order helps families broach sensitive conversations, and makes the process uplifting rather than overwhelming. Margareta suggests which possessions you can easily get rid of (unworn clothes, unwanted presents, more plates than you’d ever use) and which you might want to keep (photographs, love letters, a few of your children’s art projects). Digging into her late husband’s tool shed, and her own secret drawer of vices, Margareta introduces an element of fun to a potentially daunting task. Along the way readers get a glimpse into her life in Sweden, and also become more comfortable with the idea of letting go.

Lagom: n. just the right amount, balanced, harmonious. This beautiful, fresh cookbook offers genuine insight into how Swedes eat and cook – with recipes that fit around the seasons, occasions, times of day, and appetite. Eating and cooking in tune with 'lagom' means embracing food that is good for body and soul, unfussy, delicious and sustaining, and all in harmony. The Swedes understand that balance is everything – that you crave comforting food when a bitter wind is howling outside, that refreshing, lighter meals suit hot, hazy days, that a mid-morning bun is good for morale, and that a long, sociable lunch with friends and family on a Sunday is the most rewarding way to end the weekend. There is a time and place for every kind of food, and when everything is in equilibrium, you will be content and satisfied. Steffi Knowles-Dellner is a Swedish food stylist and blogger who will introduce you to the unique Swedish concepts that encapsulate lagom, in this her debut book. From the well-known smörgåsbord table of open sandwiches, and Fredags mys ("cosy Fridays") when hunkering down on a cosy sofa and tucking into tacos is a must, all the way to the irresistible idea of lördagsgodis – a single day for eating sweets to satisfy even the sweetest tooth.

Complete Swedish is a comprehensive ebook + audio language course that takes you from beginner to intermediate level. The new edition of this successful course has been fully revised and is packed with new learning features to give you the language, practice and skills to communicate with confidence. -Maps from A1 to B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) for languages -18 learning units plus grammar reference and word glossary -Discovery Method - figure out rules and patterns to make the language stick -Teaches the key skills - reading, writing, listening and speaking -Learn to learn - tips and skills on how to be a better language learner -Culture notes - learn about the people and places of Sweden -Outcomes-based learning - focus your studies with clear aims -Authentic listening activities - everyday conversations give you a flavour of real spoken Swedish -Test Yourself - see and track your own progress Please note not all devices support the audio/video component of enhanced ebooks. We recommend you download a sample to check compatibility with your device. Alternatively, you can find the audio for this course for free on our website https://library.teachyourself.com. You will be able to stream it online or download it to the Teach Yourself Library app. Rely on Teach Yourself, trusted by language learners for over 85 years.