Why is Finland consistently named 'the happiest country in the world'?

Drawing on his forty-year immersion in Finnish culture, Tim Bird reflects on this reputation and whether Finns, famed for their quiet resilience (Sisu), dark winters and passion for heavy metal, actually recognise it. 

Exploring a nation whose deference to its Soviet neighbour became a whole-hearted commitment to the EU and Nato within thirty years, he provides an affectionate portrait of its distinctive way of life. From its checkered history to its traditional landscape, language, literature, cuisine, egalitarianism, prized education system, treatment of minorities and place in the world, Tim offers something for anyone interested in this land of a thousand lakes. 

Moving beyond the stereotypes of a silent, cold and unfriendly country, Happy Land invites us to step inside Finland's true psyche and discover the secrets of its special brand of contentment.



Tim Bird is a writer, editor and award-winning photographer with dual British and Finnish citizenship. His published works include A Baltic Odyssey, Suomenlinna – Islands of Light, and Living in Finland (co-authored with Ingalil Snitt). He contributes to various publications such as BBC Travel, The Independent, the Daily Telegraph, Finnair's Blue Wings and Hidden Compass. He lives in Helsinki.



'Packed full of personal anecdote and rich in observation, this is a book that delves deeper into Finnish culture. Tim Bird's astute observation and gentle humour come from an obvious love of his adopted home country. Warm and witty, with just the right amount of wacky, Happy Land has me plotting my own Finnish adventure'



'An entertaining, informative and wide-ranging travel memoir, Happy Land takes a sideways look at Finnish history, landscapes, culture, cuisine and identity, from sauna etiquette to egalitarianism, forest bathing to heavy metal. Written with warmth and charm, it underlines why this oft-overlooked Nordic nation deserves greater international attention'



'It's hard not to like Bird's fair and objective appraisal of a highly likeable country'



'This hugely enjoyable journey through life in Finland resonates deeply with my own experience and understanding of this extraordinary, wonderful country'