A personal view of 'the world's happiest country' from an accidental expat in Finland

Tim Bird arrived in Finland by accident in the early Eighties. More than forty years on, he is still there. He has watched the transformation of his adopted homeland from semi-detached member of the Soviet bloc to modern European nation that tops the rankings, year after year, as 'the happiest country in the world'.

Does it deserve that status? Do the Finns, known for their hard drinking, their sisu (grit) and their passion for heavy metal, recognise that description of themselves? Telling the story of his own path to Finnish citizenship while also delving into the writings of a 19th-century British traveller, Bird interrogates the claim made on Finland's behalf.

In this clear-sighted – but never cynical – sideways look at the land of the sauna, the Northern Lights and the Moomins, Bird spotlights the Nordic nation's distinctive culture, landscape and language. As he helps us understand the Finnish notion of contentment, are there life-lessons for the rest of us?



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'