{"product_id":"happy-land","title":"Happy Land","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFinland has been named 'the happiest country in the world' for nine years running. Long-term British resident Tim Bird looks at what makes it so special\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e‘An entertaining sideways look at Finnish history, culture and identity’ Shafik Meghji\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDrawing on his forty-year immersion in Finnish life, journalist Tim Bird reflects on Finland's reputation as 'the happiest country in the world', and whether Finns, famed for their 'sisu' (quiet resilience), dark winters and passion for heavy metal, actually recognise it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrom its landscape, culture and chequered history to its language, cuisine and wholehearted commitment to the West, he provides an entertaining and affectionate portrait of his adopted home and how it has changed since the 1980s.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChallenging the stereotype of a cold and introverted country, \u003cem\u003eHappy Land\u003c\/em\u003e invites us to step inside Finland's true psyche, ponder its place in the world, and learn the secrets of its special brand of contentment.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e‘Written with warmth and charm, it underlines why this oft-overlooked Nordic nation deserves greater international attention’ \u003cb\u003eShafik Meghji, author of \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eSmall Earthquakes\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e‘It’s hard not to like Bird’s fair and objective appraisal of a highly likeable country’ \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eIrish Times\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e‘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, \u003ci\u003eHappy Land\u003c\/i\u003e has me plotting my own Finnish adventure’ \u003cb\u003eKate Wickers, author of \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eShape of a Boy\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e‘This hugely enjoyable journey through life in Finland resonates deeply with my own experience and understanding of this extraordinary, wonderful country’ \u003cb\u003eBruce J. Oreck, former US ambassador to Finland\u003c\/b\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePAPERBACK OUT JANUARY 2027. AVAILABLE TO PREORDER NOW\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch6\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/h6\u003e\n\u003ch6\u003eHardback: 256pp\u003c\/h6\u003e\n\u003ch6\u003ePublished: Eye Books (January 2026)\u003c\/h6\u003e\n\u003ch6\u003eISBN: 9781785634376\u003c\/h6\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch6\u003ePaperback: 256pp\u003c\/h6\u003e\n\u003ch6\u003ePublished: Eye Books (January 2027)\u003c\/h6\u003e\n\u003ch6\u003eISBN: \u003cspan\u003e9781785634895\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/h6\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Eye Books","offers":[{"title":"Hardcover","offer_id":58819982328192,"sku":null,"price":14.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":58819982360960,"sku":null,"price":12.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1271\/4023\/files\/9781785634895.jpg?v=1788176184","url":"https:\/\/www.eyebooksgroup.com\/products\/happy-land","provider":"Eye Books Group","version":"1.0","type":"link"}