I am a Canadian, living in Norway for four years. I am very sorry i paid for this diatribe. Although much of the factual information is correct, the interpretation of it is so biased, so pro-Yankee that i could only manage to force myself read sixty pages or so. Do not reward this piece of biased journalism. To equate norsk problems with American ones is like comparing a mouse with an elephant. Of course the norsk complain, they are human after all. And the norsk system certainly has it's flaws. But they don't let their police shoot black people for no reason other than being black. And they care about hungry children and the elderly.
A large part of the dark side of the society that Torvik reports is a legacy of Lutherism and the way in which it pervades contemporary norsk mores. Yes, the norsk are not the friendliest people, especially on first meeting. Yet, their definition of friendship -- as being about doing things, not just saying them -- means that i have a few very good friends, and the rest are polite enough to this 'utlandet'. The last time i went to Seattle i was overwhelmed by street beggars. It was shocking. How can a country let so many of its population suffer like this? I know which society i would choose....
And finally, as an academic i follow rules of evidence. This writing is not fact-based, it is calumny. Don't buy this book, please. if you want to read about the down sides to the norsk, and Scandinavia distopia, instead, take a look at "The almost Nearly Perfect People" by Michael Booth. He picks apart the downsides of norsk life without stooping to innuendo and diatribe.
(reviewed the day of purchase)