The Herd: How Sweden Chose Its Own Path Through the Worst Pandemic in 100 Years

Description

In the spring of 2020, as a new and deadly virus spread across the globe rapidly, the world shut down. But a small country in Northern Europe remained open. The Swedish Covid-19 strategy was alternately lauded and held up as a cautionary tale by international governments and journalists alike―with all eyes on what has been dubbed “The Swedish Experiment”. But what made Sweden take such a different path?

In The Herd, journalist Johan Anderberg narrates the improbable story of a small nation that took a startlingly different approach to fighting the greatest global pandemic in over one hundred years. First, the government instituted no restrictions. Then, it declined to order the wearing of face masks. While the rest of the world looked on with incredulity, condemnation, admiration, and even envy, Sweden stood alone.

But The Herd is more than just a look at the evolution of the singular Swedish Covid-19 strategy. With remarkable ease, Anderberg guides the reader through the history of epidemiology, R0-rates, inoculation, and international organizations and collaborations. He also presents a colorful cast of characters and the ticking-clock decisions they were faced with on a daily basis.