I am 42 years old and until today I didn't know that Finland was not part of Scandinavia. Guess that B- in Geography was well-earned after all. Thank you KZfaq commenters for setting me straight and apologies to the Finns and Scandinavians for my American ignorance.

It’s a wonderful example of circumstances that made Scandinavia such a place for security and prosperity. But an interesting thing is, that when you achieve such a Maslowian state of self realization, some weird things happen. Firstly, those who do not experience the safety and happiness, feels far more excluded, those who don’t have great social skills become far more isolated, and the families that do not have resources become taboo. So while we in Denmark have great average feeling of happiness, we have outsiders that feel a disproportionate degree of not fitting in. It’s one of those complex challenges of a homogeneous society. Again if you live in one of the wealthiest, happiest, most secure places in the world, how dare you to not be satisfied, take responsibility and do better?

Happiness comes at a cost to society, & Denmark is willing to pay it. I find the level of trust in the wider society so striking & beautiful.

as someone who is greatly struggling at finding my happiness, these videos are not only great bumpers to steer me in the right direction, but they are wonderfully produced and filmed. thank you!

I live in Denmark, I benefit greatly from the system supporting us! We live the American dream here in Denmark, here you can truly become whatever you want no matter who you are. The freedom and security makes life easy! (Maybe to easy) The one thing Dane’s need in my opinion is to see Casey and your film “make it count”, when I watched it the first time 12 years ago I found the missing piece in the puzzle, in Denmark you tend to become to comfortable and end up missing out, if you sprinkle a bit off make it count in your life we would be number 1 again! Great video! Come and visit Ærø next time and your mind will be blown

Please continue making videos. Even beyond the happiness series. Great storytelling, Max!!

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="672">11:12</a> actually the bike is locked, just not to the wall.. otherwise a very well researched and interesting video

I love the shots of Max running around with his thick mantle and documentary camera gear like he’s on an “Aarhus Safari”

i'm a dane and i was asking myself this question a lot through out my life and I think you pretty much hit the core of it... your deep dive gave me watery eyes! thx

Dude, I loved this. Thank you for diving into this series 🙏

Thanks Max. Your storytelling is therapeutical and very deep. Although you produce less content, but it’s worth to wait. Thank you man.

Holy shit. Your documentary finally made me understand the meaning of "Les jours heureux". In the 30's and after the 2nd World War, in France one of the great themes and leitmotives of the left and unions was to build a society in which the happy days were possible. How did they do it ? With building the welfare state on the ruins of the Second World War. Free Healthcare, job security, paid leave, strong public services... It's all being dismantled in the latter years, due to the neoliberal tendencies of the current political landscape, but it still somewhat exist.

Once again, great take. Enjoying this journey thoroughly.

This is an amazing documentary @Max! have been always a fan since the days of casey vlogs. Keep surprising us with your best story telling !

Great video Max, please never stop doing what you do. Love from Brazil!

Thank you for another amazing video! I'm really enjoying this series!

I really enjoyed this new series so far Max! However, in this video I think you’re missing the one thing that is central to the Scandinavian welfare model; a high degree of vertical redistribution. In other words, the more you earn, the more taxes you pay. This creates a high level of economic equality, and ensures social and financial support for all layers of society, which is highly beneficial for the happiness of all citizens, regardless of income level. ‘The Spirit Level’ is an amazing book if you want to know more about this topic.

Thank you for your work, Max. Visuals and storytelling are stunning! The true gem of KZfaq that needed to be made.

Happiness is living in a time where you can watch such art (creation that evokes Emotional alchemy) for free across the other end of the world. Thank You! Max for doing what you do!!!

I'm so glad to see you get back on a new project again! Your Bookstores video has been one of my favorites ever on the platform, both as a viewer and a creator to learn from, how it manages to be a personal journey, an informative documentary, and an engaging vlog all at the same time is nothing short of brilliant, and I hope to apply all those things in my own work. I'll be following and sharing this series as it goes, certainly can't wait for the cumulative 2-hour long cut in the end which really ties in all these things together cohesively! Would be fun to see how the idea of happiness in science, culture, literature, western philosophy, buddhism, etc. all combine and coalesce into each other by the end.

A finn here! I feel like its not about how much you earn or how successful youre, but how little you need to worry. Safety, willingness to help, paid sick leave, affordable housing, free education and healthcare, all those things and more that help you get back up when youre down. Some people here dont understand it and appreciate it, but i most people are fine with paying high tax to not be kicked deeper to the ground when losing their job etc.

It is amazing the levels of happiness and real contentment you can reach when the Estate plays the role they are supposed to. In so many parts of the world greed and corruption have condemned millions to spend their lives struggling to pay bills - let alone others without even access to clean water. We spend our lives feeling inadequate and insufficient, mirroring ourselves to advertisement and produced imagesof happiness created to generate consumption, and not getting even close to having a chance in questioning ourselves about our real needs and potentials. Millions die without it, others live pursuing to become the filtered static image that was pushed to them... Happiness might be developing a different look on life, not searching outside, but removing filters applied on our vision from within...Thank YOU Max for this inspiring series ;) Cheers!

Thank you for the creation you brought, I enjoyed every moment of the documentary, it made me look at some possible mends and shifts of mindsets, and it broils down to this idea: Perhaps happiness is like Lego. It's definitely one way to have only the big chunks (the fixated, and limited ideation about happiness that is bounded by material and superficial success), when we have them, we can combine them really fast at the loss of our personal touch. It tends to limit our flexibility to change forms (because it simply won't do) and in times of discomfort, it ends up being bulky for us to carry. On the other hand, there is this possibility that it can also be many pieces of small chunks, the interchangeable pieces that allow imagination, creativity and dynamics to flow as freely and boundless as possible. And each time when we collect one small chunk, it has the potential to allow a new perspective of what our very version of happiness might form into, perhaps a larger, ever-evolving depiction of happiness. I wish everyone who came through this documentary brought something home, stay healthy!

Always revelatory, entertaining and so satisfying. Love this series.

Max, your content is awesome man! Thank you for being you!

I really loved the reflections part, where the images and the words matched so precisely. Love your style - it really resonates with me.

Beautifully put together.

Beautiful work, Max, you are one of my favorite youtubers 🌞 I am from Lithuania, and while Lithuania is only number 19 in the list of the happiest countries, I have to highlight that it provides 2 years of maternity/paternity leave! 🔥

As an immigrant living in Sweden, I can confirm 2 things: the achievable happiness and the outdoor babies madness ❤ 👶🏻. Great doc, Max. Love the series!

Fascinating insights into the roots of Scandinavian happiness, particularly the blend of social support and work-life balance in Denmark. It's a powerful reminder of how societal frameworks can profoundly influence personal well-being and community health. 🌟

Max, you should be happy just because you create these incredible good documentaries! Thanks for that.

This feels nice , love it

Very nice, really enjoying this series so far

It's hard to describe anything succinctly, here you have, thank you, great job.

This is one of the most interesting videos ever uploaded on the internet !

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="670">11:10</a> "None of them are locked" *touches a clearly locked bike* XD

Absolutely love this series. ❤

Beautifully made!

Glad KZfaq recommended this video. Really appreacite you for making this deep dive into how happiness IS possible without material possession or constant pursue of achievements. The world should take notes from the Danes.

Bravo Max 👏👏👏 And thank you 🙏

you are brilliant max. Please never stop!

This video series are phenomenal😄

This series is beautiful

Great video. A very nice new perspective to reflect on

We can't wait until life isn't hard anymore, before you decide to be happy.

Finland is not a Scandinavian country, although it is part of Fennoscandia. Common misconception.

Great video! Love that outro

I really enjoyed your video, thank you :)

I’ve got my drink, I’ve got my snack. I’m ready to watch!

Happiness is curling up and watching a Max Joseph video about happiness

I moved to Denmark two and a half years ago and it is the best decision I've ever made

Excellent documentary. Loved it. Now come to Cuba or Venezuela and ask people about happiness!

Danish happiness is more akin to contentment than the typical american understanding of happiness. Living in Aarhus without worrying about being able to pay bills or health, is a very privileged life. That doesn't mean there isn't lots of problems and room for improvement, but I can't deny that it's a privileged life.

Here for newsdaddy!

the bike at <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="670">11:10</a> is locked Max:) - If you look at the rear wheel there is a blue "circle" lock which hinders the rear wheel from rotating

Watching this while depressed single and drunk on jagermeister

Really interesting

Just got back from Norway and Sweden two days ago and the first thing people wanna know is “were the people really that happy?” I’m curious to see what Max has found through his research 🧐

series is probably done (production finished) but i think it might be interesting in the context of "happiness as contentment" to get perspective of people in the nordics in tech or capitalists, of which there also are many, who are trying to invest in or grow big business, in a very silicon valley way: how do they view the nordic version of happiness? what motivates them? do they have dissonance? how do they resolve? this is a demo whose perspective i'd be most interested in hearing.

you should upload weekly great content

The title now is "Is Scandinavian Happiness For Real?" but it should be "HAPPINESS: Is Scandinavian Happiness For Real?"

Wow, I’m Japanese living in Tokyo and up until this movie I didn’t realize I was paying as high taxes as Denmark…yet the happiness level is wayyyy lower in my country.

best video on danish happiness so far o/ though i think you should have interviewed some miserable people too lmao

If I knew I was only the SECOND happiest country, oh boy it would burn me up inside every second of the day

Cold weather > Hot weather - from someone living in the southeastern U.S.

You caught the happiest danish celebrity on camera (<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="945">15:45</a>) is Francis Cardenau

This is going to sound as a hate comment but it's not lol - the docu is so much better because of the semi depressed sounding voice over haha. Great watch, thank you!

❤

Funny to think about that 1/10 Danish person who is unhappily paying taxes

gorg vid

From the news guy

The income taxes for Finland, Denmark and Japan around <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="615">10:15</a> are off

This idea was created by Bhutan, gdh instead of gdp. You shold visit Bhutan.

Nordic model also has a very high level of loneliness epidemic as well as suicide rate

might have to move soon

Hi

English learner here Does anyone know what's the word "reektus green" here <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="860">14:20</a>

You know, maybe, MAYBE, the problem with happiness is capitalism and it's anxiety, hurry, insecurity, pressure...

Italians are the happiest ppl on the planet, especially in Napoli (Naples)

But in the last video you showed us that Sri Lanka was high in mental health score. what's up with that?

All the bikes are locked, they are just not chained.

For the algorithm

🇸🇪🇳🇴🇩🇰👌

i wish to God that this video is watched as many people who do watch the timepass Mr beast

fine, i'll be the Finn to say it. Finland is a Nordic country - not part of Scandinavia.

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="695">11:35</a> Please don't leave your babies alone, even when sleeping. Once they wake up they will become traumatised and scared from not being around anyone they recognise.

Cap-wearing diesel truck-driving Americans despise the Scandinavian society because it doesn't promote the cynical individualism people in the states love.

can i translate hygge into 小確幸

You know who use to have that kind of world view? The native people in all America. Check what the philosopher from the aztec and mayas has to says about community and happiness.

Social security and spending are the root cause of their happyness. Also not labeling it instantly as communism goes a long way.

Please do a video on how to dissociate ourself worth with the rat race.

finland is not in scandinavia

They are wealthy, have good safety nets, enjoy individualism because they are wealthy and the sad people k1lled themselves. My opinion from Southern Europe.

They are wealthy, have good safety nets, enjoy individualism because they are wealthy and the sad people k1lled themselves.

It's life satisfaction, not happiness

In the interview part it would have been more interesting in taking an immigrant person from a minority background: black, indian, muslim, latino or hispanic, not a British person. They would have given you a more detailed and honest version of what is really life there if you are not danish.

why didn't you interview any people of colour

No 5 is Israel. whats your point?

have you considered white balance?