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

The restrictions enforced by American authorities during the pandemic were largely unnecessary, according to this convincing debut from Swedish journalist Anderberg. While much of the world adopted strict mandates to stop the virsus’s spread, the Swedish government followed the recommendations of scientists, primarily state epidemiologist Anders Tegnell, who believed that the risk of transmission in Sweden was low and successfully advocated for an approach that focused on reducing the pace of transmission while still fostering economic and social well-being. As a result, Swedes “didn’t have to wear face masks, young children continued going to school, and leisure activities were largely allowed to go on unhindered.” Despite condemnation from foreign media, Tegnell and his colleagues were vindicated, Anderberg writes: “By the end of 2021, 56 countries had registered more deaths per capita from Covid-19 than Sweden.” Anderberg’s account is peppered with details that add depth to the colorful cast—like Tegnell’s reputation for never wearing a bike helmet, and his predecessor Johan Giesecke’s tendency to call Tegnell “his boy.” This is a fascinating addition to the growing body of work on Covid-19. (May)