This book is for anyone who is curious about Sweden and would like to know more about its history. The book provides an overview of political, social, economic, and cultural developments from the end of the 10th century up to the 2010s.

The book comprises four chronologically ordered chapters. Each chronological chapter features a portrait of a personage who illustrates the spirit of the times: St. Bridget, Queen Christina, the scientist Carolus Linnaeus, and the politician Olof Palme. Besides the chronological surveys, there are special sections devoted to overarching trends in justice, demographic trends, and the emergence of cities.