I think Europeans define success differently. We enjoy the safety net, health care, travel, work to live not live to work, taking long vacations without worries, access to free or affordable good education, workers rights... I used to live in the US and my life in Germany is so much better. My husband and I were both working full time in Arizona but had only 30 Dollars per week to spend on food back in 1990 to 1993. I have been working similar jobs in Germany since then and have a good life living solely on my income after my divorce and managed even to invest in real estate.
Tbh by European standards Germany is very Americanized, it's all home work work home, many would argue much of America's capitalistic attitude is inherited from Germany, nothing compared to Southern Europe where the reputation of "relaxing" really comes from. Your case is very abnormal i will say however and most stories are about people making CONSIDERABLY more money in America than they would even in Germany which is still Europe's top economy.
I'm originally from NYC, I was a workaholic, but being a workaholic to make others rich isn't quality of life, today I live in Puerto Rico and I work for myself, this for me is quality of life.
Wasn't the whole point of the American dream that you should start your own business? As a European that's what i always pictured the point of America's economy was. Lots and lots of small businesses and people working for themselves as opposed to the European models in which people are raised to aim for steady jobs in large corporations that were established centuries ago
@@liquidsnake6879he’s living the American dream without realizing it lmfao. Besides many Europeans complain about how it’s hard to be self employed/starting a business compared to the USA 😂
@@S3aCa1mRa1nBut do you realize that there aren't that many mega companies and fast food chains in Europe? There are more small family businesses and SMEs?
I am an American who has been working full-time for roughly 40 years. I can tell you that it does not lead to a sustainable happiness unless you build a network of friends, family and colleagues that help with work-life balance. I think a lot of younger people in the U.S. understand this, but the erosion of social opportunities (except maybe online) is a problem in achieving that balance. It is true that Americans sort of frenetically seek careers because the alternative looks like an abyss of hardship and poverty. There is not much of a "safety net" for lack of financial success, so we push ourselves forward. It's like being a shark -- you move forward or you die.
In America the alternative literally is hardship. You better work hard, after all, you won't have access to health care if you lose your job because your health insurance comes from your job. Not to mention you have a huge mortgage so you better not lose your job or you lose your house. And your wife is a materialist so you lose your wife with your job too. And your kids. Americans are slaves, it's really that simple. Slaves are machines and when a machine is broken you discard it and replace it with another. Millions of broken Americans are discarded each year to the trailer parks, slums, and streets and replaced with working machines who stream in across the border by the millions each year.
> erosion of social opportunities Other comments are comparing the US to Germany, but Germany and many European countries continue to have various clubs, social groups, and friendship groups, even into old age, that have a habit of gathering during weekdays and weekends. While Western individualism, American clique culture of "friends" who not really friends at all (more like enemies), the loneliness epidemic, the American culture of workaholism, crazy unrealistic corporate demands, working from home, flex work, using apps and devices to work, and social isolation in cubicle apartments etc, not only erodes social opportunities but totally prohibits social interaction... Every waking moment will soon be used to serve capitalist/corporate interests, and serving the technocracy (Yanis Varoufakis). Online social culture although better than nothing is secondary/theoretical at best (as far as I can see) and not substitute at all for practical/traditional real life connections and deeds... As to "achieving balance" you are missing a major factor apart from "work-life". Europe has twice as many Atheists as America and many churches are defunct whereas Americans although spending disproportionate time working for money and not resting are in fact highly religious and theistic people, 63% of Americans.
Great video, I'm Dutch and don't think there's necessarily a negative attitude towards Americans, just a huge culture clash which is weird considering many Americans came from Europe a few generations ago. The problem is that there are loud voices specifically highlighting our differences. Sure, I've spoken to Americans who think they know everything and tend to generalize Europe but I won't link that to the stereotype and let it influence my view of Americans. What I do think is needed is for Americans to understand that "Europeans" can't be defined as one group, there's diverse cultures with beautiful traditions as well as innovations!
It depends a lot on what part of Europe you come from. As a Catalan Spaniard from Barcelona I think we have a mix of west-northern Europe attitude (entrepreneurship, hard work, etc) and the Mediterranean lifestyle (slow food, being outdoors, music, dancing, etc). I think it's the perfect balance. By the way, I think the title of the video is wrong. We don't dislike each other. We are all westerners and like each other, but have different points of view on how to live life.
I'm an Asian in my early 30's, and I definitely feel more at ease with the European lifestyle. While both have its pros and cons, nobody can pay me to move to the U.S., much less want to raise a family there. Just NO... 😩💀
I live in Sweden and have a chance to work with couple of Americans, of them 10 only 2 were humble and knowledgeable the rest were full of them self, waaay to easy on lying to get what they want and in the best case average in knowledge and work quality. I dont know how much they really work hard in US, or just sit in the office 12h a day while backstabbing one another and call it a hard work. Maybe its their culture but I am not impressed.
The problem with America is the ultra capitalist mindset that the system they have there breeds. It really brings out the worst in people. Whereas a lot of European countries tend to be on an equal footing in terms of work and community. It's why I would never work for an American company here in Ireland. I know which way of life I'd choose
Yes, that's it. Weird isn't it. I have had the same experience. There is little work ethic as such. It's about titles, knowing people and managing people, but the actual work. It's more like Soviet Union 2.0 😅. This surprised me very much, because a different view is cultivated. Maybe they come from a very different angle, but the results are the same: Shuffling papers around, being present in meeting (and very vocal too, because your boss should know who you are), but too scared too speak out. The culture is very authotarian and this makes for a mediocre outcome at best.
Your video essay was one of the most careful, balanced, and accurate summaries of the differences between the US and Europe that I've ever seen. You were also careful to point out the nuances that exist between the two cultures. There was a time when I considered Europeans to be lazy, and I thought it was ridiculous that they would take a 90-minute lunch break. I then spent over a decade living in Europe. I worked in the UK, Germany, and Switzerland. I got to enjoy 90-minute lunch breaks. In 2018, I returned to the US and a working culture that considered lunch to be a 10-minute or less privilege.
Stereotypes always have a bit of truth to them...... I'm American but, I have the attitude of a European in that, quality of life means more to me than financial success! I'd rather be happy and poor than rich & miserable!
That is actually very revealing - and it's true. Americans are very concerned with personal gains, not with the outcome. That makes them actually difficult to work with, and be productive in a sense that requires doing actual work and not just thinking about your next strategic move. Americans on average have a very low commitment to the work and the workplace as such. They are incredibly selfish and it's more about appearances than anything else.
@@leisen9679this self centered nature of theirs is why they prize “freedom” so much and why no one can spare a penny for better systems to help the hundreds of thousands of people in medical debt, on the streets drugged out the wazoo
I believe there are different levels to being poor but I think you're right. Although I feel that if you have enough money from work to then go on vacations/holidays or other types of enjoyment that the European lifestyle pushes people towards then you can easily be happy. I know everyone is in different positions with what they need to pay for whether its children or extra costs elsewhere and not only that but there is different standards that people have for what makes them happy, I for one want very little(or what is little to me anyway haha), new food experiences, new clothes maybe twice a year and the occasional trip out to somewhere whether its a walk in the forest nearby or an actual trip to another country! I buy what I need when I need it. Less so what I want when I want it. @@thomassenbart
I’m 53, and from California, U.S. having lived, and worked my entire life in America, I have noticed peers committing suicide, dropping dead of heart attacks, and getting themselves thousands of dollars in credit card debt. …..The European way of work/ life balance is MUCH HEALTHIER.
@@sanniepstein4835 USA is the primary beneficiary of this military/defense setup this is what makes USA's dollar global currency and unprecedented investment opportunities I don't think you understand just how huge of economic driver this brings to US - the economic benefit brought to USA for their leadership in global order covers USA's military expenditures multi fold. Plus military expenditures doesn't really drain USA's economy the way it often does in other countries as all money invested in defense stays in USA and infact some of it ends up bringing income in form of arm sales. USA's way of life though has nothing to do with the defense/military setup. It can easily be different whilst maintaining the same global order. Now that said as we've seen with war in Ukraine - USA alone - is not enough as security guarantor and Europe definitely needs to pull it's act together.
No. I've heard this so many times and it's just no true. In my experience many Europeans no natter if they are from North, South, West or East are actually more productive than Americans and are less concerned with their peers and bosses. I am German, so yes, the work culture is really strong here. By no means, Americans are as productive as we are. Be less distracted by impressing your boss and climbing up the corporate ladder and focus on the actual work. I am not impressed by Americans, not at all.
> We shrug off our indentured slavery Such a highly underrated criticism of the Western reality: Indentured/chattel slavery to bank, utilities, and gov/taxes. Nomadic tribes, even cave men, had more more life than the majority in the West who are slaves to capitalism, consumerism, individualism, lust/desire, and narcissism. Gaslighting or accusing others of being "lazy" or "spoilt" etc is evil and only someone completely desensitised and dehumanised could truly think and say such things and mean it.
As an Italian who lives in Germany I fully agree on your thoughts. I do also appreciate the American way of looking at entrepreneurship and career drive. However, here in Germany I have 30 days of paid vacation, good health insurance, and a good social system (for which I pay a lot of money - almost 50% of my salary). I'm sure that in America I would have made much more money but in the end, it's not just the money. A mix would be perfect, i.e. you got sent by your European firm to New York while you keep all the privileges you have in Europe :)
@@MrPinoCavallo Absolutely. We have a saying in North America, "If It's Tuesday, there's a lay-off somewhere". Each company (from the USA or Canada) has 1-3 rounds of layoffs every year - even when the overall economy is booming. The idea is to increase the EBIDTA (Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization). This is the metric driving our lives. 😀 If I were the President of the USA, I would say "You know what? Each unused day is nationalized - the benefit goes to the Fed." From 765 million days at a median hourly wage of $25, the Fed would have collected 2 trillion dollars. Here we go, you can pay the national debt in no time from the employees' "donations".
I live in Canada where our attitudes and way of life are about halfway between the U.S. and Europe. It seems about half of us want a better social safety net, better rights for workers, more vacation time (most of us don't get much, depending on the job) while the other half say no, we have to be more like the U.S. because they are our biggest trading partner. SMH. Personally if I ever went to live in another country it would be France or some other country in Europe because I like the pace of life there, and the appreciation for the arts, good food etc. On the other hand I do admire the American entrepreneurial spirit, and I can understand why it's s better place to live for driven type A personalities.
In America, you’re more hungry. (Literally and figuratively) You don’t have near the amount of public welfare as you do in Europe. You’re not going to be comfortable doing the bare minimal in America. It’s good in a way because it makes society more competitive and through competition the cream rises to the top. In Europe, you don’t have to worry about near as much. You can easily go to work at a coffee shop slinging cafe au laits and you’ll have a respectable retirement and excellent medical coverage. America forces you to do better and be better. In Europe, I think because there’s not the amount of anxiety as there is in America, the mental health of Europeans is much better overall. Yes, America is a great country with the effort it puts out, but our competitive society comes at a tremendous cost to the individual’s mental and physical health.
Its not like is guaranteed. I mean if you dont work at least 15 years you dont have right to a pension. Yeah you wont starve but you'll be living with 500 euros a month or social charity aids... Europeans work hard too isnt like we go carelessly through live without ambition. People in European companies still want to earn more and be promoted and recognized within their own field. A doctor in Europe earns four or five times more than someone at a coffee shop serving café au lait. You can be fired from your job if you dont perform well and go through harship as well in Europe. Imagine someone who is fired and has a morgage to pay. Well if they dont find a job in 6 months, benefits run out and you end up on your own with a morgage you cannot pay. Sometimes this ends with you loosing the house, yeah in Europe. So there is still competitiveness and a need to work somehow hard. But is not a life-threatening situation as in the US where literally loosing your job can mean you loosing healthcare and die. Also not all countries assure you stability, Bulgaria and the netherlands are very different.
You have put up a summary of the last 15 years of my life. America, you born , you go to school, you work and later you die. I think the only advantage of remote work is to get rid of this cycle while u live an expat life in a different country while you earn in US dollars
Perhaps this comment may seem a little off topic, but if there's one thing I can comment about as someone who works in an international company that deals with partners and coworkers from both U.S. and Europe, I have noticed that Americans tend to feign friendliness. They tend to act more casual, almost appearing "friendly", to the point where sometimes, they may push other people's boundaries without paying heed to their standpoint--- yet they tend to get offended/react easily if they are exposed to the slightest inconvenience. It's almost like they are driven in such a "Me, Me" nature. Meanwhile, Europeans tend to be more straightforward. They have an air of formality about them (and yes, can be very snobby), and yet, when they mean business, they really mean business in a way that makes sure both parties are heard and given a chance to profit.
I am guessing you are a European (?) Another interpretation of this is that Americans tend to lead with friendliness while being wary of others they don't yet know. It isn't "false," it's just tentative. We tend to try to be open, but we generally don't trust others until we feel they have earned that trust. So you may be getting a vibe that they are working hard to seem friendly but without any depth to that friendliness. It's just that we embody the adage that you attract more bees with honey than vinegar. Or put another way, we will extend the benefit of the doubt until proven otherwise, and we expect the same coming back to us.
Yes! Omg, I really have made the same experience, especially the fake friendliness, but underneath lies all this rage and the "leave me alone" mentality. It is almost impossible to make them work in a team. We have a very different understanding of work culture. Now I also understand the necessity of "Team building" 😅
@@johnalden5821you didn't understand what he was saying. My experience is the same. The problem is the me, me culture, not the fake friendliness, though very annoying too, when you see that it is actually fake. The egocentric approach makes them very difficult to work with. I am German, living in Spain and worked with roughly 40 nationalities from all over the world and experienced the same. So maybe there is something too it, other than the fake friendliness? Something that runs much deeper and is actually counterproductive to any company.
@@leisen9679 Except that, being American, I work with Americans, and we have no issues working in teams. Maybe it's just cultural differences in general, which would be nobody's fault -- or as much your fault as theirs.
Sure Americans are overly ambitious and capitalistic, that is if all you know about Americans comes from exposure to the overly ambitious and capitalistic, especially those who can afford to travel abroad. The fact is the typical American is acutely aware that there is not much of a safety net in American society, like perhaps there is in Europe. You can starve here and the fear of being fired without cause or downsized, of having your car repossessed or losing your house due to falling behind on payments due to losing your job is very real here. Most Americans don't have the financial capacity to be avaricious like so many Europeans seem to think that we in fact are. The rich people in this country control everything, including whether or not the poor can survive.
Fight back. Use your voice and your vote to make a difference and your country will change. That's what we all did, and the way of life has improved dramatically over the past few decades. The next fight for us is to minimise immigration and ensure families are incentivised & emboldened so they can grow with the promise of an even better future
@@joelwillis2043 the electorate don't have much choice though since bipartisanship is pretty much forced upon them. The lesser of two evils is not exactly a great way to fix your country
I agree. On some level, it's about survival -- or at least about enjoying a decent quality of life. In the U.S., money is at the core of existence. Nobody talks about in raw terms, but the feeling is that either you make bank or life will eat you whole.
No one starves in the USA. That assertion is complete fabrication. No, the rich also do not control everything including if the poor can survive. Btw, the poor in the US are the equivalent of middle-class Europeans. Most Europeans are poor actually. I've spent a great deal of time there and there is a lot of poverty in Europe. Also, all the maladies you list are largely tropes and quite rare, save for the firing, which can happen depending on and overall, is good I would say and allows for a much more robust, productive and dynamic business climate. Avarice is an attitude not a state of wealth. Many poor folk are very greedy and envious as well.
I have lived in Europe and in the US. I lived in the US/California for 35 years and I was born and raised in the Netherlands but also lived and worked in Switzerland. I could write a book about the differences. Lets just say that Americans do not know enogh about Europe to come to any type of conclusion and the same goes for Europeans. Only those who lived in both countries for long times really have anything meaningful to say .
Any American who lives 5 years in Europe won't want to go back. I saw this happen repeatedly with military people stationed in Germany. At first they don't like it but eventually they realize the food is better quality, stop shopping at the commissary, take some trips, realize European cities aren't murder filled slums like American cities, etc. etc.
Yes, you are correct ...... the "best" way to live is somewhere between the European and American lifestyles. Awareness of the things in life that really matter, while also having the drive to be creative and productive ...... i.e., a balance between the two.
Sounds like he needs to pay a visit to Australia or Canada for the perfect “balance”. Albeit there are probably several countries in Europe and several states in the US that meet the criteria.
Why is nearly every single luxury brand from Europe, if Europeans are so noble and above material things? If you want to spend $3,000 on a purse, $30,000 on a watch or $300,000 on a car, it will be a European brand.
@@O1012-u7q Traditional craftsmanship and the fact that the luxury industry already existed when only a small minority of the general population were also consumers.
The consumer culture has expanded massively in Europe and notably the UK to the extent that it is impacting the benefits you outlined. I visited Spanish cities 20 years ago and there was less of all that American glitz in the shopping streets. Of course their culture remains European -but the buy -buy -buy and transformation of its old cities towards international commerce and chain stores makes everywhere like everywhere else. By the way some other pages around this sort of subject have Americans lamenting what US commerce has done to the American way of life which seemed to have more balance 70 years ago when the state cities had their own character and Main street America had its local shops . Now so much has been ruined by Giant out of town centres which drained life away and killed off the city and small town and village. This is happening in Britain now .Everywhere!
I think everything is relative. Many people in the United States have more of a European mentality, believing that quality of life and those things are more important. However, if you are more of an entrepreneur kind of mindset and you’re looking more to expand and grow, then the United States will offer you way more opportunities than Europe ever gives you. However, that is up to the individual, and you must ensure you do what makes you happy.
This guy only focuses on New York City, rap, ads, and movies to learn about life in the USA. There is a lot more to life here than just these stereotypes, let me tell you. Travel the entire nation back and forth then you will see so many different things, sights, lifestyles, this guy will not know what to say then. Not everyone lives in New York, likes or pays attention to rap, ads, or movies. Not everyone lives in a city. We have much more natural land, and open spaces here. The US got its hard work ethic from northern Europeans, when they came here, form England, Germany, Holland, etc. I would say this is not an easy one way thing to cover so fast and easy.
Good video. I’m an American who spent part of his career living and working in Europe. The cultural attitudes about work and a balanced lifestyle are spot on. The title of the video is a little misleading at least from an American point of view. Americans don’t dislike Europeans at all. In fact we envy their lifestyle. Which is better Europe or America? I think it comes down to what type of person you are and what stage of life you are in. If you are young and an ambitious, competitive person who wants to be at the top of your profession, then America is the place to be. If you are older and looking for a more relaxed, enjoyable lifestyle, then Europe is better.
I'm an American and I don't dislike Europeans. I think the ones who shame Americans for wanting a lifestyle that is different from theirs are annoying and full of themselves but you can say the same about Americans who do that too. I really don't understand why we can't accept that the US and Europe are two totally different places and this desire to make them carbon copies of each other is ridiculous.
America is already making us to follow them. It was also Bush telling EU to grow and now we have war with Russia because of that. In the end we don´t have a choice at least that is what it seems.
As an American I’ve worked very hard for many years and sacrificed time with our family and health. Now that I’m getting older, my health and quality of peaceful life have taken precedence. In other words, my why is shifting. We have one more daughter, we had late in life, that is approaching college age. After she reaches college the idea is to get out of here and live in Europe where healthcare is more affordable and the pace of life suits how I want to live as an older person. My idea is that working hard here in America as a younger man has made it possible to enjoy later years in Europe. But that’s just the way things have evolved.
@Naoufal it is a great video. What I wonder is, what is the Moroccan attitude to work, success and general way of life in comparison to Americans/Europeans?
You should try interviewing people in other states and cities besides just NYC, there are 50 different states and so much diversity you can't sum up America, or any country for that matter by just using the biggest or most well-known city. If you go to Seattle or Huston you'll probably get much different answers in each.
I just discovered your channel and I am very keen to explore more of it. Looking forward for your views on northern African countries and how the compare to Europe, the US, and among each other.
I plan to live in Europe when my kids are in College. He's ten years old, I still have eight years ahead but, for now I have to stay here in American unfortunately
Europe and the US are allies. We have more similarities than differences overall. They are not the " opposite" of each other. The opposite of the Western countries I would would say have to be all those Islamic fundamentalist authoritarian countries.
We maybe allies on a diplomatic level, but not just Europeans but also our other “allies” like Australia and Canada hate us. I look forward to watching Putin turn all of Europe into his personal playground.
5:10 that’s a point. It occurs to me, watching yt’s, that ads always try to sell me stuff I don’t need. It’s all luxury extra stuff, not neccesities but fripperies. Toys, games, air travel vacations, jewellery and parfumes. Stuff you only buy if you have highly dispensable income. Most of us don’t have that, but we’re tempted and we buy anyway. Well, not me, I’m a stubborn, nihilistic old mule.
As some who goes to Euope evey year, I do find European lifestyle interesting. However, if I was European living in Europe, I would consider how long is a this sustainable. As of right now it appears to having a slow death.
Just to show how biased Naoufal is : The top 10% in the USA owns 60% of all wealth where as *the bottom 50% own less than 2.5%* By the way the top 1% own close to 1/3rd of all the wealth by themselves which, if you do the math, means that those lower than the top 1% but still in the top 10% own all most another 3rd and those that are in the 11% to top 50% bracket have another 3rd. But sure, upwards mobility is faaaar bigger in the USA. RIght, I believe you, sure I do. I guess he hasn't heard of the GINI index show to be for the USA 41 where as the average for the EU is below 30. The 'worst' country in the EU being Bulgary with 38
Sure inequalities of income are bigger in the USA. But the top 10% you’re talking about aren’t the same people throughout a lifetime. 56% percent of Americans will spend a year there (data from the IRS). I made it clear I was talking about equality of opportunity and the dynamism of the system compared to Europe.
Hola Naoufal, I just found your video and I am amazed by what a great communicator you are. I will dive into your content and keep up with your amazing work. Cheers from Spain!
Europeans are extremelely ambitious its not by mere chance they conquered the world and created so much technology, culture and influence around the globe...but Europeans are masters at balance ambition is fine but there is a big line that separates whats worth it or not.
I think differences are dependent on what US State or European country you're comparing. As a New Englander and Calvinist protestant I see such diversity here that our need to just get along is important.
One peculiarity that should be noted: This is more a comparison of American URBAN culture against European (I would assume) URBAN culture. Rural American culture is drastically different from city-life in many respects, one of which is how that American drive/ambition manifests. You will not find people in the countryside working 14 hours in the office, but you will find them working 8 hours in the office, and then spending 5-6 hours doing yard work, farm work, fixing the house, decorating, gardening, or tending their animals. Even our leisure activities are pretty active: hunting, fishing, hiking, shooting, etc.
American born and raised in NYC, I wouldn't say Americans like working a lot, but we just have to. Especially if you're living in NYC or any other major city in the US (ie: Miami, Chicago, LA, etc) Wages aren't keeping up with the cost of living here, so it's not unusual that many people are working multiple jobs and side hustles to make ends meet. Healthcare is a huge issue here because not everyone is entitled to it, and our healthcare system is fucked. The cost of university is sky high, so many people need to take out several thousands of $ in loans in order to get through school. We spend years & decades paying off that debt. So yes, if you're really really rich in America, then everything I mentioned is not an issue. But for the average American, we have to work very hard and we hate it lol. That is not to say that there is no upward mobility in terms of climbing the social/wealth ladder. It's definitely possible, but it has its challenges. I must say I do envy Europeans for their balanced way of life. Employers do not grant us nearly as much time off here than they do in Europe.
Wow this ist such a great video! Nicely made, sure. But what amazes me how thoroughly and even-handedly you treated this very complex subject. I've always thought that Americans put venerate money like an idol. I think that's reason for feelings of emptieness and dispair. And that explains why the opioid crisis is not really a thing in Europe while it hit the US really hard.
It's not sustainable for people either. The US masses need to rise up and voice their discontent. Use your vote and make a change! This election is the best opportunity the USA has had in my lifetime to really make a change for good. Help the people win, not the money
There has been some comparison on how the people in Denmark and us does their work. Danes work about 37 hour pr. Week, and avoid having to work x-tra, along while having about 4 to 6 weeks of paid vacation. But by the time arould thanksgiving, the danes would have been productive as an american would be, for the whole years of worth of work/ peoductivity. As a non native english speaker I hope the last you understand, as I strugle to translate in terms for understanding. So it's not the hours, but how you solve the work that defines you in europe.
In the US you can more easily be successful and even become incredibily rich. But you can as well much more easily end up homeless if you are unlucky or you have unforseen problems.
I’m a dual national, USA society has been crumbling and is not healthy and can not in any way compare with Germany or Scandinavian countries in terms of social progress this is a joke and a very bad one.
As a South African i would like an American salary with a European work Life balance Europe might not pay US salaries but you dont have to worry about college fees or medical bills and most food consumed by Americans would fail dismally to be even considered for Europeans to eat , so yes i like how Europeans dont compromise in these situations compared to America, but i also dont blame Americans for being who they are ,its only thing they've ever known to work hard or have three jobs to keep the up with the rent and buying food, in my conclusion i feel America is great if you're wealthy but not so great when you're average compared to Europe
Americans believe the world revolves around them, Europe has a more equal idea of life. Money is the only thing that counts in the USA, where as in Europe it is about living life to the full, enjoying the moment.
Very interesting to make a video with opinions from both sides of the Atlantic. And unlike the US, in Europe there's a much greater diversity and density of cultures, in terms of language, standard of living, education, values, climate, behavior, habits, hobbies, etc. Whereas in the US there's only one language, and moving from one state to another doesn't change the way of life much. There's little difference between Oregon and Pennsylvania, whereas going from England to Italy is very striking. And then, historically, the United States has a very young culture and has never known such a long struggle between the different social classes, by which I mean demands for workers' rights, but also a philosophy of life inherited from very limited ideological and cultural branches, such as the Amsterdam colonists, the British or German emigration, all of whom had in common being Protestant and capitalist. Sociologist Max Weber discusses this important relationship between religion and economy/society. The U.S. has inherited a work-centric culture, which is firm and even authoritarian with the opposition, whereas Europe is a mixture of all the ideologies, cultures and religions that advocate quality of life over hard work. And then there's the myth of the meritocracy of the American dream, which is highly exaggerated and based solely on the minority of people who climb the social pyramid. There's just as much opportunity in Europe, and even more so in the big cities of the West than in the US, but we haven't decided to make it the pillar of our culture. Living to work, or working to live, two different relationships to the world.
There is actually a huge difference between being ambitious and being productive, in the sense of doing what is actually good for the job or the company. In my experience Americans are more concerned with a good standing and climbing up the ladder to make more money and to get a better title. But this doesn't necessarily have to do with what is good for the company. In my experience Americans are even less productive than other peers, simply because they want to please their boss and climb up the corporate ladder. A very selfish outlook does seldom produce anything productive for a big company.
Im American and lived in Europe the last 8 years to me i get the feeling people like me here i feel no dislike not even from the refugees.Who has better health care Europe.Who has better food America by far.
Something to remember to understand the broader context: Europe very recently had an extremely ambitious phase. Colonialism/imperialism/nationalism - we got burned. We destroyed ourselves at the peak of our power. It was not a slow decline but a brutal crash. The ideological rollercoaster of the past 300 years concluded in a crescendo of conflicts that turned Europe from the continent that ruled half the planet into one filled with ruins of a time that today can seem very distant but its impact is very much felt whenever you talk about a difference in mindset. While the sentiment born from these events certainly went too far, at the heart of Europe's modern difference from the USA lies a shattered system of empire that was dismantled forcefully. The Suez crisis was perhaps the most famous attempt of the "old" Europe to regain control. Afterwards, Europe's mentality slowly drifted into the laid-back lifestyle that is so widespread today but the past 2 years in particular rekindled a different kind of identity that, while never lost, was asleep for quite a while.
Ever heard of Long Service Leave. I don't think it exists anywhere else other than Australia, certainly not in the US. Europeans know how to live, Americans think they do - that's the difference.
To me, I am American, America’s problem is they just are driven by corporations to do and don’t know how to just be and enjoy our beautiful planet. There is a time to do and a time to be. Without a time to be, you just become a robot and lose you humanness and your health. Of course there the lazy who never do and are a burden on the doers.
Whilst many Europeans don't want to make their life about work. Many of us want to spend time with our families, friends and going on multiple holidays. I think many European countries are different so it's not fair to compare a whole continent to one country. Although, it does baffles me how many Americans don't have passports, get no paid leave or parental leave.
One thing is that I feel that some of what you said does not measure up to statistics. Like according to statistics intergenerational social mobility is actually quite low in the US compared to many countries in western Europa, and not all of the US work aggressively to the top. What about all the ghettos, struggling midwestern and other small rural towns and so on. You seem to pick NYC and representative of all the US? Also, if you look at history the US being the most innovate country actually predate the welfare state. Some have actually claimed that Europe have a welfare state because they could not match US innovation, not the other way around.
I prefer Europeans over Americans in any aspect. As to being lazy, Europeans work hard during core hours and are disciplined about their work; whereas Americans are most of the time lax during work hours just so it could be said they have finished their required time for the day
They also tend to have this superficial friendliness going on. It's nice to have a relaxed approach to work and have casual conversations with strangers, but sometimes, their casualness can overlook boundaries and come off as entitlement to other people's personal space. Sometimes, I'd prefer the snobby (even traditional) European formalities.
If Americans are physically and mentally broken, they can't do any decent work. No one would be able to do that. The American system is lazy and it will collapse at some point if it continues like this.
Europe is more packed and a lot of the buildings and streets look old. Like similar to NYC packed and can smell. Not everyone in this country working pay check to pay check. Some of us in America actually living it! Especially when you got money NOTHING beats living in the USA
In America life is tough. Especially if you are alone. Work, study, work, study, work, study... pay expenses. That's it. There is no social life. No jobs - oh yes... at age 40 your career is over. Then you are wondering, what I have accomplished in my life? Why I am working so hard? My advice is to stay in home country, if your life is not in danger.
Living abroad in Europe can be an absolute dream, with its picturesque landscapes, rich history, and abundance of cheesy fondue. But let's not turn a blind eye to the dark side lurking behind these cobblestone streets. First off, there's the language barrier, making you feel like a babbling fool as you desperately try to order a coffee without sounding like you're summoning a demon. Then there are those pesky cultural differences - no more late-night binges on Netflix since apparently it's considered rude to make noise after 10 pm here! And don't even get me started on the long winters; if hibernating were an Olympic sport, I'd have taken home the gold by now. So while living abroad may seem glamorous and adventurous from afar, just remember: for every breathtaking sunrise over the Eiffel Tower, there's a grumpy French waiter ready to burst your bubble with their impeccable rudeness. Cheers to expat life!
5:51 Here is the statement that shows the difference between the two systems. The concept that "no downside for the powerful means no upside for the rest" does not traditionally exist for the US. Perhaps the socio-economic structural differences create this situation in Europe.....I don't know. If the economy is designed in such a manner that it can EXPAND, then this provides the room for the lowest to become the highest if this is their focus. In the US, it is possible for a child born into poverty to become a multi-millionaire. Perhaps a system that leans more toward capitalism allows for this upward mobility. I've long felt that the top 1% promote socialism specifically because this system allows them to throw table scraps to the lower people and keep them satisfied so that they rich and powerful can maintain control of the system and thus maintain their financial dominance. If you rely on the state then the state controls you. If you cannot rely on the state, then you must establish yourself via your own efforts. I think the best thing for an individual is to embrace the parts of each culture which are best. Live frugally while working toward your own financial benefit....and also taking some time to enjoy life. Taking no time to enjoy life is bad.....but I think there is a good argument that taking all time to enjoy life is also bad. Good life is about balance. Creatures must (and should) work to survive. This is what we see with all other animals on earth. Why should it be different for humans? Work hard, live frugally in preparation for your future and take some time to enjoy life as well. Balance.
I love Europe. However, what I as an American resent is having to basically pay for their defense (and that of the rest of the free world) while they get the free healthcare and 30 hour work weeks and 2 months of vacation.
Yea, I agree. It's easy to do all of that stuff for your people when you don't have to spend money on defense, uphold international law or donate. America donates more money than the rest of world combined. But we are the greedy ones right? lol
The problem isn't the "defense of the eu" but rather that the US made too many enemies with all the involvement all over the world and now the government fears losing its decisive power. If the US pulls out of Europe, the EU would step up. But the US doesnt want another potential military superpower so we keep the incentives low, for our nominal allies military might develop too much and then the Status quo would change. The capitalist society of the US though doesnt want to lose it's majority seat at the table...
but we don't want you, get out of our continent, we're waiting for that, we've always defended ourselves alone even before your country existed, we'll be able to defend ourselves alone in the future
US is a country of immigrants and most legal immigrants coming here for higher education or on employee sponsored visas are already achievement oriented, that combined with need to survive in a new country pushes people towards pursuing achievement.
Toward the end of the video you state that Europe way of life can make you too comfortable + risk adverse but I see the opposite. Here in the US we don't have many chances to fail, if we get seriously injured that could be thousands in Medical debt. The only reason why ppl are more "ambitious" here is because we HAVE to be. We have to survive and make ends meet so we focus alot on work and career and status. I envy the European lifestyle where ppl are allowed to simply live and be themselves rather than over-achieve just to make mom and dad proud or even feel proud of yourself. I think a few ppl hit big here in the US but the casualties in that wake is unjustifiable and cruel. I truly think about leaving the US every day
Europe all the way. One day you will die and those life experiences and memories you've created will be all that matters. If you want it to be an experience of hustling whole your life, never going anywhere, being judged by how much money you have or what company you work for US is your place. For me, this is a sad way of living.
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I think Europeans define success differently. We enjoy the safety net, health care, travel, work to live not live to work, taking long vacations without worries, access to free or affordable good education, workers rights... I used to live in the US and my life in Germany is so much better. My husband and I were both working full time in Arizona but had only 30 Dollars per week to spend on food back in 1990 to 1993. I have been working similar jobs in Germany since then and have a good life living solely on my income after my divorce and managed even to invest in real estate.
I love Germany! Greetings from San Francisco
So your living off your ex husband then?
Tbh by European standards Germany is very Americanized, it's all home work work home, many would argue much of America's capitalistic attitude is inherited from Germany, nothing compared to Southern Europe where the reputation of "relaxing" really comes from.
Your case is very abnormal i will say however and most stories are about people making CONSIDERABLY more money in America than they would even in Germany which is still Europe's top economy.
What happens if Germany is forced to defend itself militarily?
@@t-bo-lesothowhy would it? .
There hasn't been a war in 70 years America didn't course.
I'm originally from NYC, I was a workaholic, but being a workaholic to make others rich isn't quality of life, today I live in Puerto Rico and I work for myself, this for me is quality of life.
Wasn't the whole point of the American dream that you should start your own business? As a European that's what i always pictured the point of America's economy was. Lots and lots of small businesses and people working for themselves as opposed to the European models in which people are raised to aim for steady jobs in large corporations that were established centuries ago
@liquidsnake6879 Same BS in the US for most people, Nothing to envy in the US, I'm sure the quality of life is better in Europe.
@@liquidsnake6879he’s living the American dream without realizing it lmfao. Besides many Europeans complain about how it’s hard to be self employed/starting a business compared to the USA 😂
@@S3aCa1mRa1nBut do you realize that there aren't that many mega companies and fast food chains in Europe? There are more small family businesses and SMEs?
Because You have to learn to invest!!!
I’m Australian living in the USA for 20 years. Pros and cons to both
I am an American who has been working full-time for roughly 40 years. I can tell you that it does not lead to a sustainable happiness unless you build a network of friends, family and colleagues that help with work-life balance. I think a lot of younger people in the U.S. understand this, but the erosion of social opportunities (except maybe online) is a problem in achieving that balance. It is true that Americans sort of frenetically seek careers because the alternative looks like an abyss of hardship and poverty. There is not much of a "safety net" for lack of financial success, so we push ourselves forward. It's like being a shark -- you move forward or you die.
In America the alternative literally is hardship. You better work hard, after all, you won't have access to health care if you lose your job because your health insurance comes from your job. Not to mention you have a huge mortgage so you better not lose your job or you lose your house. And your wife is a materialist so you lose your wife with your job too. And your kids. Americans are slaves, it's really that simple. Slaves are machines and when a machine is broken you discard it and replace it with another. Millions of broken Americans are discarded each year to the trailer parks, slums, and streets and replaced with working machines who stream in across the border by the millions each year.
The whole system is lazy. I feel sorry for the people who have to live in such conditions, if that can still be called life.
> erosion of social opportunities
Other comments are comparing the US to Germany, but Germany and many European countries continue to have various clubs, social groups, and friendship groups, even into old age, that have a habit of gathering during weekdays and weekends. While Western individualism, American clique culture of "friends" who not really friends at all (more like enemies), the loneliness epidemic, the American culture of workaholism, crazy unrealistic corporate demands, working from home, flex work, using apps and devices to work, and social isolation in cubicle apartments etc, not only erodes social opportunities but totally prohibits social interaction... Every waking moment will soon be used to serve capitalist/corporate interests, and serving the technocracy (Yanis Varoufakis). Online social culture although better than nothing is secondary/theoretical at best (as far as I can see) and not substitute at all for practical/traditional real life connections and deeds... As to "achieving balance" you are missing a major factor apart from "work-life". Europe has twice as many Atheists as America and many churches are defunct whereas Americans although spending disproportionate time working for money and not resting are in fact highly religious and theistic people, 63% of Americans.
@@Habakuk_how is it lazy? Have you experienced life here?
When did societies start judging themselves on “safety nets”…You realize how soft that sounds?
As a New Yorker, I believe that the Europeans have a great balance in life. I admire them.
@Dawg76 what matters is context dependent on the person, I definitely don’t want to live to work….
Great video, I'm Dutch and don't think there's necessarily a negative attitude towards Americans, just a huge culture clash which is weird considering many Americans came from Europe a few generations ago. The problem is that there are loud voices specifically highlighting our differences. Sure, I've spoken to Americans who think they know everything and tend to generalize Europe but I won't link that to the stereotype and let it influence my view of Americans. What I do think is needed is for Americans to understand that "Europeans" can't be defined as one group, there's diverse cultures with beautiful traditions as well as innovations!
It depends a lot on what part of Europe you come from. As a Catalan Spaniard from Barcelona I think we have a mix of west-northern Europe attitude (entrepreneurship, hard work, etc) and the Mediterranean lifestyle (slow food, being outdoors, music, dancing, etc). I think it's the perfect balance. By the way, I think the title of the video is wrong. We don't dislike each other. We are all westerners and like each other, but have different points of view on how to live life.
Dutchie here, you might be right. I don't know much about Catalonia, but I can see this being the case.
I totally understand and appreciate the views i your video. I just want to add that the older you get, the more you appreciate the European lifestyle.
I'm an Asian in my early 30's, and I definitely feel more at ease with the European lifestyle. While both have its pros and cons, nobody can pay me to move to the U.S., much less want to raise a family there. Just NO... 😩💀
Too many Muslims there now. Europe is over
That is because you have money and can afford to do certain things and also because your body is dying.
Because America would be a terrible country to retire in
I live in Sweden and have a chance to work with couple of Americans, of them 10 only 2 were humble and knowledgeable the rest were full of them self, waaay to easy on lying to get what they want and in the best case average in knowledge and work quality. I dont know how much they really work hard in US, or just sit in the office 12h a day while backstabbing one another and call it a hard work. Maybe its their culture but I am not impressed.
The problem with America is the ultra capitalist mindset that the system they have there breeds. It really brings out the worst in people. Whereas a lot of European countries tend to be on an equal footing in terms of work and community. It's why I would never work for an American company here in Ireland. I know which way of life I'd choose
Yeah. Americans are dumb, entitled, "woke" Karens etc.
Well said.
Yes, that's it. Weird isn't it. I have had the same experience. There is little work ethic as such. It's about titles, knowing people and managing people, but the actual work. It's more like Soviet Union 2.0 😅. This surprised me very much, because a different view is cultivated. Maybe they come from a very different angle, but the results are the same: Shuffling papers around, being present in meeting (and very vocal too, because your boss should know who you are), but too scared too speak out. The culture is very authotarian and this makes for a mediocre outcome at best.
@@SlipnDrip Did you get hurt by the truth
Your video essay was one of the most careful, balanced, and accurate summaries of the differences between the US and Europe that I've ever seen. You were also careful to point out the nuances that exist between the two cultures. There was a time when I considered Europeans to be lazy, and I thought it was ridiculous that they would take a 90-minute lunch break. I then spent over a decade living in Europe. I worked in the UK, Germany, and Switzerland. I got to enjoy 90-minute lunch breaks. In 2018, I returned to the US and a working culture that considered lunch to be a 10-minute or less privilege.
Yea 15 minute lunch at your desk in front of your computer with your email open.
Stereotypes always have a bit of truth to them......
I'm American but, I have the attitude of a European in that, quality of life means more to me than financial success! I'd rather be happy and poor than rich & miserable!
That is actually very revealing - and it's true. Americans are very concerned with personal gains, not with the outcome. That makes them actually difficult to work with, and be productive in a sense that requires doing actual work and not just thinking about your next strategic move. Americans on average have a very low commitment to the work and the workplace as such. They are incredibly selfish and it's more about appearances than anything else.
this is my mentality. but infortunitely you have cultists who think quality of life should get worse because they think humans are bad
@@leisen9679this self centered nature of theirs is why they prize “freedom” so much and why no one can spare a penny for better systems to help the hundreds of thousands of people in medical debt, on the streets drugged out the wazoo
Hard to be happy and poor. Those who say so, are either not really poor or are speaking from ignorance.
I believe there are different levels to being poor but I think you're right. Although I feel that if you have enough money from work to then go on vacations/holidays or other types of enjoyment that the European lifestyle pushes people towards then you can easily be happy. I know everyone is in different positions with what they need to pay for whether its children or extra costs elsewhere and not only that but there is different standards that people have for what makes them happy, I for one want very little(or what is little to me anyway haha), new food experiences, new clothes maybe twice a year and the occasional trip out to somewhere whether its a walk in the forest nearby or an actual trip to another country! I buy what I need when I need it. Less so what I want when I want it. @@thomassenbart
I’m 53, and from California, U.S. having lived, and worked my entire life in America, I have noticed peers committing suicide, dropping dead of heart attacks, and getting themselves thousands of dollars in credit card debt. …..The European way of work/ life balance is MUCH HEALTHIER.
It's easy when someone else (USA) carries your defense ($ and risk)for 78 years, with no end in sight.
@@sanniepstein4835 Definetely it is not easy, but the result of decades of fighting by the european workers, trade unions and some political parties.
well seems that the us likes it very much @@sanniepstein4835
@@sanniepstein4835 USA is the primary beneficiary of this military/defense setup this is what makes USA's dollar global currency and unprecedented investment opportunities I don't think you understand just how huge of economic driver this brings to US - the economic benefit brought to USA for their leadership in global order covers USA's military expenditures multi fold. Plus military expenditures doesn't really drain USA's economy the way it often does in other countries as all money invested in defense stays in USA and infact some of it ends up bringing income in form of arm sales. USA's way of life though has nothing to do with the defense/military setup. It can easily be different whilst maintaining the same global order. Now that said as we've seen with war in Ukraine - USA alone - is not enough as security guarantor and Europe definitely needs to pull it's act together.
No. I've heard this so many times and it's just no true. In my experience many Europeans no natter if they are from North, South, West or East are actually more productive than Americans and are less concerned with their peers and bosses. I am German, so yes, the work culture is really strong here. By no means, Americans are as productive as we are. Be less distracted by impressing your boss and climbing up the corporate ladder and focus on the actual work. I am not impressed by Americans, not at all.
We shrug off our indentured slavery here and look at others as "lazy" just for having an actual life.
> We shrug off our indentured slavery
Such a highly underrated criticism of the Western reality: Indentured/chattel slavery to bank, utilities, and gov/taxes. Nomadic tribes, even cave men, had more more life than the majority in the West who are slaves to capitalism, consumerism, individualism, lust/desire, and narcissism. Gaslighting or accusing others of being "lazy" or "spoilt" etc is evil and only someone completely desensitised and dehumanised could truly think and say such things and mean it.
Great way of showing both sides and how we can benefit from both mentalities intelligently !!
Thanks bro!
As an Italian who lives in Germany I fully agree on your thoughts. I do also appreciate the American way of looking at entrepreneurship and career drive. However, here in Germany I have 30 days of paid vacation, good health insurance, and a good social system (for which I pay a lot of money - almost 50% of my salary). I'm sure that in America I would have made much more money but in the end, it's not just the money. A mix would be perfect, i.e. you got sent by your European firm to New York while you keep all the privileges you have in Europe :)
According to Forbes: "Over 765 million vacation days have gone unused by Americans"
So, Americans have more vacation days than they need!
@@victorcretu7741 Obviously they are scared to be fired (which is possible in the US from one day to the other).
@@MrPinoCavallo Absolutely. We have a saying in North America, "If It's Tuesday, there's a lay-off somewhere".
Each company (from the USA or Canada) has 1-3 rounds of layoffs every year - even when the overall economy is booming. The idea is to increase the EBIDTA (Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization). This is the metric driving our lives. 😀
If I were the President of the USA, I would say "You know what? Each unused day is nationalized - the benefit goes to the Fed." From 765 million days at a median hourly wage of $25, the Fed would have collected 2 trillion dollars. Here we go, you can pay the national debt in no time from the employees' "donations".
I CANNOT believe you have 139 subscribers. You’re a natural. Keep going, so glad I found your channel.
European lifestyle all the way..
I live in Canada where our attitudes and way of life are about halfway between the U.S. and Europe. It seems about half of us want a better social safety net, better rights for workers, more vacation time (most of us don't get much, depending on the job) while the other half say no, we have to be more like the U.S. because they are our biggest trading partner. SMH. Personally if I ever went to live in another country it would be France or some other country in Europe because I like the pace of life there, and the appreciation for the arts, good food etc. On the other hand I do admire the American entrepreneurial spirit, and I can understand why it's s better place to live for driven type A personalities.
In America, you’re more hungry. (Literally and figuratively) You don’t have near the amount of public welfare as you do in Europe. You’re not going to be comfortable doing the bare minimal in America. It’s good in a way because it makes society more competitive and through competition the cream rises to the top. In Europe, you don’t have to worry about near as much. You can easily go to work at a coffee shop slinging cafe au laits and you’ll have a respectable retirement and excellent medical coverage. America forces you to do better and be better. In Europe, I think because there’s not the amount of anxiety as there is in America, the mental health of Europeans is much better overall. Yes, America is a great country with the effort it puts out, but our competitive society comes at a tremendous cost to the individual’s mental and physical health.
That really depends on where in Europe you are. It varies from country to country, as well as between big cities and small towns/rural areas.
@@allenmontrasio8962yea man in Britain you got to be in top 30% to have any kind of comfort at all.
Its not like is guaranteed. I mean if you dont work at least 15 years you dont have right to a pension. Yeah you wont starve but you'll be living with 500 euros a month or social charity aids... Europeans work hard too isnt like we go carelessly through live without ambition. People in European companies still want to earn more and be promoted and recognized within their own field. A doctor in Europe earns four or five times more than someone at a coffee shop serving café au lait. You can be fired from your job if you dont perform well and go through harship as well in Europe.
Imagine someone who is fired and has a morgage to pay. Well if they dont find a job in 6 months, benefits run out and you end up on your own with a morgage you cannot pay. Sometimes this ends with you loosing the house, yeah in Europe. So there is still competitiveness and a need to work somehow hard. But is not a life-threatening situation as in the US where literally loosing your job can mean you loosing healthcare and die. Also not all countries assure you stability, Bulgaria and the netherlands are very different.
@@Alejojojo6no but European life is admittedly not as much of Hussle like the US
You have put up a summary of the last 15 years of my life. America, you born , you go to school, you work and later you die. I think the only advantage of remote work is to get rid of this cycle while u live an expat life in a different country while you earn in US dollars
With usa pay anywhere life is good 🤣🤣 only destroying more local economy
Perhaps this comment may seem a little off topic, but if there's one thing I can comment about as someone who works in an international company that deals with partners and coworkers from both U.S. and Europe, I have noticed that Americans tend to feign friendliness. They tend to act more casual, almost appearing "friendly", to the point where sometimes, they may push other people's boundaries without paying heed to their standpoint--- yet they tend to get offended/react easily if they are exposed to the slightest inconvenience. It's almost like they are driven in such a "Me, Me" nature. Meanwhile, Europeans tend to be more straightforward. They have an air of formality about them (and yes, can be very snobby), and yet, when they mean business, they really mean business in a way that makes sure both parties are heard and given a chance to profit.
I am guessing you are a European (?) Another interpretation of this is that Americans tend to lead with friendliness while being wary of others they don't yet know. It isn't "false," it's just tentative. We tend to try to be open, but we generally don't trust others until we feel they have earned that trust. So you may be getting a vibe that they are working hard to seem friendly but without any depth to that friendliness. It's just that we embody the adage that you attract more bees with honey than vinegar. Or put another way, we will extend the benefit of the doubt until proven otherwise, and we expect the same coming back to us.
Yes! Omg, I really have made the same experience, especially the fake friendliness, but underneath lies all this rage and the "leave me alone" mentality. It is almost impossible to make them work in a team. We have a very different understanding of work culture. Now I also understand the necessity of "Team building" 😅
@@johnalden5821you didn't understand what he was saying. My experience is the same. The problem is the me, me culture, not the fake friendliness, though very annoying too, when you see that it is actually fake. The egocentric approach makes them very difficult to work with. I am German, living in Spain and worked with roughly 40 nationalities from all over the world and experienced the same. So maybe there is something too it, other than the fake friendliness? Something that runs much deeper and is actually counterproductive to any company.
@@leisen9679 Or, maybe it's your anti-American bias that's counter-productive?
@@leisen9679 Except that, being American, I work with Americans, and we have no issues working in teams. Maybe it's just cultural differences in general, which would be nobody's fault -- or as much your fault as theirs.
Sure Americans are overly ambitious and capitalistic, that is if all you know about Americans comes from exposure to the overly ambitious and capitalistic, especially those who can afford to travel abroad. The fact is the typical American is acutely aware that there is not much of a safety net in American society, like perhaps there is in Europe. You can starve here and the fear of being fired without cause or downsized, of having your car repossessed or losing your house due to falling behind on payments due to losing your job is very real here. Most Americans don't have the financial capacity to be avaricious like so many Europeans seem to think that we in fact are. The rich people in this country control everything, including whether or not the poor can survive.
Fight back. Use your voice and your vote to make a difference and your country will change. That's what we all did, and the way of life has improved dramatically over the past few decades. The next fight for us is to minimise immigration and ensure families are incentivised & emboldened so they can grow with the promise of an even better future
The electorate wants this, just look who they elect.
@@joelwillis2043 the electorate don't have much choice though since bipartisanship is pretty much forced upon them. The lesser of two evils is not exactly a great way to fix your country
I agree. On some level, it's about survival -- or at least about enjoying a decent quality of life. In the U.S., money is at the core of existence. Nobody talks about in raw terms, but the feeling is that either you make bank or life will eat you whole.
No one starves in the USA. That assertion is complete fabrication. No, the rich also do not control everything including if the poor can survive. Btw, the poor in the US are the equivalent of middle-class Europeans. Most Europeans are poor actually. I've spent a great deal of time there and there is a lot of poverty in Europe.
Also, all the maladies you list are largely tropes and quite rare, save for the firing, which can happen depending on and overall, is good I would say and allows for a much more robust, productive and dynamic business climate. Avarice is an attitude not a state of wealth. Many poor folk are very greedy and envious as well.
I have lived in Europe and in the US. I lived in the US/California for 35 years and I was born and raised in the Netherlands but also lived and worked in Switzerland. I could write a book about the differences. Lets just say that Americans do not know enogh about Europe to come to any type of conclusion and the same goes for Europeans. Only those who lived in both countries for long times really have anything meaningful to say .
Any American who lives 5 years in Europe won't want to go back. I saw this happen repeatedly with military people stationed in Germany. At first they don't like it but eventually they realize the food is better quality, stop shopping at the commissary, take some trips, realize European cities aren't murder filled slums like American cities, etc. etc.
Really because a lot of us visited and are running away because of how nasty so many of the people are
I love how people love to look down on america but don't hesitate to ask for help military wise
Yes, you are correct ...... the "best" way to live is somewhere between the European and American lifestyles. Awareness of the things in life that really matter, while also having the drive to be creative and productive ...... i.e., a balance between the two.
I live in the U.K. and I do think the culture here is somewhere in the middle however we end up just doing both worse 🤣
Sounds like he needs to pay a visit to Australia or Canada for the perfect “balance”. Albeit there are probably several countries in Europe and several states in the US that meet the criteria.
Americans are too focused on money and materialism. Europeans value quality of life more and humanity more.
watching too many American movies/tv will give you that impression, but actually knowing people will be more accurate
Well people need money to pursuit other dreams. Buying a house etc…
Why is nearly every single luxury brand from Europe, if Europeans are so noble and above material things? If you want to spend $3,000 on a purse, $30,000 on a watch or $300,000 on a car, it will be a European brand.
@@O1012-u7q Traditional craftsmanship and the fact that the luxury industry already existed when only a small minority of the general population were also consumers.
@@lynnhubbard844it is true, The US is far more materialistic and superficial. US is materially well off but morally bankrupt.
If the Bohemian lifestyle was invented in Paris and not in Bohemia, why is and was it called Bohemian?
The consumer culture has expanded massively in Europe and notably the UK to the extent that it is impacting the benefits you outlined. I visited Spanish cities 20 years ago and there was less of all that American glitz in the shopping streets. Of course their culture remains European -but the buy -buy -buy and transformation of its old cities towards international commerce and chain stores makes everywhere like everywhere else. By the way some other pages around this sort of subject have Americans lamenting what US commerce has done to the American way of life which seemed to have more balance 70 years ago when the state cities had their own character and Main street America had its local shops . Now so much has been ruined by Giant out of town centres which drained life away and killed off the city and small town and village. This is happening in Britain now .Everywhere!
I think everything is relative. Many people in the United States have more of a European mentality, believing that quality of life and those things are more important. However, if you are more of an entrepreneur kind of mindset and you’re looking more to expand and grow, then the United States will offer you way more opportunities than Europe ever gives you. However, that is up to the individual, and you must ensure you do what makes you happy.
This should have already more than 100k views. Keep up the good work, continue comme ça!
This guy only focuses on New York City, rap, ads, and movies to learn about life in the USA. There is a lot more to life here than just these stereotypes, let me tell you. Travel the entire nation back and forth then you will see so many different things, sights, lifestyles, this guy will not know what to say then. Not everyone lives in New York, likes or pays attention to rap, ads, or movies. Not everyone lives in a city. We have much more natural land, and open spaces here. The US got its hard work ethic from northern Europeans, when they came here, form England, Germany, Holland, etc. I would say this is not an easy one way thing to cover so fast and easy.
Exactly !
But the consumerism attitude id American
Good video. I’m an American who spent part of his career living and working in Europe. The cultural attitudes about work and a balanced lifestyle are spot on. The title of the video is a little misleading at least from an American point of view. Americans don’t dislike Europeans at all. In fact we envy their lifestyle. Which is better Europe or America? I think it comes down to what type of person you are and what stage of life you are in. If you are young and an ambitious, competitive person who wants to be at the top of your profession, then America is the place to be. If you are older and looking for a more relaxed, enjoyable lifestyle, then Europe is better.
I'm an American and I don't dislike Europeans. I think the ones who shame Americans for wanting a lifestyle that is different from theirs are annoying and full of themselves but you can say the same about Americans who do that too. I really don't understand why we can't accept that the US and Europe are two totally different places and this desire to make them carbon copies of each other is ridiculous.
America is already making us to follow them. It was also Bush telling EU to grow and now we have war with Russia because of that. In the end we don´t have a choice at least that is what it seems.
I have never seeen Americans shame them for their lifestyles, I just see Europeans shaming us for being too nice and happy..
Great video, really enjoyed it!
Thanks!
As an American I’ve worked very hard for many years and sacrificed time with our family and health. Now that I’m getting older, my health and quality of peaceful life have taken precedence. In other words, my why is shifting. We have one more daughter, we had late in life, that is approaching college age. After she reaches college the idea is to get out of here and live in Europe where healthcare is more affordable and the pace of life suits how I want to live as an older person. My idea is that working hard here in America as a younger man has made it possible to enjoy later years in Europe. But that’s just the way things have evolved.
@Naoufal it is a great video. What I wonder is, what is the Moroccan attitude to work, success and general way of life in comparison to Americans/Europeans?
That woman at 7:08 who was proud having only 5 days of vacation looks exactly like she's never ever broke a nail in work.
I get 25 days paid vacation, unlimited paid sick leave, and 1 extra day off per child in my family. Day 1, by law.
Thats not something to brag about
You should try interviewing people in other states and cities besides just NYC, there are 50 different states and so much diversity you can't sum up America, or any country for that matter by just using the biggest or most well-known city. If you go to Seattle or Huston you'll probably get much different answers in each.
Same for Europe and their countries
I just discovered your channel and I am very keen to explore more of it. Looking forward for your views on northern African countries and how the compare to Europe, the US, and among each other.
I plan to live in Europe when my kids are in College. He's ten years old, I still have eight years ahead but, for now I have to stay here in American unfortunately
Why? Is education for children usually cheaper and often better in Europe?!
@ThePatynight you'll be happy when you leave we would be happy if you have gone already
@@nueat6 Memememeh 🤪😭
I'm American and I love Europeans.
Europe and the US are allies. We have more similarities than differences overall. They are not the " opposite" of each other. The opposite of the Western countries I would would say have to be all those Islamic fundamentalist authoritarian countries.
We maybe allies on a diplomatic level, but not just Europeans but also our other “allies” like Australia and Canada hate us. I look forward to watching Putin turn all of Europe into his personal playground.
5:10 that’s a point. It occurs to me, watching yt’s, that ads always try to sell me stuff I don’t need. It’s all luxury extra stuff, not neccesities but fripperies. Toys, games, air travel vacations, jewellery and parfumes. Stuff you only buy if you have highly dispensable income. Most of us don’t have that, but we’re tempted and we buy anyway. Well, not me, I’m a stubborn, nihilistic old mule.
As some who goes to Euope evey year, I do find European lifestyle interesting. However, if I was European living in Europe, I would consider how long is a this sustainable. As of right now it appears to having a slow death.
USA: we live to work.
Europe: we work to live.
I will always prefer the latter.
Yeap... Because someone who lives to work is a slave
Pay for your own self defense.
Just to show how biased Naoufal is :
The top 10% in the USA owns 60% of all wealth where as *the bottom 50% own less than 2.5%*
By the way the top 1% own close to 1/3rd of all the wealth by themselves which, if you do the math, means that those lower than the top 1% but still in the top 10% own all most another 3rd and those that are in the 11% to top 50% bracket have another 3rd.
But sure, upwards mobility is faaaar bigger in the USA. RIght, I believe you, sure I do.
I guess he hasn't heard of the GINI index show to be for the USA 41 where as the average for the EU is below 30. The 'worst' country in the EU being Bulgary with 38
Sure inequalities of income are bigger in the USA. But the top 10% you’re talking about aren’t the same people throughout a lifetime. 56% percent of Americans will spend a year there (data from the IRS). I made it clear I was talking about equality of opportunity and the dynamism of the system compared to Europe.
Hola Naoufal, I just found your video and I am amazed by what a great communicator you are. I will dive into your content and keep up with your amazing work. Cheers from Spain!
Great video.
Thank you!
Europeans are extremelely ambitious its not by mere chance they conquered the world and created so much technology, culture and influence around the globe...but Europeans are masters at balance ambition is fine but there is a big line that separates whats worth it or not.
I think differences are dependent on what US State or European country you're comparing. As a New Englander and Calvinist protestant I see such diversity here that our need to just get along is important.
They coast through life . We strive to do better. That’s why they will always be number 2 and we are number 1 .
One peculiarity that should be noted: This is more a comparison of American URBAN culture against European (I would assume) URBAN culture.
Rural American culture is drastically different from city-life in many respects, one of which is how that American drive/ambition manifests. You will not find people in the countryside working 14 hours in the office, but you will find them working 8 hours in the office, and then spending 5-6 hours doing yard work, farm work, fixing the house, decorating, gardening, or tending their animals.
Even our leisure activities are pretty active: hunting, fishing, hiking, shooting, etc.
Yeah same thing happens in Europe, so not much of a difference. Feel free to take a look at the countryside in central EU....
American born and raised in NYC, I wouldn't say Americans like working a lot, but we just have to. Especially if you're living in NYC or any other major city in the US (ie: Miami, Chicago, LA, etc) Wages aren't keeping up with the cost of living here, so it's not unusual that many people are working multiple jobs and side hustles to make ends meet. Healthcare is a huge issue here because not everyone is entitled to it, and our healthcare system is fucked. The cost of university is sky high, so many people need to take out several thousands of $ in loans in order to get through school. We spend years & decades paying off that debt. So yes, if you're really really rich in America, then everything I mentioned is not an issue. But for the average American, we have to work very hard and we hate it lol. That is not to say that there is no upward mobility in terms of climbing the social/wealth ladder. It's definitely possible, but it has its challenges. I must say I do envy Europeans for their balanced way of life. Employers do not grant us nearly as much time off here than they do in Europe.
América lives for work, Europ work for living
Love these types of videos. Keep it up
Good Video Bro can't wait to see next one👍
Wow this ist such a great video! Nicely made, sure. But what amazes me how thoroughly and even-handedly you treated this very complex subject. I've always thought that Americans put venerate money like an idol. I think that's reason for feelings of emptieness and dispair. And that explains why the opioid crisis is not really a thing in Europe while it hit the US really hard.
Live to work or work to live.
Yet many European countries have higher productivity than the US .. work smarter, not longer.
The thing with America is it’s very capitalist orientated, which isn’t sustainable long-term for the planet
It's not sustainable for people either. The US masses need to rise up and voice their discontent. Use your vote and make a change! This election is the best opportunity the USA has had in my lifetime to really make a change for good. Help the people win, not the money
Loved the video. New subscriber 👋
There has been some comparison on how the people in Denmark and us does their work. Danes work about 37 hour pr. Week, and avoid having to work x-tra, along while having about 4 to 6 weeks of paid vacation. But by the time arould thanksgiving, the danes would have been productive as an american would be, for the whole years of worth of work/ peoductivity. As a non native english speaker I hope the last you understand, as I strugle to translate in terms for understanding. So it's not the hours, but how you solve the work that defines you in europe.
In the US you can more easily be successful and even become incredibily rich. But you can as well much more easily end up homeless if you are unlucky or you have unforseen problems.
I’m a dual national, USA society has been crumbling and is not healthy and can not in any way compare with Germany or Scandinavian countries in terms of social progress this is a joke and a very bad one.
What citizenship do you have other than American?
As a South African i would like an American salary with a European work Life balance
Europe might not pay US salaries but you dont have to worry about college fees or medical bills and most food consumed by Americans would fail dismally to be even considered for Europeans to eat , so yes i like how Europeans dont compromise in these situations compared to America, but i also dont blame Americans for being who they are ,its only thing they've ever known to work hard or have three jobs to keep the up with the rent and buying food, in my conclusion i feel America is great if you're wealthy but not so great when you're average compared to Europe
Americans believe the world revolves around them, Europe has a more equal idea of life. Money is the only thing that counts in the USA, where as in Europe it is about living life to the full, enjoying the moment.
You have some valuable reflections here. Both the American and the European ways of life definitely have their ups and downs.
America has been in decline my entire life from the time I was born in the early 1980s. Nothing but down.
Very interesting to make a video with opinions from both sides of the Atlantic. And unlike the US, in Europe there's a much greater diversity and density of cultures, in terms of language, standard of living, education, values, climate, behavior, habits, hobbies, etc. Whereas in the US there's only one language, and moving from one state to another doesn't change the way of life much. There's little difference between Oregon and Pennsylvania, whereas going from England to Italy is very striking. And then, historically, the United States has a very young culture and has never known such a long struggle between the different social classes, by which I mean demands for workers' rights, but also a philosophy of life inherited from very limited ideological and cultural branches, such as the Amsterdam colonists, the British or German emigration, all of whom had in common being Protestant and capitalist. Sociologist Max Weber discusses this important relationship between religion and economy/society. The U.S. has inherited a work-centric culture, which is firm and even authoritarian with the opposition, whereas Europe is a mixture of all the ideologies, cultures and religions that advocate quality of life over hard work. And then there's the myth of the meritocracy of the American dream, which is highly exaggerated and based solely on the minority of people who climb the social pyramid. There's just as much opportunity in Europe, and even more so in the big cities of the West than in the US, but we haven't decided to make it the pillar of our culture. Living to work, or working to live, two different relationships to the world.
americans also like to say random things about europe and european countries as if they've been in all countries lol
There is actually a huge difference between being ambitious and being productive, in the sense of doing what is actually good for the job or the company. In my experience Americans are more concerned with a good standing and climbing up the ladder to make more money and to get a better title. But this doesn't necessarily have to do with what is good for the company. In my experience Americans are even less productive than other peers, simply because they want to please their boss and climb up the corporate ladder. A very selfish outlook does seldom produce anything productive for a big company.
Im American and lived in Europe the last 8 years to me i get the feeling people like me here i feel no dislike not even from the refugees.Who has better health care Europe.Who has better food America by far.
If their only goal is to make money and work, that's sad. Have just enough money to live with your family and enjoy life
Look up the Puritan Work Ethic.
But "AmErIcAnS LAZEEEE!" 😢
I might be wrong but I think the bohemian lifestyle started in Bohemia.
You’re on- the- street interviews are entertaining but we really need to dig deeper to expose the Am-Euro mind set.
Excellent video....
Something to remember to understand the broader context: Europe very recently had an extremely ambitious phase. Colonialism/imperialism/nationalism - we got burned. We destroyed ourselves at the peak of our power. It was not a slow decline but a brutal crash.
The ideological rollercoaster of the past 300 years concluded in a crescendo of conflicts that turned Europe from the continent that ruled half the planet into one filled with ruins of a time that today can seem very distant but its impact is very much felt whenever you talk about a difference in mindset. While the sentiment born from these events certainly went too far, at the heart of Europe's modern difference from the USA lies a shattered system of empire that was dismantled forcefully. The Suez crisis was perhaps the most famous attempt of the "old" Europe to regain control.
Afterwards, Europe's mentality slowly drifted into the laid-back lifestyle that is so widespread today but the past 2 years in particular rekindled a different kind of identity that, while never lost, was asleep for quite a while.
I can't believe he highlighted Sowell.
Ever heard of Long Service Leave. I don't think it exists anywhere else other than Australia, certainly not in the US. Europeans know how to live, Americans think they do - that's the difference.
The happiness country in the World is in Europe and so are the next 9 with the exception of Israel. The US is 15th
Gosh, 2 weeks of vacation always strikes me.
And no sick leave. So you better not get sick or that 2 week vacation is canceled.
Morocco is in north Africa
We don’t dislike them, we don’t even think about them 😂
I Agree with the conclusion👍.
To me, I am American, America’s problem is they just are driven by corporations to do and don’t know how to just be and enjoy our beautiful planet. There is a time to do and a time to be. Without a time to be, you just become a robot and lose you humanness and your health. Of course there the lazy who never do and are a burden on the doers.
Well said. Balance is key to life.
Life is not a 0-sum game. No downside for the powerful does not mean no upside for the rest.
Great video ! 🔥🔥
Thanks bro!
Whilst many Europeans don't want to make their life about work. Many of us want to spend time with our families, friends and going on multiple holidays. I think many European countries are different so it's not fair to compare a whole continent to one country. Although, it does baffles me how many Americans don't have passports, get no paid leave or parental leave.
I think that it is human nature to idealise the lifestyle of the other.
One thing is that I feel that some of what you said does not measure up to statistics. Like according to statistics intergenerational social mobility is actually quite low in the US compared to many countries in western Europa, and not all of the US work aggressively to the top. What about all the ghettos, struggling midwestern and other small rural towns and so on. You seem to pick NYC and representative of all the US? Also, if you look at history the US being the most innovate country actually predate the welfare state. Some have actually claimed that Europe have a welfare state because they could not match US innovation, not the other way around.
I prefer Europeans over Americans in any aspect. As to being lazy, Europeans work hard during core hours and are disciplined about their work; whereas Americans are most of the time lax during work hours just so it could be said they have finished their required time for the day
They also tend to have this superficial friendliness going on. It's nice to have a relaxed approach to work and have casual conversations with strangers, but sometimes, their casualness can overlook boundaries and come off as entitlement to other people's personal space. Sometimes, I'd prefer the snobby (even traditional) European formalities.
If Americans are physically and mentally broken, they can't do any decent work. No one would be able to do that. The American system is lazy and it will collapse at some point if it continues like this.
@@vqbl795yes, Americans are more superficial. But snobby Europeans are better?😂
Europe is more packed and a lot of the buildings and streets look old. Like similar to NYC packed and can smell. Not everyone in this country working pay check to pay check. Some of us in America actually living it! Especially when you got money NOTHING beats living in the USA
In America life is tough. Especially if you are alone. Work, study, work, study, work, study... pay expenses. That's it. There is no social life. No jobs - oh yes... at age 40 your career is over. Then you are wondering, what I have accomplished in my life? Why I am working so hard? My advice is to stay in home country, if your life is not in danger.
Living abroad in Europe can be an absolute dream, with its picturesque landscapes, rich history, and abundance of cheesy fondue. But let's not turn a blind eye to the dark side lurking behind these cobblestone streets. First off, there's the language barrier, making you feel like a babbling fool as you desperately try to order a coffee without sounding like you're summoning a demon. Then there are those pesky cultural differences - no more late-night binges on Netflix since apparently it's considered rude to make noise after 10 pm here! And don't even get me started on the long winters; if hibernating were an Olympic sport, I'd have taken home the gold by now. So while living abroad may seem glamorous and adventurous from afar, just remember: for every breathtaking sunrise over the Eiffel Tower, there's a grumpy French waiter ready to burst your bubble with their impeccable rudeness. Cheers to expat life!
5:51 Here is the statement that shows the difference between the two systems.
The concept that "no downside for the powerful means no upside for the rest" does not traditionally exist for the US.
Perhaps the socio-economic structural differences create this situation in Europe.....I don't know.
If the economy is designed in such a manner that it can EXPAND, then this provides the room for the lowest to become the highest if this is their focus.
In the US, it is possible for a child born into poverty to become a multi-millionaire. Perhaps a system that leans more toward capitalism allows for this upward mobility.
I've long felt that the top 1% promote socialism specifically because this system allows them to throw table scraps to the lower people and keep them satisfied so that they rich and powerful can maintain control of the system and thus maintain their financial dominance.
If you rely on the state then the state controls you.
If you cannot rely on the state, then you must establish yourself via your own efforts.
I think the best thing for an individual is to embrace the parts of each culture which are best.
Live frugally while working toward your own financial benefit....and also taking some time to enjoy life.
Taking no time to enjoy life is bad.....but I think there is a good argument that taking all time to enjoy life is also bad.
Good life is about balance. Creatures must (and should) work to survive. This is what we see with all other animals on earth. Why should it be different for humans?
Work hard, live frugally in preparation for your future and take some time to enjoy life as well.
Balance.
Not having a Holiday, makes all the money not Worth it.
did you add the noise to the soundtrack to make yourself hard to hear ?
I love Europe. However, what I as an American resent is having to basically pay for their defense (and that of the rest of the free world) while they get the free healthcare and 30 hour work weeks and 2 months of vacation.
Yea, I agree. It's easy to do all of that stuff for your people when you don't have to spend money on defense, uphold international law or donate. America donates more money than the rest of world combined. But we are the greedy ones right? lol
The problem isn't the "defense of the eu" but rather that the US made too many enemies with all the involvement all over the world and now the government fears losing its decisive power. If the US pulls out of Europe, the EU would step up. But the US doesnt want another potential military superpower so we keep the incentives low, for our nominal allies military might develop too much and then the Status quo would change. The capitalist society of the US though doesnt want to lose it's majority seat at the table...
Nonsense
"Defense." Occupation. Ami go home! You were never invited to Germany or Europe to begin with. You came by force and never left. Simple as.
but we don't want you, get out of our continent, we're waiting for that, we've always defended ourselves alone even before your country existed, we'll be able to defend ourselves alone in the future
US is a country of immigrants and most legal immigrants coming here for higher education or on employee sponsored visas are already achievement oriented, that combined with need to survive in a new country pushes people towards pursuing achievement.
Invest in the U.S., work for a big European company and live in Europe. Maximizes money and living quality
Toward the end of the video you state that Europe way of life can make you too comfortable + risk adverse but I see the opposite. Here in the US we don't have many chances to fail, if we get seriously injured that could be thousands in Medical debt. The only reason why ppl are more "ambitious" here is because we HAVE to be. We have to survive and make ends meet so we focus alot on work and career and status. I envy the European lifestyle where ppl are allowed to simply live and be themselves rather than over-achieve just to make mom and dad proud or even feel proud of yourself. I think a few ppl hit big here in the US but the casualties in that wake is unjustifiable and cruel. I truly think about leaving the US every day
It doesn't matter what your medical debt is, hospitals cannot refuse you care because of what your debt is.
@@bishop1 Then how come the US has the most medical bankruptcies in the world??
Europe all the way. One day you will die and those life experiences and memories you've created will be all that matters. If you want it to be an experience of hustling whole your life, never going anywhere, being judged by how much money you have or what company you work for US is your place. For me, this is a sad way of living.
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