- These are fairly simple books and I would have expected that too.

Swedish party leaders are usually quite careful not to be cultural snobs.

Especially if you are, for example, a Social Democrat, Center Party member, Sweden Democrat or Christian Democrat, says Fredrik Furtenbach, domestic policy commentator at Ekot.

The book tips from the party leaders, and Interior Minister Mikael Damberg who jumped in for Stefan Löfven, offered, among other things, "climate fiction" from Per Bolund (MP) in the form of Bina's story by Maja Lunde.

Nyamko Sabuni (L) tipped about Tara Westovers, All I Learned, which is an autobiographical story about how she gets out of religious oppression and frees herself through education.

The Left Party's party leader Jonas Sjöstedt highlighted the working class' journey to economic security, which is depicted in the Ålev Gospel by Patrik Svensson, among other things.

- These are striking Swedish titles.

But it's also fun, I think.

They are prepared for this and then they get to choose books that they may want to manifest something with, or that they actually read, says Åsa Linderborg, writer at Aftonbladet.

Books that match politics

The environmentalist Per Bolund's fictional choice, which is about the endangered bees and the threat to humanity that it entails, is probably no coincidence, says Fredrik Furtenbach.

- I think that some of them have thought that you should say something about politics with what you have chosen.

For example, Ebba Busch who chose Kallocain by Karin Boye.

The Christian Democrats want a cultural canon, that is, to read Swedish classics, says Fredrik Furtenbach and continues:

- And it is no coincidence that Jimmie Åkesson and Ulf Kristersson have chosen books about crime.

This is the political issue they are pushing hardest right now, says Fredrik Furtenbach.

The crime novels are the books that sell the most in Sweden.

But of the seven party leaders, only one detective was mentioned.

Annie Lööf's choice, The scar we carry by Caroline Engvall, Åsa Linderborg thought stood out.

- It was so liberating to see that I think.

There was nothing pretentious about it.

For Annie Lööf is probably a rather tired mother of small children.

And she has literature as entertainment and that is also one of the most important tasks in literature, says Åsa Linderborg and continues:

- The task of literature is that you should practice your own truths and learn to think critically, to not only get your own perceptions confirmed, I think that is the most important thing.

If it is actually true that they read as much as they claim, it gives hope for both literature and politics, says Åsa Linderborg.