A basic introduction to the Aesir and Vanir, the holy tides of the year, the runes and a few cerimonies follow. While not meant as a thorough resource, it does fill it's intended niche quite well as a basic handbook of Asatru, perfect for the beginner, and a book any kindred would do well to have on hand as a basic introduction to Asatru for new seekers.

22 of 22 found the following review helpful:

A great overview  Feb 20, 2005
By Ren
This little book is very direct and to the point. It goes over alot of main topics which are very essential to Asatru: what Asatru is and is not, the Nine Noble Virtues, ethics, Orlog, Frith, oaths, a basic introduction to the Gods and Goddesses, the Blots, ceremonies, and even a little bit about the runes and different types of magic. He gives very good modern day examples, focusing less on abstract concepts and more on how one can apply them and really "live" Asatru, as the title says.

I didn't agree with some of what he had to say, but he clearly stated that the book contains his own interpretations and opinions. The author encourages the reader to learn more about Asatru through different sources.

That said, I'd recommend this book to anyone. It's a great introduction to Asatru and it's well worth a read.

22 of 23 found the following review helpful:

Great Basic Review of Asatru  Apr 26, 2004

This book, although it does not delve very deeply into the religion, does give a good overview of the belief system of Asatru. The author claims only to give the reader ideas for their own research. A great jumping off point for the beginner. Also a wonderful resource for those who are exploring the many religions out there.

I gave this book to my family when they were interested in what I believed. It is a great resource for them to understand my religion, even though they are not interested in becoming Asatru themselves. It makes a great resource for explaing Heathenism when you get tongue-tied and don't know where to begin answering people's questions.

9 of 9 found the following review helpful:

Awsome point of view and well written without the fluff of other books  Feb 23, 2007
By Edward Larson
If your sick and tired of touchy feely hippie new age writing this is the book for you. IT lays out in very unapologetic language the ways of Asatru without the usual wiccan influence. It is a straight forward look at Asatru from a Hardcore asatruar's point of view. Great book for anyone interested in the northern path without the overly celtic influence of most other writings.

4 of 4 found the following review helpful:

A great book to loan to curious friends.  Jan 11, 2010
By Jennifer Parpatt "Raven of the North"
This is a simple book, written from the (clearly stated at the start) viewpoint of the author and therefore to be taken as suggestions and ideas rather than hard fact and research. It quickly explores the myths of what Asatru is and is not, the Gods, the holy days, the rituals. I especially liked the modern day examples of heathen values, and frequently loan this book out to friends who are interested in heathenry. It's small, it's easy to read, and it clarifies many subjects in terms anybody can understand. I highly recommend this book.




See all 22 customer reviews on Amazon.com