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The Viking Spirit
Summary
The Viking Spirit is an introduction to Norse mythology like no other. As you’d expect from Daniel McCoy, the creator of the endearingly popular website "Norse Mythology for Smart People", it’s written to scholarly standards, but in a simple, clear, and entertaining style that’s easy to understand and a pleasure to listen to. It includes gripping retellings of no less than 34 epic Norse myths - more than any other book in the field - while also providing an equally comprehensive overview of the fascinating viking religion of which Norse mythology was a part. You’ll learn about the vikings’ gods and goddesses, their concept of fate, their views on the afterlife, their moral code, how they thought the universe was structured, how they practiced their religion, the role that magic played in their lives, and much more. With its inclusion of the latest groundbreaking research in the field, The Viking Spirit is the ultimate introduction to the timeless splendor of Norse mythology and religion for the 21st Century.
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What listeners say about The Viking Spirit
Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Krrish
- 03-10-20
Great source of information
This book provides a wealth of information on the origins of the Norse Gods. Each myth is sourced and analysed to identify if it contains christian influences or genuinely originated in the Viking age. There's a lot of information that will cater for everyone, from casual reader to researcher.
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- Amazon Customer
- 21-09-20
Good but a bit long winded
More character could have been put in the retelling of the stories. A good overview of the mythology in general.
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- Karolis Gudonis
- 16-08-20
Great book
Great listen and introduction to pagan ways and their stories, definetly reccomend to anyone interested in heathenism
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- Anonymous User
- 05-07-20
Good for every level of knowledge
Very informative. Couldn't think of a better tool if you're just starting to learn about Norse mythology, but also useful for someone much more informed. If you're the latter you may pick up on some of the stories missing out some details, but these are only ever insignificant details that can be easily forgiven by the wealth of insight provided.
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- Aaah
- 20-05-20
A lively and thorough introduction to the subject
I absolutely loved this book. I have read a number of modern retellings of Norse myths and introductions to Norse religion, both from a historical and reconstructionist point of view, and this is by far my favourite. I particularly love how clear the author is about how different versions of the myths from different sources, or even from different manuscripts of the same source, contradict or support each other. Unlike many other similar books who only mention the issue in generic terms, this one gives specific examples. While I still prefer The Penguin Book of Norse Myth by Kevin Crossley-Holland as a more comprehensive anthology, this book is the one I will be referring people to as an introduction to the subject. The narrator does a cracking job, too. His version of the Lokasenna had me in stitches.
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- Jake Harrison
- 31-01-20
Perfect
This is just what I've been looking for. The stories, the cultural background, details about the religion and ceremonies... the list goes on. This book really does have everything and is a fantastic foundation for anyone interested in the subject. :)
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- Ваня Недева
- 27-11-19
Great book
Very well written book that makes it so easy to understand all connections. I have tried few books before I stumble upon this one. In the past I felt overwhelmed with information. This book is like Norse mythology for dummies but at the same time is written on high level so every intelligent person interested will appreciate. Love the fact that the narrator is male. Found couple of books with female narrator and even though the books were interested I kept getting irritated because they had female narrators. Will gladly listen to it few times.
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- Megan List
- 03-12-19
Christo-centric revisionist
"Due to his own religious preferences, and those of his audiences, Snorri presented the Norse religion as the groping attempt of his ancestors to make sense of the world, without the all-illuminating revelation that Christ had provided." I want the history of the Viking peoples; not a Christianized minimization of a historical perspective as being inferior. It's so jaded, I just have to say, "YUCK!"
22 people found this helpful
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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- Dimitri
- 26-08-19
0 research went into performing a fantastic text
I’m not sure how anyone who is not interested in the source material could read all this, nor how anyone interested in it could permit themselves to so brutally massacre the pronunciations of even the simplest names or characters and places. The content is great - the reading, not so much.
11 people found this helpful
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- Thor Boode
- 24-10-19
Like having your emotions stirred by a bard.
put together very well, doesn't try to force an opinion on you let's you make your own decisions.
4 people found this helpful
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- P. D. N.
- 26-01-20
a good intro
the chapters on religion were very informative. my favorite part. but if you are looking for the myths and stories, these are very bare bones and academic. which is what the author states many times. just beware that going in, if you're more interested in the myths and stories you might want to try a different book.
3 people found this helpful
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- Jay
- 03-10-19
Great book
Incredibly well researched and presented. The author really breaks down the surviving sources by legitimacy.
3 people found this helpful
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- Raymond L.
- 24-07-20
Geat Factual Account of the Viking Life
If you're looking for a story like Vikings television or Thor and Loki comic characters this is not the book. this book is for those who want to understand the Vikings, their way of life, religion and beliefs. it's a great nonfiction book and good read.
1 person found this helpful
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- jasper
- 10-05-20
A must read for history buffs and modern pagans/heathens alike.
This book is thorough and informative, while also being very clear and very descriptive. Perfect to listen to while carving runes or compiling notes.
1 person found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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- Kittim Moser
- 05-11-19
Good but could have been better
The 1st half of the book was really good, 2nd half was just the normal saga stories. I have numerous books with the sagas and was hoping for a in depth investigation into the old Norse religion.
1 person found this helpful
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- Blaine
- 02-10-20
Great intro to understanding the situation
First off I want to know that Snorri, if you listen past this sentence represented in another review that it's important to understand that Snorri was in fact a Christian when writing his account. This is an important fact because some of his book is his first-hand account and that he consciously added material from his own imagination. as you'll find in other books people often argue whether or not is religion affected his writing and his imagination and what he added to the book. That being said knowing that he was a Christian when he wrote the book regardless if that effect or not I for one take the edda with a of salt if you're speaking to follow old traditions it's important to know that following any of the Old Norse gods and goddesses it's a very fluid Act. You'll come to understand this in chapter 1 this whole time my following of woden I thought maybe some of my acts and rituals may have strayed from what they originally did but now I know that everyone has their own way of doing things then.
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- Richard Hildreth
- 30-08-20
excellent book
great book narration was really good and good to listen to. kept your attention and was very informative.