Scan barcode
mnboyer's review against another edition
2.0
There were moments where this book had its plusses. The Audible narration, for example, was pretty nice. It was exactly what you'd expect if you wanted an older British man to read a history book to you (really, that is a compliment). Simon Vance is a really good narrator. There are also a few historical facts peppered throughout the book that kept me interested. And I do love a mention of Vikings, Thor, etc. (Thor films make an appearance in the book, take that as you will).
Where the problem lies is with the methodological approach to the text, which I found to be lacking. There's also a bit of whitewashing throughout and *barf* I'm not excited about that ever. It is absolutely fair to say that the Northerners had their own religions, cultures, etc., but it is ridiculous to assert that thus everything else sprang from them. I think by 2021 we've put that theory to rest (or at least, I thought we had, but apparently we're still discussing it here).
Thus, while I was originally excited about this book, it became something else entirely a few chapters in and I ended up not engaging with it as I expected to. Not bad/awful but definitely something I would not necessarily have delved into had I know we were going down the whiteism route.
Where the problem lies is with the methodological approach to the text, which I found to be lacking. There's also a bit of whitewashing throughout and *barf* I'm not excited about that ever. It is absolutely fair to say that the Northerners had their own religions, cultures, etc., but it is ridiculous to assert that thus everything else sprang from them. I think by 2021 we've put that theory to rest (or at least, I thought we had, but apparently we're still discussing it here).
Thus, while I was originally excited about this book, it became something else entirely a few chapters in and I ended up not engaging with it as I expected to. Not bad/awful but definitely something I would not necessarily have delved into had I know we were going down the whiteism route.
the_weirdling's review against another edition
3.0
This is a strange, albeit informative, book. I don’t feel like I ever knew what to make of it. It is based on the mythic archetype of “the North“ and the way in which that archetype has been appropriated over the last few centuries, with special emphasis on recent history.
The book has a definite tendency to meander from one place to another. To be fair, I think this might be an unavoidable side effect of writing about any mythic archetype. Since archetypes are not confined by location or historical era, it is hard for most writers to stay focused on one at a time.
I also felt like I never fully grasp the perspective of the author. It is difficult to discern whether he believed the stories of “the north“ were fact, myth (in the non-pejorative sense), or something else. This was especially odd since it is clear he has a personal stake in the scholarship he represents here. He regularly refers to his participation in building up the Asatru movement in Iceland. He also seems to take an inordinate amount of time distancing any inherent connection between the Nordic mythos and anything that smacks of Nazism. For obvious reasons. Personally though, I felt like I got it the first ten times bleh pointed it out. I didn’t need to hear it three times a chapter.
The most valuable part of the book for me was as a sort of reading list. Much of the book recounts stars, writers, singers, poets, and historical figures connected with the myths and themes of “The North”. I got a very long reading list out of this book. That alone made it a pretty decent expenditure of my time.
The book has a definite tendency to meander from one place to another. To be fair, I think this might be an unavoidable side effect of writing about any mythic archetype. Since archetypes are not confined by location or historical era, it is hard for most writers to stay focused on one at a time.
I also felt like I never fully grasp the perspective of the author. It is difficult to discern whether he believed the stories of “the north“ were fact, myth (in the non-pejorative sense), or something else. This was especially odd since it is clear he has a personal stake in the scholarship he represents here. He regularly refers to his participation in building up the Asatru movement in Iceland. He also seems to take an inordinate amount of time distancing any inherent connection between the Nordic mythos and anything that smacks of Nazism. For obvious reasons. Personally though, I felt like I got it the first ten times bleh pointed it out. I didn’t need to hear it three times a chapter.
The most valuable part of the book for me was as a sort of reading list. Much of the book recounts stars, writers, singers, poets, and historical figures connected with the myths and themes of “The North”. I got a very long reading list out of this book. That alone made it a pretty decent expenditure of my time.
ashtronomic's review against another edition
1.0
This book was a wild and unexpected ride.
I started off doubtful; Christopher McIntosh introduces a lot of theories throughout the start of the book, but fails to supply any reasoning behind these ideas. He mentions other authors and philosophers who have discussed these concepts, but doesn't include the rationale as to how he or they came to their conclusions.
However, there are a few concepts for which McIntosh writes in-depth about his thoughts and reasoning, such as; hyperborealism, shamanism and psychedelics. This was a very unexpected, but pleasant turn of events. He writes in depth into these particular theories, and whilst they often sound outlandish and conspiratorial, they are incredibly interesting. This novel feels obsessive, often dismissing the history and values of other cultures in preference of it's own directive. I would take everything written in it with a grain of salt, but still found it fascinating in an absurd way.
I started off doubtful; Christopher McIntosh introduces a lot of theories throughout the start of the book, but fails to supply any reasoning behind these ideas. He mentions other authors and philosophers who have discussed these concepts, but doesn't include the rationale as to how he or they came to their conclusions.
However, there are a few concepts for which McIntosh writes in-depth about his thoughts and reasoning, such as; hyperborealism, shamanism and psychedelics. This was a very unexpected, but pleasant turn of events. He writes in depth into these particular theories, and whilst they often sound outlandish and conspiratorial, they are incredibly interesting. This novel feels obsessive, often dismissing the history and values of other cultures in preference of it's own directive. I would take everything written in it with a grain of salt, but still found it fascinating in an absurd way.
isaach12's review against another edition
1.0
this is an utter piece of trash where the author tries to revolutionize the false notions of occultism with norther European history for nothing else that his own pat on the back. it reeks of desperate attention seeking and desire to feel validated.
swasheck's review against another edition
1.0
The first few chapters were an engaging and compelling discussion of the possibility of the North as the cradle of culture.
The remainder was a litany of pointers to other chapters, pop culture references, and what felt like a personal love letters to a region. Perhaps it was improper expectations part as I was hoping for more anthropology and less speculation and wistful pining for a abstract concept.
The remainder was a litany of pointers to other chapters, pop culture references, and what felt like a personal love letters to a region. Perhaps it was improper expectations part as I was hoping for more anthropology and less speculation and wistful pining for a abstract concept.
guardian's review against another edition
5.0
This book was an overview that wandered far and near. As a condensation of, and introduction to, Nordic mysticism and Nordic mythology (not a run down of the gods that we all pretty much know, but how they have ebbed and flowed in followers) a lot of ground was covered.
I found myself wishing I had taken notes of all of the various sources mentioned so that I could review them, thus my need to relisten to this book. Some sources seemed credible, others seemed to come out of fringe history. That said there wasn't a lot of value judgement placed on the sources, leaving it up to the listener to do their own research and form their own opinion.
What I really loved was the last chapter that covered Nordic and "neoNordic" music and their influences starting with Led Zeppelin. Happily my very favorite band, Sigur Rós, was mentioned. Other bands from the Faroe Islands, Germany, Scandinavia, and elsewhere have given me some new music to checkout.
Simon Vance is an excellent narrator. I pretty much always enjoy his readings.
I found myself wishing I had taken notes of all of the various sources mentioned so that I could review them, thus my need to relisten to this book. Some sources seemed credible, others seemed to come out of fringe history. That said there wasn't a lot of value judgement placed on the sources, leaving it up to the listener to do their own research and form their own opinion.
What I really loved was the last chapter that covered Nordic and "neoNordic" music and their influences starting with Led Zeppelin. Happily my very favorite band, Sigur Rós, was mentioned. Other bands from the Faroe Islands, Germany, Scandinavia, and elsewhere have given me some new music to checkout.
Simon Vance is an excellent narrator. I pretty much always enjoy his readings.