Most helpful positive review
15 of 18 people found the following review helpful
5An Excellent Primer! I Wish I Had Had This Book Five Years Ago.
ByRA Meeks "ra meeks"on April 15, 2010
A tip of the hat to Erin Lale for her most excellent book, "Asatru for Beginners".
In 94 pages, Lale boils down information that is digestible, direct, and clear to newcomers, those casually interested in Asatru, or those on the Northern Path who have friends or relatives with whom they'd like to share more about their path but may not be sure where or how to start. She combines a succinct FAQ section, a section on the Lore of Asatru (also known as Heathenism), a history of Asatru from Ginnungagap to the present, the Gods and Goddesses are covered, social, political, and moral/ethical questions are addressed, and she does it all carefully, succinctly, and thoroughly in a very brief space. Also provided are book, internet, magazine, and group resources.
"Asatru for Beginners" is a not substitute for reading the Lore or a substitute for reading more deeply in history, archaeology, runology, linguistics, metaphysics or philosophy. This is a first-rate primer that can put the reader on the road to finding more information for him/herself rather than (as many of us have had to do in the past) coming across books and, without any guide or pathfinder, hoping that they were neither New Age nor right wing.
That's exactly what this book is: a pathfinder.
This is truly a remarkable accomplishment, and a book that newcomers or the casually interested will find of immense value. I wish I had had access to this title five years ago; it would have saved me a great deal of time and money and confusion. If the Gods have called to you or if you're seeking Them, if you have a friend on the Northern Path and would like to know what it's all about, or if you're interested in one of the many polytheistic traditions now alive and well in the United States, England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Iceland, continental Europe, Australia, and other parts of the world, this is certainly a book to consult.
Amazon is offering the Kindle version of this title. This review is based on the paperback version of this title, which can be ordered from [...]
Many thanks, Erin Lale, and congratulations on a book that conveys so much so briefly.