Kindle
$9.99
Available instantly
Audible Logo Audiobook
$0.00
with membership trial
Paperback
$14.99
Buy new:
$14.99
FREE delivery Thursday, May 16 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35
Ships from: Amazon.com
Sold by: Amazon.com
$14.99
Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime FREE Returns
FREE delivery Thursday, May 16 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35. Order within 12 hrs 6 mins
In Stock
$$14.99 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details
Price
Subtotal
$$14.99
Subtotal
Initial payment breakdown
Shipping cost, delivery date, and order total (including tax) shown at checkout.
Ships from
Amazon.com
Ships from
Amazon.com
Sold by
Amazon.com
Sold by
Amazon.com
Returns
30-day easy returns
30-day easy returns
This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt.
Read full return policy
Returns
30-day easy returns
This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt.
Read full return policy
Payment
Secure transaction
Your transaction is secure
We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more
Payment
Secure transaction
We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more
$10.64
Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime FREE Returns
Little to no damage on cover or pages. Item will come in original packaging. Little to no damage on cover or pages. Item will come in original packaging. See less
FREE delivery Friday, May 17 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35
Only 1 left in stock - order soon.
$$14.99 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details
Price
Subtotal
$$14.99
Subtotal
Initial payment breakdown
Shipping cost, delivery date, and order total (including tax) shown at checkout.
Access codes and supplements are not guaranteed with used items.
Amazon book clubs early access
Loading your book clubs
There was a problem loading your book clubs. Please try again.
Not in a club? Learn more
Amazon book clubs early access

Join or create book clubs

Choose books together

Track your books
Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club that’s right for you for free.
Explore Amazon Book Clubs
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the author

Daniel McCoy
+ Follow
More books from this author
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

The Viking Spirit: An Introduction to Norse Mythology and Religion Paperback – June 1, 2016

by Daniel McCoy (Author)
4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 2,461 ratings
See all formats and editions
Great on Kindle
Great Experience. Great Value.
iphone with kindle app
Putting our best book forward
Each Great on Kindle book offers a great reading experience, at a better value than print to keep your wallet happy.

Explore your book, then jump right back to where you left off with Page Flip.

View high quality images that let you zoom in to take a closer look.

Enjoy features only possible in digital – start reading right away, carry your library with you, adjust the font, create shareable notes and highlights, and more.

Discover additional details about the events, people, and places in your book, with Wikipedia integration.
Get the free Kindle app: Link to the kindle app page Link to the kindle app page
Enjoy a great reading experience when you buy the Kindle edition of this book. Learn more about Great on Kindle, available in select categories.
View Kindle Edition
{"desktop_buybox_group_1":[{"displayPrice":"$14.99","priceAmount":14.99,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"14","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"99","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"pvOW%2FBLdqZ0N1OdFnaJT8IalfXvqqMeT3AYrZadGrgsUnvd0EGxPBzfhX256lq8UAMwaDJFamk6Wk7rF7jPVXplphMnqXY1yt6JChTIVQ%2FMPVciwSmzdaQ84SjTOSbG3T9lKOdZMpyj9Q3etrtprxQ%3D%3D","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"NEW","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":0}, {"displayPrice":"$10.64","priceAmount":10.64,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"10","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"64","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"pvOW%2FBLdqZ0N1OdFnaJT8IalfXvqqMeT5dqaXmVgjVn7eI1UQPpMrpokQutjnX2G9ixixrzI3vcbOsxwCLncqaPjvj7fwgfz7U3vxtaBFYLu9Fduw%2FUd7oR153QAuY8Ib7y164XeYr3dV%2FQhKMKIJID64XSki7ZCHhWWCtw7%2B2fB9SwoCHwChHwCR9c%2BljOJ","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"USED","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":1}]}

Purchase options and add-ons

The Viking Spirit is an introduction to Norse mythology like no other. As you’d expect from Daniel McCoy, the creator of the enduringly 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 read. 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.
Read more Read less
Previous page
  1. Print length
    317 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publication date
    June 1, 2016
  4. Dimensions
    6 x 0.72 x 9 inches
  5. ISBN-10
    1533393036
  6. ISBN-13
    978-1533393036
  7. See all details
Next page
The Amazon Book Review
The Amazon Book Review
Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more. Read it now.

Frequently bought together

The Viking Spirit: An Introduction to Norse Mythology and Religion
$14.99
Get it as soon as Thursday, May 16
In Stock
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
+
Norse Mythology
$10.51
Get it as soon as Thursday, May 16
In Stock
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
+
The Poetic Edda: Stories of the Norse Gods and Heroes (Hackett Classics)
$16.10
Get it as soon as Thursday, May 16
In Stock
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
Total price:
To see our price, add these items to your cart.
Details
Added to Cart
Choose items to buy together.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (June 1, 2016)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 317 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1533393036
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1533393036
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 13.8 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.72 x 9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 2,461 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Daniel McCoy

Daniel McCoy

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Daniel McCoy is the creator of Norse Mythology for Smart People (Norse-Mythology.org), the most-visited website on the mythology and religion of the Norse and other ancient Germanic peoples for several years running. He was recently featured as a Norse mythology expert in Major League Baseball's documentary "Iron Knight: Lou Gehrig," which was released by A&E and aired on the Smithsonian Channel. A writer by profession, he lives in Nashville, Tennessee.

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
4.7 out of 5
2,461 global ratings
Pages falling out
3 Stars
Pages falling out
Pages started falling out of book the first time I opened it up. Im going to send back hopefully get a better bind next chance.
Hide
Thank you for your feedback
Sorry, there was an error
Sorry we couldn't load the review

Top reviews from the United States

Jim R
5.0 out of 5 stars Well written and Informative.
Reviewed in the United States on January 15, 2024
Verified Purchase
An excellent introduction to the world of Norse mythology and religion. Well written and highly recommended.
Helpful
 Report
Sarah Thomasson
5.0 out of 5 stars Well written, engaging, and smart.
Reviewed in the United States on May 21, 2017
Verified Purchase
Fantastic read. Well written, engaging, and smart. This is a book for people who like to think for themselves. The author addresses the reader as an intelligent partner in the search for the truth about the Viking people and era. I love the deep dives and the extra effort the author put into analyzing traditionally used sources as well as introducing lesser known sources that often introduce insight running counter to the traditional view of Vikings. The author also discusses the potential biases of those historians whose accounts of Vikings provide the foundation for what we know and understand about the Viking era, which is rarely done in most of the history books I read. It's important to understand what we know of history is oftentimes skewed by those who wrote about it. I love books that challenge me to expand or re-examine what I learned in school (or from TV!)

I also love history books that don't put me to sleep, and this is one of those I could barely put down.
4 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Red Rampart
5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Introduction to Vikings
Reviewed in the United States on October 8, 2020
Verified Purchase
I am absolutely enamored by this book. The way the author explains everything is incredible, starting general and moving to the specific. The viking way of life and religious traditions are explained interestingly and in detail in the first half of the book. Important cultural priorities, mindsets, and societal norms are also covered well. The second half is all myths, each with a preceding paragraph describing its sources, time period, and how “authentic” it may be. Everything is presented linearly (well, as much as possible) and very easy to understand from a beginner’s perspective. It’s just great.
Helpful
 Report
HBPattskyn
4.0 out of 5 stars A Solid Read
Reviewed in the United States on April 28, 2017
Verified Purchase
3.5 rounded up to 4 (because it's better than "okay")

I appreciate McCoy's scholarship and clear, concise writing, which is why I was baffled at a few missing pieces (Loki is typically credited as having two sons by Sigyn, for example, but McCoy only gives us one) and while most of the articles on Norse Mythology for Smart People are very even handed, there were places here where McCoy presents his views as the only views--which is not to say that these interpretations of the stories are not solidly researched and accepted in academia, only that there are a lot of places where academia is divided and I would have like to have seen that mentioned, even if competing theories were not offered up in on the page. (Specific case in point: Heimdallr is cited in some sources as being the son of Odinn, and in others, no father is cited; Snorri was somewhat infamous for making *all* the Gods Odinn's children--or at least as many as he could.)

A few quibbles aside (quibbles I have with most mythology books), Viking Spirit is a solid read, well researched, and a great book to add to one's library. Where the book truly shines is in the latter half, where McCoy gives us not only a look into some of the most important myths, but an understanding of how those stories were influenced by outside sources and how different sources gave us variations on the myths in question. This, in particular, is why I bought it in the first place.
15 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Jonathan Higgins
5.0 out of 5 stars An EXCELLENT Introduction for Aspiring Humanities Majors
Reviewed in the United States on May 15, 2020
Verified Purchase
I haven't done much research into this book prior to purchase, unlike my purchases for Michael Haag's books on the Knights Templar or Romulus Hillsborough's analysis on the Shinsengumi.
This was a pure purchase on a whim in response to passing my first history class in college. Literally sat there and said "I like the cover, go". Just got it I'd say 2 hours ago, came home, skimmed through the book and MAN, that bibliography. It's been very apparent, at least to me, that finding a solid, well research, and widely circulated book like this is a treasure to any aspiring historian's collection of reference material and this fits my bill personally. I've read some chunks of the text just to know what I'm getting into and it's straightforward, doesn't go on tangents, and tells you the facts straight with plenty of notes you can flip to and get your references. This organization and structure alone, is why I hopped on the computer to type this review.

As for the quality of the references, I've spotted some philosophical takes (which is ALWAYS appreciated when examining cultures, especially theological/social conepts) and a majority of the prints are recent so it's a matter of "you're getting relevant and recent references". Also from a variety of locations so you're not getting an entire bias of American works but rather Canada, Netherlands, Sweden Etc. so you also have a variety of outlooks on a relatively wide topic. Not to mention, consistent review over specific authors, meaning you're getting a clean line of understanding rather than jumping from 30 different authors. It's this that is stunningly impressive.

Now it seems weird to post a 5-star review on "oh my god the bibliography is so good" even though I've only read the intro thus far, but my point is this: organized, thorough, research deserves praise, ESPECIALLY for widely circulated material such as this. This book is probably one of the first things you see on your Amazon search for Norse Mythology and for anyone interested in such non-fiction material who want the best bang for their buck when they can't readily find scholarly works, these books are stellar to have.

To the author, Mr. McCoy I greatly look forward to my little pandemic summer of fun ahead for me, thank you for your work and research, I'm bound to dig some information myself.
To the reader of this review, again it's digestible, easy to pick up, and fundamentally sound in terms of logos and references. If you're aspiring to go into such fields whether it be history, literature, theology, sociology, philosophy, I'd recommend this.
10 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report

Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English
Adriana
5.0 out of 5 stars I liked it
Reviewed in Mexico on June 18, 2022
Verified Purchase
Encantada con este libro, genial para principiantes en la cultura Nordica
Report
Amazonian Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars An ideal introduction
Reviewed in Canada on January 12, 2022
Verified Purchase
Great read that's gained me a great deal more knowledge of the subject. It really invests you. I find the writing balances neutrality well. It's engaging and well-paced without succumbing much to drama. There's some great background in here regarding culture and the historical context to the religious beliefs.
One person found this helpful
 Report
Steve
5.0 out of 5 stars Very good book
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 5, 2023
Verified Purchase
An easily overlooked book but as a Norse Pagan I found it very informative. It really does a great job of explaining the mythology and life of our ancestors.
Report
VERONICA
5.0 out of 5 stars Muy bien
Reviewed in Spain on April 22, 2023
Verified Purchase
Lo compre para regalar. A la persona a le gustó, dice que son como diferentes capítulos por lo que es muy llevadero.
Ha llegado en perfecto estado.
Report
Barbara
5.0 out of 5 stars Loved it
Reviewed in Germany on August 14, 2022
Verified Purchase
If you want to learn the basis of Nordic mythology this is the book for you. Clear language and to the point. It also provides all the reference for his argument without going too deep into the academic debates.
I personally liked it a lot.
One person found this helpful
 Report