Exploring the Unique Culture of Iceland: 50 Miniature Essays on the Quirks and Foibles of the Icelandic People

Nick: This is the second book of Alda's that I have purchased. Both were inexpensive and good quick reads. I like to learn as much as I can about a place before I travel there and this is a perfect addition to that research. The best part about traveling is to learn the little differences of places around the world that are both unique and a little humorous. This book is packed with funny stories of Icelandic customs and gives insights as to why certain things are the way they are. I wish every country had someone similar to Alda to both share insights and stories but also keeping it very entertaining and to-the-point. After reading this, I can say that I will definitely enjoy meeting the Icelandic people (as if I had any doubt). According to the book, Icelanders are both optimistic and take pride in their sense of humor, which is right up my alley. I will also forever use the phrase petta reddast (it's not really a P, but my keyboard doesn't have Icelandic characters)

United States on Mar 24, 2022

Jai Kristjan: It doesn't disappoint as I learned many wonderful facets of Icelanders I did not know before in a fun format.

Canada on Jan 17, 2022

Chocolab: The book looks fascinating and fun. Perfect to read at the airport or on the flight. But I think it's very much over priced for such a small book so I knocked off a star.

United Kingdom on Sep 06, 2021

Girl On Bicycle: I lived on the American base at Keflavik for a couple of years as a kid, and am now (finally!) planning a trip to go back, thirty years later; and have been reading as much as I can about Iceland in between watching videos of the new volcano.

This book was both insightful and hilarious--I've started asking my friends what they'd have listed as their profession in the phone book. (Personally, I think I'd be "wearer of dresses with pockets," as opposed to my actual job of receptionist.) That said, a moment of sympathy for my poor friends and family; who have been dealing with a lot of "Did you know that Icelanders--" nearly every day!

The only downside to the kindle edition is that I think the paper version has illustrations, and the kindle version does not.

United States on Apr 22, 2021

klindsay93: I read this book during my move from the UK to Iceland last year. It really helped me understand the culture here in Iceland and it helped me deal with culture shock a lot better. I’ve found the vast majority of it to be true, too - sometimes even impressing Icelandic friends with my knowledge of their culture or history. So it’s been a fun and helpful book to read. I remember laughing while reading it, too, and whizzed through it in a day.

Only one thing stood out to me as inaccurate - and I think it comes down to age demographics - and that is the part where (to memory), Alda says that Icelanders will provide all the alcohol when hosting a party. I’m 26, and any Icelanders I’ve spent time with are similar ages. They have told me that that might be true of older generations, but most of the younger generations host parties on BYOB basis.

Minor, but alas I thought I’d better point it out. On the whole, a really helpful, interesting and entertaining read.

United Kingdom on Jul 28, 2020

Pinxit: Just back from an all too brief visit to Iceland, I am curious to learn more about this strangely beautiful country and its people. This book has answered some questions, and whetted my appetite for more information.

Being an Icelander raised mainly abroad, the author is in a unique position to explain the country to non-Icelanders. Of course, as she is careful to make very clear, this is Iceland seen through one person's filter. Because it's so openly a personal perspective I'd have liked to have had more of an extended author bio upfront, explaining why her family left, where she has lived, where she studied, jobs, whom she is married to, number of children, other family still in Iceland? etc. in order for me to put her viewpoints into context. I get the feeling she is well-known and perhaps she assumes people know her back story already, but I don't. However, not knowing that stuff doesn't keep this from being a well-written and fascinating read!

This book is an excellent brief introduction to contemporary Icelandic society. I highly recommend it as a starting place to anyone who, like me, is ignorant but sincerely interested. I'd love to see a "for further...

United States on Aug 14, 2017

Mitch: Alda's personal history gives her a unique perspective on Icelandic culture. In essence, she's a Stranger in a Strange Land (must read scifi novel by Robert A. Heinlen). Alda was born in Iceland, but was raised mostly in Canada and Western Europe, moving back to Iceland when she was in her 30's. Whatever Alda missed out on by attending elementary school, secondary school and college abroad, she has more than made up for with her own research. Although Alda has clearly done quite a bit of academic research, most of the knowledge presented in this book is based on her personal experience of trying to "grok" (Heinlein reference) the social norms and culture that is both familiar and foreign to her. What I love most about this book is Alda's writing style - conversational, clever, humorous and incredibly informative. I couldn't put it down. In sumarry, both this book and Alda's other book, The Little Book of Icelandic, is a must read for anyone planning a visit to Iceland. If you're not planning a trip to Iceland, you should...it's an amazing "re-creational" experience.

United States on Sep 06, 2016

Silure Dumnonii: I read this because I'm heading to Iceland for a holiday and wanted to know more before I made my once in a life time trip. It's a fascinating and very easy read.
I learnt a lot of very surprising facts and was totally engrossed for the duration of the book. It has affected my travel plans (I will be leaving the bathers behind as I don't want to run foul of the shower police and have decided to hold off on swimming in Iceland. I won't be spending too much time hunting 'hidden folk' either.)
Don't be put off by the 'miniature essays', they fit together very smoothly and are more like chapters if you look at the book as a whole.
I loved this book and appreciate the author's dry humour while being able to view her home, warts and all, with love and acute observation. An absolute must read if you're heading to Iceland and DO read it with it's companion, 'The Little Book of the Icelanders in the Olden Days', for an even better understanding of this amazing place and its people.

Australia on Apr 03, 2016

Neil St. Cyr: I'm planning a trip to Iceland soon and got this because it seemed like a quick cultural introduction. I've read many of the Icelandic Sagas and have a decent understanding of Icelandic history, but beyond the 13th century (and Bjartur of Summerhouse much later) I don't know much about modern culture and how Iceland has adapted to globalization and the connections that modern technology affords us.

Alda Sigmundsdottir does an excellent job of identifying, explaining, and commenting on some of Iceland's major cultural idiosyncrasies and the influences that contribute to them. She bridges a gap between outsider and native because she is an Icelander by name and genes but was raised abroad and thus has experienced both sides. And, despite accurate (or at least it sounds accurate but we'll see when I visit) analysis of the country's culture and traditions, Alda keeps the whole thing light and casual and funny. I read this in spurts over the course of about a week, but it could be completed within a few hours. Each essay only takes a few minutes to read.

Overall, this provides insight into a country that I don't think the globe really knows what to do with. It's such a...

United States on Apr 01, 2016

Christopher A. Smith: This highly entertaining little book cuts through the BS and depicts Icelandic people as they actually are. (It even told me some things I had not already learned after 8 months of living in Iceland, but which I can well believe.) It is a beautiful country and the people are pretty agreeable on the whole, but it irks me when outsiders quote all sorts of ill-informed nonsense and project their own fantasies onto the country. Having spent most of her early life in other countries, Alda Sigmmundsdóttir has the advantage of being able to stand back from her own people and see their foibles in perspective, rather like standing back from a painting in order to see it better. Do not read this book if you want to carry on believing that Iceland is a democratic paradise, populated by Vikings (living alongside Elves) and devoid of earthly problems.

United Kingdom on Dec 04, 2015