The Icelanders

By Richard Sale

What makes the Icelanders ICELANDIC: A guide to understanding the Icelanders which delves beyond cod and curiosities to reveal their character and values.

Icelanders would almost prefer to live in a cardboard box than do without the latest gadgets.

Reviews

‘I came across this nifty little book by chance. I’ve been fascinated by all things Icelandic for a while and this is a fantastic read for anyone who has any interest in the place and people. It’s witty, highly informative and fun to read. It provides a useful background to Icelandic life and culture, their national characteristics and customs. You get to learn some really incredible facts as well as their quirky habits.’ Reviewer from London
‘Fascinating insight into Icelandic culture and customs, written in a bright and breezy style that just asks to be read from cover to cover.’ Reviewed by GT
‘Fantastic portrayal of a nation. I’m Icelandic myself and everything this book states is completely correct and a greatly humorous view of the nation.’ Reviewer from Reykjavik
‘What a delightful surprise I had in store when I purchased this book for a friend that will be traveling to Iceland for the first time. I couldn’t put it down once I opened it. Filled with humor, it is delightful from start to finish. Now I wish I were the one traveling to Iceland!’ Reviewer from Maryland, USA
‘Highly entertaining and filled with wonderful details. Yes, Icelanders are notoriously unpunctual. Yes, they have breaks in movie theatres in the middle of the show. And yes, they don’t know moderate drinking – at all. But whilst indulging in xenophobic and superficially-appearing yet “so true” facts about Icelanders, it becomes clear that they are charming folk, who the author loves just as much as the reader will.’ Review from The Reykjavík Grapevine

If you would like to comment or submit a review on the Xenophobe’s Guide to the Icelanders please do so in the box to the right.

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Links to make you laugh

How did an Icelandic chant become a trademark! The Icelandic Hú! became famous at the UEFA championships in 2016 when the Icelandic fans did a Viking clap accompanied by a war cry, “Hú.” It seems that somebody bought the trademark Húh! and according to the Icelandic Patent Office the word Hú! and Húh! are the same. So it therefore it is no longer permissable to produce items such as t-shirts featuring a cartoon of a man wearing the national team shirt saying “Hú.”

The Icelanders have come up with a novel way of slowing cars at pedestrian crossings by creating the illusion of an elevated pathway.

Crazy Facts about Icelandic Sheep

10 weirdest things about Icelanders

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Elves troubled by airport proposal

Elf expert Ragnhildur Jonsdottir at the Hellisgerdi Elf Garden says that elves are horrified at the idea of a new airport at Hvassahraun which a steering committee has concluded is the best candidate. She points out that the area is a thriving community of elves and hidden folk. Click here to read more.

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To find out about the Icelanders’ unique way to number things click on the image of sheep.

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The beautiful Icelandic tradition of giving books on Christmas Eve.

Click here to read more.

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About the author

Richard Sale was born in England’s West Country – reason enough to feel sympathy with all minorities who speak with strange tongues. Being quite good at sums he took a degree in theoretical physics and a PhD in astrophysics, and then sought a job in glaciology in order to be nearer his first great loves, snow and ice.

He is now a travel writer, specialising in wilderness areas, most particularly the Arctic. He fell in love with Iceland the first time he saw it – barely, through the fine rain that was falling – and has been going there, summer and winter, ever since. Despite frustration by its weather he is endlessly fascinated by its mixture of landscapes, its bird life and its people (though not always in that order). Happily, the elements and birds combined to win him and co-author Eugene Potapov the prestigious US Wildlife Society’s Book of the Year Award for their work, The Gyrfalcon – the white Arctic falcon, the world’s biggest. He would like to thank several Icelandic friends for their (sometimes inadvertent) assistance with this guide. Sadly, none of them is willing to be identified.