How To Live Icelandic

by Nína Björk Jónsdóttir, Nína Björk Jónsdóttir, Edda Magnus

This ultimate guide to one of the world's most beautiful and fascinating island nations is packed with travel tips, cultural and historical facts, and insights from Icelanders into how we can all make our lives a little more Icelandic.

Known as ‘The Land of Fire and Ice’, Iceland is a country of contrasts, from the enormous glaciers to the active volcanoes , the summer midnight sun to the briefest of winter days, the ancient language to the modern technological innovations. This is a nation with a rich and diverse culture as unique as its stunning landscapes.
 
How to Live Icelandic is the ultimate insider’s guide to this northerly nation . You may have already tried skyr for breakfast and listened to Sigur Rós on your daily commute, but how much do you know about the real Iceland ; the locals’ take on this one-of-a-kind island?

Icelanders Nína Björk Jónsdóttir and Edda Magnus have put together the highlights of Icelandic music, literature, cultural attitudes, food traditions and celebrations so the rest of the world can benefit from the special blend of old Norse wisdom with liberal modern attitudes.

This beautiful book is full of inspiration and insight into this progressive and peaceful nation that has freedom, community and equality at its core, revealing why Iceland remains one of the happiest countries in the world.

From the  How To Live... series of insightful guides to some of the most intriguing cultures and locations on the planet, other books available include  How To Live Japanese, How To Live Korean and  How to Live North.

Genres: Travel, Nonfiction, Cultural

224 pages, Hardcover

Published December 28, 2021

About the author

Nína Björk Jónsdóttir is an Icelandic diplomat, as well as a former tour guide and TV, newspaper and radio journalist. Born and bred in Iceland, Nína Björk has spent a quarter of her life abroad, studying and working in various countries in Europe.

She is the author of a book for children and young adults on Icelandic heroines throughout history, Íslandsdætur, published by Salka in 2020. Her English translation of the book, Daughters of Iceland, came out 2 years later, also published by Salka.

Nína Björk co-wrote How to Live Icelandic, with her childhood friend Edda Magnus, published in 2021 by Quarto. The book has since been translated and published in 2022 Dutch, Czech, Hungarian and Slovak.

Nína has also written plays for her theatre company Hugleikur. Her play Bloood ties - a family splatter (Enginn með Steindóri) has been shown by three theatre companies in Iceland, in 2005, 2012 and 2014.

Reviews

[Rachel (TheShadesofOrange) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.0 Stars
As someone who is fascinated by Iceland, this was the perfect travel book for me. While I read an ebook edition via netgalley, it is clear that the final physical book will be beautiful. With large, full colour pictures, this would make for a beautiful coffee table book. I will definitely be revisiting this book when I eventually get to plan my trip to Iceland. I loved that it shared a more intimate view of this fascinating country.

Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher for review.

[Lilisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a lovely, informative, and well-written book about Iceland and Icelanders. I loved the easy and friendly, yet elegant writing style, the cadence of the book, the humor all wrapped around the sharing of what it takes to be Icelandic. From its geography, history, economy, culture, food, and society - the book gives the reader a wonderful and captivating window into the country. With facts and lore, the authors do a fantastic job in bringing us into their land of fire and ice, a country larger in land mass, and less populated than we think. I loved the various sections - on names, alphabets, how to make your home look and feel Icelandic, and other fun sections, which I don’t want to give away! And the pictures are literally gorgeous and are very much part of the book. The combination of the written word and pictures come together so well in this highly recommended book on Iceland, which I learned so much from and thoroughly enjoyed. Kudos to the authors for a wonderful gift to the world! Many thanks to the authors, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

[Tasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book did it's job, and did it very well. I definitely want to go to Iceland now. It was literally never on my radar as a travel destination but it's at the top of the list now. Well-done! The pictures are beautiful, the snippets of info so interesting and the love for the country shows through. This would make a wonderful coffee table book as well as a must-have travel guidebook.

Thank you to Netgally and Quarto Publishing Group - White Lion for a beautiful ebook in exchange for a fair and honest review.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Continuing my obsession with all things Iceland, naturally, when I saw a book called “How to live Icelandic”, I absolutely had to have it. And what a gorgeous treasure this book is. Nína Björk Jónsdóttir and Edda Magnus, childhood friends from Iceland, have pulled together an amazing compendium of Icelandic culture, language, food, family life and ways of being in this remote and rugged and somewhat self contained island nation.

This book is a really beautiful overview of all things Icelandic. It doesn’t delve too deeply into any one topic but is kind of like a voyeuristic opportunity to take a peek inside the four walls of this unique and progressive nation, whetting my appetite to revisit.

I think what stands out for me the most is how self-contained Iceland really is. It’s location, remoteness, separation from the rest of the world becomes really evident in the evolution of this nation. Language, culture, customs, sagas, capacity to work with the natural elements ooze out of every page. While Iceland is clearly influenced from abroad, especially in this era of globalisation, it seems to retain identity that is quite unique. That’s what I love. It’s not so much all the idiosyncratic elements of life in Iceland, it’s the sum of all of these things together that brings life to what it means to live Icelandic.

A beautiful 5 star way to finish off the year.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Covering geography, culture, lifestyle and celebrations, this book transports the armchair traveller to Iceland. I learned many things I never imagined about the people and their pastimes; their love of ice cream and swimming outdoors, to name just two! If actual travel was a realistic option at this time, I think this would be a wonderful book to dip in and out of during the planning phase. It's informative, humorous and expansive. If I had one criticism it would be about the way the exquisite photos are incorporated. While clearly thematically related, they are not captioned, so landscapes are not identifiable with any certainty (activities depicted are generally more obvious).

This is a lovely book to have sitting on the coffee table to cultivate dreams of Iceland.

With thanks to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group – White Lion for an electronic copy to read and review.

[Adrika_G · Rating 4 out of 5]

Veľmi pekná kniha o Islande! <3 Pomenovala by som ju aj “Toto sú Islanďania”, pretože nám okrem Islandu priblíži aj to, ako žijú jeho obyvatelia, od sviatkov cez voľnočasové aktivity až po zariadenie obydlí. Graficky je veľmi pekne spracovaná a aj napísaná je akoby nám o Islande hovorila kamarátka, ktorá tam žije. To, koľkokrát som si googlila zájazdy na Island ani nespočítam. :)

Zároveň myslím, že kniha je vhodná aj pre tých, ktorí sa na Island chystajú. Je v nej veľa rôznych tipov na reštaurácie či kaviarne.

Mám však aj pár výhrad. Chýbala mi kapitola o histórii Islandu, ktorú by som si rada prečítala. Možno ešte kúsok viac o prírode, niečo o politike… A trošku mi vadili práve tie tipy na reštaurácie, galérie, kaviarne a podobne. Kým sa ja dostanem na Island, už dávno nebudú aktuálne. :/

[Nicki Markus · Rating 5 out of 5]

How to Live Icelandic is another lovely addition to this series of books (of which I have already read, and reviewed How to Live Japanese and How to Live Korean). The book covers everything from nature to festivals to language, accompanied by stunning photographs and a beautiful layout. I visited Iceland for the first time in 2015 and fell in love with the place, so this book was a beautiful reminder of a wonderful trip. I am also learning Icelandic (teaching myself, so it's slow-going) and therefore I found the section on idioms especially useful and interesting. For anyone interested in Iceland and Icelandic culture, this volume will be a perfect addition to your bookshelf.

I received this book as a free eBook ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great guide for anyone who is hoping to visit Iceland and wants a feel for the culture of the country, not just tips and tricks for seeing all of the sights. I've been to Iceland twice now and have fallen in love with this place. This book offers a detailed description of what life is like in Iceland, everything from the culture of smaller towns to how they celebrate holidays and major life events. I found it really fascinating and I wish I had been able to read this before either of my previous trips there. While it isn't designed to be a one stop guide book, it does offer some restaurant tips and some ideas of things to do in the capital city of Reykjavik.

Overall, this is a beautiful book with wonderful photos. For anyone hoping to visit Iceland, this book will inspire you and give you a good knowledge of Iceland's history and customs.

Thank you to Nína Björk Jónsdóttir; Edda Magnus, Quarto Publishing Group, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book and give an honest review.

[Elisabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly enjoyed this entertaining book on Iceland, and life there. Great for introducing the culture, traditions, priorities, habits, and history. I will definitely be going through this book again to earmark all the places and events to visit and attend when we live there. Beautiful photos and such an engaging way of writing.

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Un livre vraiment intéressant qui offre un portrait à la fois historique et actuel de l'Islande! Beaucoup d'informations sur tous les aspects de la vie en Islande, de l'humour et de magnifiques photos!

[Elyse · Rating 4 out of 5]

NetGalley ARC.

This was a beautifully put together book with lush photos of Iceland. I've been there once briefly as a stopover to Germany but was too young (high school) to appreciate the stark beauty of the land. This was an informative yet easy read.

[Tissie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Did you know Iceland is in my top Countries I’d Like To Move To As Soon As I Get The Chance list? Thing is, I’ve been dreaming of leaving my homeland since I was a little girl, and maybe, just maybe, the time has come now.

(Cross your fingers for me, please)

So, while I keep working toward that goal, deep-diving into Icelandic culture seems like an excellent idea.

[Keep reading @ Bookshelves & Teacups]

[marko · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zahvaljujući Níni Björk Jónsdóttir i Eddi Magnus sada još više želim da posetim Island i Rejkjavik. Jednog dana, kada konačno budem stao ispred Hallgrímskirkje ostvariću svoj životni san, a do tada će mi "How to Live Icelandic" stajati na polici kao podsetnik da od tog sna nikada ne odustanem.

[Diego Arquieta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book that describes the real life in Iceland and not what tourism and/or agencies told you.
It describes several traditions that they do and other that they used to and no longer do despite the world insisting that they are still doing it.
It also helps a lot if you're going to travel to know the locations and how to get more info locally, what you can and can't do in your hikes/visits, what can you expect, what and where can you research and a little bit of the language and localisms too!

Highly recommended if you want to know more about the culture or if you're planning to visit the country, it's gonna help you a lot.

[Funda Özdemir Celebi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book especially meant a lot to me after a wonderful trip to almost all parts of Iceland, where you appreciate and respect nature, culture and end up with a deep desire to get to know more on all aspects of this island and nation. It is a good entry point if you later decide to search more about specific topics. It makes me daydream through the beautiful photos, too, so I am planning to keep it as a coffee table book and revisit some chapters during the long winter!

[Jenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely summary of all things Icelandic. Read this after my trip and I’m glad I did- filled in gaps of what I saw and reminded me of all the good memories I made!

[Meagan | The Chapter House · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s funny how memes can prompt interest.

I really knew next to nothing about Iceland until a meme started floating around social media (as it’s wont to do), all about Jolabokaflod–a Christmas Eve tradition of giving books. (Read more on Martha Stewart and elsewhere, if so inclined!) For obvious reasons, the tradition sounds right up my alley! (Can I start reading now?)

So when I saw this book at NetGalley, I immediately jumped on it. It reads to me like part travel guide, part coffee-table book, including restaurant and activity recommendations as well as history, politics, art, music, and more. And of course, the photographs! Wow–utterly stunning; photographer Gunnar Freyr does a smashing job at capturing the country’s essence, whether in landscapes or close-up shots of chess pieces.

Just like any country (including mine :D), or any book for that matter, Iceland has its own quirks, some of which I was less inclined to read about than others. But there are plenteous highlights! The overview of the year, from Jolabakstur (in essence, making Christmas cookies) on through to the first day of summer, was particularly fascinating (and now I’m hungry!).

I will say, I expected more on incorporating Icelandic components into one’s own life–more “home how-to”-meets-the-Icelandic-version-of-hygge than Icelandic-life overview, the reader living Icelandic versus learning how others do–but it’s still an intriguing read, and serves as a good starting point for learning more. I suppose I need to know how the Icelanders themselves live before I imitate it, no? :)

I received an eARC of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[Claudia Torkan · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Hafið gefur, hafið tekur.- More dáva, more berie."

Island je jedna z tých krajín, ktoré ma vždy fascinovali svojou inakosťou a originalitou. Jedná sa síce o krajinu, kde sa za jeden deň vystriedajú všetky štyri ročné obdobia (alebo skôr tri, nakoľko leto u nich vyzerá ako jar u nás), no i tak by som ani na sekundu neváhala a pozrela sa na túto čarovnú krajinu zblízka.

Autorky nám postupne predstavujú faunu a flóru Islandu, ktorú by sme im mohli závidieť, minimálne všetci milovníci turistiky. Dočkáme sa odporúčaní na rôzne cestovateľské trasy, ktoré je možné na Islande objavovať aj na bicykloch, či iné, ktoré by vedeli poukazovať miestny sprievodcovia. V skratke povedané, na svoje si na Islande príde každý.

Musím povedať, že na to, aký je Island malý (rozlohou je síce veľký, bavíme sa teda skôr o jeho obyvateľoch), ich kultúra je veľmi bohatá a zaujímavá. Sama som prekvapená, koľko známych hudobníkov pochádza z Islandu, pretože síce mi ich skladby boli známe, akosi som sa až doteraz nepristavila pri ich pôvode. Jednoducho povedané, Island je fakt bohatý na produkciu kreatívnych umelcov, či už ide o hudbu alebo iné umenie.

Kniha je obohatená o krásne fotky, pri ktorých budete ľutovať, že ste krajinu ešte nenavštívili. Polárna žiara či oslavy Nového roka na námestí Rejkjavíku vyzerajú nádherne, priam magicky. Ich horúce pramene už na pohľad lákajú a hromada voľnočasových aktivít istotne udržiavajú vo forme nejedného islandčana.

Toto je Island je skvelým sprievodcom krajinou, no i návodom na to, ako lepšie pochopiť obyvateľom a ich jedinečnosti. Vrelo odporúčam všetkým milovníkom Škandinávie.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some things I learned...

Holidays

"Bun Day" - This occurs two days before Lent. Children wake their parents by playfully smacking them on the bottom with a specially made stick they decorated in school and shout "Bolla!" (Bun). They are then entitled to consume as many buns as the number of times they manage to scream the word before their parents get out of the bed.

Festival Weekend - The first Monday in August is a public holiday and most Icelanders pack their camping gear and head to the countryside. There's also a big festival held in Vestmannaeyjar with concerts.

Words

Gluggavedur - weather that only looks nice if viewed from indoors through a window. (window watching weather)

Rusinurassgat - Literally "raisin ass" - It's used as a term of endearment for cute children. (Apparently so is "rassgatorofa" or asshole turnip) -- these terms kill me!

Nenna - not wanting to do something due to laziness

Fundvis - a word describing someone who has a knack for finding lost things easily

Idioms

Koma heim med ongulinn i rassinum - to come home with a fishing hook in your ass (failing at something - such as returning from a fishing trip with no catch)

Vera tyndur og trollum gefinn - to be lost and given to the trolls (To have disappeared for good. ex: "I took my coat to school yesterday, but it is lost and given to the trolls. I can't find it anywhere.")

Ad vera eins og alfur ut ur hol - to be like an elf outside its hill (not belonging or fitting in somewhere)

[Vick Luck · Rating 4 out of 5]

Barvité i barevné představení snového ostrova ze severu, které ve vás ihned probudí touhu se na Island přestěhovat. Od historie přes gastronomii až po návyky místních, vás kniha za pomoci fotografií provede islandskou kulturou. Je na místě zapochybovat, nakolik můžeme o kráse tamního života věřit autorkám, které z Islandu pochází, neboť je rozdíl, jak se na nehostinnost dívají ošlehaní seveřané s nadhledem oproti nám, bytovým fajnovkám. Musím však uznat, že ze stránek Island - Život mezi živly vypadá bydlení na Islandě velmi lákavě.
Na strunu mi zahrály především jejich hodnoty. Knižně založený národ, který si rád užívá klidného pohodového života v tajemné severské krajině, je moje představa blaha. Smysl pro pevné přátelské a rodinné vztahy, pohlavní rovnoprávnost a šetrnost k přírodě je Islanďanům vlastní, proto si dokážu představit, že mrznout za ustavičné tmy či světla stojí za to, když je to takto kompenzováno.
Je třeba však předem ujasnit, že tato kniha není tak zcela průvodcem. Pokud se na Island chystáte, tak vám to tipy na výlety nebo na čem ušetřit nedá. Na druhou stranu vás to vzdělá příjemnou formou a dozvíte se informace, které můžete získat pouze od lidí, co tam žijí. Ke knize se nejspíš nevrátím, ale navzdory tomu jí dávám čtyři hvězdičky, protože je opravdu moc pěkně napsaná.

[Kena · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. I haven’t visited Iceland yet, but it is on my Bucket List.

The photographs throughout the book were stunning, particularly the aerial landscape photographs.

I liked the way the book was divided into chapters on the Areas of Iceland, the Culture, Life Indoors, Food, etc. Whilst the book covered aspects of Icelandic culture I was already aware of from other books and travel TV shows, there were aspects of Icelandic culture that I wasn’t aware of e.g. The Christmas Book Flood. I loved this and wish it could be something that we could absorb into our Christmas Tradition - The Christmas Book Flood is a his long-standing tradition where everyone receives at least one new book under the tree on Christmas Eve and the night is spent reading.

This book is delightful and a must read for anyone interested in Iceland.

Huge thanks to the publishers, Quarto Publishing Group – White Lion, and NetGalley for making the ARC available to me for a fair and honest review.

[Michael Hassel Shearer · Rating 4 out of 5]

How to Live Icelandic by Nina Bjork Jonsdottir & Edda Magnus
This is a beautiful “coffee table” book for anyone who plans to visit Iceland. Although I read the e-book, I looked on line and the hard copy is ~7 in. x 9 in. I wish it was a larger format as the photos are stunning.
This is not a book that is in-depth on anything but instead a reasonable coverage of what to do and more importantly how to do it. I found this especially true for swimming in a thermal pool. The proper pre and post swimming cleansing is very similar to Japan. Having been to Japanese baths many times, I know this along with subway etiquette is very important.
If I found one flaw, I would like to have seen a section on how to circumnavigate Iceland either by car or bike and what precautions one should take.
Iceland seems to continue to be a very popular place for younger(25yr-45yr) old and I would certainly suggest this is a book to read and enjoy before traveling.

[KES · Rating 5 out of 5]

YES - read it.

Wow - what a book! I was blown away. Having travelled to Iceland, I quite honestly thought this was better then any travel book I've read. While tourist books give you places to go & see, this book really explains the country. So if you travel just to take your picture in front of Sun Voyager like an oriental tourist, don't bother. If you travel to learn & understand more about a culture - oh this will give you a complete picture of Iceland and it's people. And absolutely GREAT pictures at that.

I had already learned most of things that the book talked about but even then, it often provided the back story or history behind why Icelanders do that. It really brought the Icelandic culture alive.

There are a few places on earth that are unique unto itself. Iceland is one of those (American desert SW another). So after reading this, it makes sense why the Icelandic culture is so unique.

I received an ARC from Netgalley to help prepare my honest review.

[Isabel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A country whose "cultural heritage lies in books and old manuscripts."
"Christmas without a new book to read is unimaginable for Icelanders."
If that doesn't interest you as a bookworm, I don't what will!

This book is the perfect resource for when you're planning to visit Iceland or if you simply want to know more about the country and her people, most especially since the author is a former tour guide and journalist. It's well-written, engaging and I really like the author's humor. Towards the end, I was so charmed that I considered moving to Iceland. Then the spell was broken and I thought, "maybe I'll just learn the language, first." 😉😊

Many thanks to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group - White Lion, for letting me read this ARC for free. This review is made of my own accord, with no monetary compensation, whatsoever, from the names mentioned above, and/or the rightful owners of this ARC.

[Theediscerning · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's been a while since I saw one of the books in this series, but Iceland gets an entry at last courtesy of this. And again it's a slightly ungainly blend of good documentary writing about the place, so we can understand the people, the climate and something of the sagas, with things like lists of popular designers, the likes of which you'd flick past in an airline magazine even when a captive audience. As usual the photographic qualities are high, but with zero captions you're left with an unfriendly mix of waterfalls you can't name without having been there recently, and pop stars you can't identify. I know, snap it and search it, but a book should be a bit more welcoming, especially one that does seem like tourist board bumpf at times. That said, when things, such as Icelandic obituaries, get to be so interesting, not even the mediocre volume can fail to be fun.

[(a)lyss(a) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is a fascinating book!

It walks you through what life is like in Iceland. From the geography to cultural expectations around children to agricultural practices this is a very thorough book. There are lots of beautiful pictures and information about living in Iceland.

I learned a lot from this book. It includes the Icelandic alphabet, naming conventions, major cultural practices and celebrations, and more! The book highlights how eco-friendly Iceland is while also talking about how people in Iceland retire later in life than other Eastern Europeans and are an incredibly homogenous group.

It's a really informative read!

[Jindrich Blaha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always like to buy books as a souvenir when travelling - local mythology or something about the culture and people of that land. I spent like 2 hours in Reykjavík deciding what to buy and this is the winner. Many books are actually covering Norse mythology which is something I already had and another recommendation would be a crime/thriller book by an Icelandic author if you really want something authentic. There was a book Saga Land which looked also good.

Very nicely done book - the text there is simple, but it's 2 locals sharing the basics you should know about their culture accompanied by wonderful pictures of the land we've just visited.

Goes well together with the memories I brought from the Land of Fire and Ice

[Ctenaricek · Rating 5 out of 5]

Toto je opravdu krásná kniha plná nádherných fotografií zachycujících islandskou přírodu, města a jejich obyvatele. Dozvíte se zde spoustu užitečných informací (jako např. kde se dobře najíte, kde všude se můžete veřejně vykoupat - což na Islandu, kde jsou geotermální prameny, můžete takřka za každého počasí). Můžete se dozvědět ale i spoustu věcí o samotných Islanďanech, jejich kultuře, gastronomii, rodinném životě, o životě v přírodě a o životě pod střechou, a také o různých tradicích a svátcích. Kniha je plná zajímavostí a určitě jí mohu doporučit každému, kdo se zajímá o cizí země a kultury.

[Vixiene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Od mojí návštěvy Islandu nemohu tuto zemi vůbec pustit z hlavy. Proto si občas ve volných chvílích nakoukávám videa, čtu články a nedávno jsem narazila na tento knižní skvost. Kniha je napsaná dvěma islandskými děvčaty, proložená nádhernými fotografiemi a dozvíte se spoustu zajímavostí z Islandských tradic, kultury, přírodních zajímavostí. Nečekejte cestopis, kde vám autorky poradí itinerář k vaší dovolené, spíše povídání o zemi jako takové.

Knihou je opravdu radost si i jen tak listovat a rozhodně se k ní budu opakovaně vracet :-)

[Jessica]

How To Live Icelandic is the perfect travel guide/how to book/coffee table book for Iceland enthusiasts such as myself, or those thinking of traveling there for the first time. Filled with interesting facts about Icelandic history, culture, language, food, daily life, and more! You'll want to flip through this beautiful book often, so be sure to purchase a copy for yourself, as well as maybe one to gift to a friend!