If you want a historical examination of the use of runes in Northern European culture, this is not your book. The first one/fourth of the book will go excellently for you. A simple and classic website like Ragweed Forge ( https://www.ragweedforge.com/vik.html ) will also serve just as well.

Thorsson is not primarily a historian, though by my own research his history as he presents it is valid, and he is clear when he is moving from historiography into extrapolation, which is most of the book. This is primarily a religious text for religious pagans, and if you're interested in that, Futhark is absolutely a classic. A dense, strange, fascinating classic. Like most works of pagan scholarship/religious writing it is as much an examination of the author as it is of the subject matter, and I believe I like him. ( )

For the runecaster who wants a really in-depth beginner book.
This book goes into extreme depths of the history, mythology, definitions, correlations, rites/rituals, and even how to make your own runes. The depth of detail in this book can be exciting for some but monotonous for others. I guess that would just depend on the reader. If you're wanting something more than just a fuzzy starter book then this is it.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone who is looking to get into rune casting. ( )

Very academic... interesting info and lots of it. Very deep and heavy, at times a dry read. ( )