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My bookshelves are stocked full of books by many authors, and these are only the smallest of samples. Unfortunately we've learned overtime that many of our elders who lead in a runic revival have either died, or have grown into a tarnished reputation. I am offering no excuses, and am including some of these works because of the value they played in my learning.
Several of these books have multiple editions.
Although this is considered to be the basic standard, and often used as a beginner text, I have found it more helpful once you have a basic working knowledge of the runes. Thorsson’s background in ceremonial magic is clear in this text, and without some of that foundation first his explanations can be confusing. Once you have a foundation, it’s a great book with some short hand, and has information on bindrunes and runic numerology (which is different than western).
Gundarsson provides a bit more of a foundation, and also includes some “ready-made” meditations to assist in runic study. This is my go to book to start with.
For a while this was only available overseas, but it is now available via Amazon. If I were looking for a basic primer the way Thorsson’s is touted to be, this is the one I would use.
This is a book that you don’t realize its value until you have read several others. She starts each chapter with a lit review of several other authors and books and distills much of the best of what they have said, so you really get “several books in one” with this one. It was also designed from a rune course she was teaching.
Freya is brilliant, but sometimes is described as a bit of a "mad genius". She has a clear anti-man, and anti-christian bias that comes out clear in some of her writing, but some of her insights are absolutely amazing and you won’t find them elsewhere.
Galina is also a somewhat controversial person in Heathen circles, but the chapter about Runic Spirits here is important, as they are more than a tool to be used for writing or divination, but entities to partner with. Use of runes becomes spirit work.
Tyriel wrote an approachable, updated and more modern primer for runic study. It's roots are in tradition, but he allows them to speak for themselves, and become part of the conversation.
This was an entirely new idea for me when I was initially learning, and I would say that it is best when there is at least a foundational understanding of the runes. This book takes the runes from "outside" the vitki, and brings them "inside" to show how we are not separate from them at all.
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