How to Host a Viking Funeral

The Case for Burning Your Regrets, Chasing Your Crazy Ideas, and Becoming the Person You're Meant to Be

By: Kyle Scheele

Narrated by: Kyle Scheele

Length: 5 hrs and 37 mins

Publisher's summary

An inspiring speaker and artist asked 20,000 people around the world to share the regrets they wanted him to burn in a mock Viking ship.

This is the story of what he learned about letting go of the pain of the past and embracing the future with hope.

Turning 30, artist and speaker Kyle Scheele wanted to do something unusual to mark this milestone. Instead of a birthday bash, he decided to hold a funeral to memorialize the decade of his life that was ending. Building a 16-foot Viking ship out of cardboard, he invited friends to help him set it on fire—a symbolic farewell to his 20s and all the grief, regret, and mistakes that accompanied those years.

When video of his Viking funeral went viral, it encouraged many others to let go of past hurts as well. Moved by the response he received, Kyle planned a second funeral (this time with a 30-foot cardboard Viking ship) and asked people to share the things they carried—the bad choices, disappointments, heartaches, and negative thinking that they wanted to lay to rest. He received more than 20,000 responses from around the world—stories both heartbreaking and hilarious, painful and inspiring.

In this entertaining and wise book, Kyle reflects on what he discovered about freeing ourselves from the pain of the past, interweaving anecdotes from those who participated with the story of his own journey of renewal. “This story involves multiple Viking funerals, thousands of square feet of cardboard, and enough hot glue to supply your mother-in-law's craft night for the rest of time,” he writes. “But it also involves regret, self-doubt, insecurity, and ultimately, redemption. So buckle up. It's about to get bumpy.”

How to Host a Viking Funeral is the story of letting go of the people we used to be, but no longer want to be. It’s about renewal; where there was once regret there is now blank space—an opportunity for a fresh start.

©2022 Kyle Scheele (P)2022 HarperCollins Publishers

Weird, Different, Entertaining.... Read It!

The title made me run for a second, but the reviews were great, so I gave it a shot....

I enjoyed this listen because it was different... funny at times... and gave you small but true life lessons in between....

Honestly, with all the difficulty I have with finishing projects or goals, I start... bravo to the author on completing the viking ship!! Sounds like you are dedicated, and that alone will make you wildly successful!!!

Just started following you!

Epic Story, a great positive odyssey

A wonderful journey with Kyle of self-awareness and proper perspective on life. I'm so glad Kyle narrated this book. I'm not sure it would have had the same impact and emotion with anyone else. I can not wait for whatever adventure he takes us on next.

Heartwarming

Great book. Perfect mix between an epic story about the artist’s journey with the project, what he learned, life advice and life philosophy musings. It wasn’t overly fluffed and the pacing was good. The ending left you with a warmed heart and where you hoped you would be. I clapped! 10/10

Great Read!

What a great read/listen. Very entertaining insightful and inspiring. Would love to hear more from this author

Uplifting and enlightening

I loved this book. It resonated with me profoundly. Hearing the author read it was even better! This book makes me want to go out and do something! I would recommend this book to anyone, regardless if you have any regrets in your life or not. Great job Kyle. You're awesome!

A great book that offers nuggets of wisdom

First off, this book has nothing to do with Vikings or hosting funerals in a literal sense. However, this book was a pleasure to “read” and was a uplifting break from all of the things that weigh us down.

With practical insight riddled with humor and great storytelling, Kyle really drives home the point of how to let go of the past and shape our future. He encourages us to be the best we can be while embracing who we are in a world that wants us to be something else—often an unrealistic and unattainable version of a person that doesn’t even exist.

You will laugh and cry (unless you are heartless) and gain some practical insight to be a better human—and the world could definitely use a little more of that. Anyway, I would highly recommend this book.

Amazing story Kyle!

Fantastic book that I will read many more times! Moving and inspirational! A must read for creatives

Refreshing and made me smile

I love how the author experiences life and sees it in such a quirky and positive way.

Inspirational and Exceptional

Excellent read, insightful and helpful resource for letting go and becoming your best you. Super funny, absolutely loved it - Thanks to author for reading it too... it brought it more to life, loved the humor and reactions. Just Thank You for this opportunity to experience a part of this journey. Regards, Ro

So many lessons!

With both grace and chaos, this book is a smooth, honest and funny guide on letting go, finding your bliss, and exploration of self.