"So what's with the books, dude?" 

Most heathens like to read. We read the myths, literature, archeology, history, and study the languages and cultures. There are more modern works about today's heathenry in general. Check for a bibliography before buying. Heathens sometimes honor their ancestors by researching their family history using genealogical methods. However, no matter what you read on the internet, such as in Facebook heathen groups, a DNA sample to prove European ancestry is NOT required to practice heathenry!