I didn’t have a block, I had a blog jam. But I’m still here.

After last week’s big review in the NYT Sunday edition, Secrets of the “Sprakkar is one of the Editors’ Choice Staff Pick for this week , with the brief explanation: “For a dozen years, Iceland has outranked all other countries in terms of gender equality. Eliza Reid, the Canadian-born first lady, explores why.”

But first—no, you have to wait for her—first you must read about “Iceland’s Extraordinary Women and How They Are Changing the World”. After that you can start filling in the blanks about Eliza Reid. Her bio is impressive and her journalistic skills outstanding. She describes historic sprakki, pl .sprakkar. (The ancient Icelandic word 'sprakkar' means outstanding women.) Then, as the good reporter she is, she interviews and profiles almost 40 modern ones from all walks of life: elected member of parliament (who nursed her baby while chairing a meeting and speaking to a question); sheep shearer; farmer; stand-up comedian, and so on—a roster of interesting women most of us would never meet—all confirming Reid’s point about gender equality in Iceland, the best in the world for over 12 years, but with room for improvement. Eliza keeps emphasizing this and yet she manages to remain apolitical. She focuses on individual stories with empathy and humour.

She says, “this book is my love letter to Iceland”. It’s also her love letter to her husband, Guðni, whom she reveals in loving asides, giving glimpses of herself as well. The big NYT review suggests that she should be the subject of her next book. There is surely no doubt that there will be another one