I did a foolish thing the other day and read some of this on public transport. It was only after a while when I realised those odd sounds I could hear were me trying to stifle the snorts of laughter that were erupting from me and that most other people on the bus were edging slowly away from looking a touch fearful that I tried to explain.

Bill Bryson is indeed a genius.

I learned that lesson a long time ago: Never read Bill Bryson in public ;)

I did a foolish thing the other day and read some of this on public transport. It was only after a while when I realised those odd sounds I could hear were me trying to stifle the snorts of laughter that were erupting from me and that most other people on the bus were edging slowly away from looking a touch fearful that I tried to explain.

Bill Bryson is indeed a genius.

He's brilliant.

I think The Lost Continent is my favourite.

I picked the Thunderbolt Kid up second hand a few months back. For some reason i wasn't expecting as much from it as his other books. Maybe I thought it was going to be rose-tinted nostalgia or Bryson Navelgazing by Numbers. Or more probably just jealous! That was unfair, because I was delighted with it. He really conjured up that whole world and the characters were as funny as ever. And good grief he was one cute kid! What went wrong? :hihi:

Bryson's awesome! I think I liked Notes From A Small Island best - it's fascinating reading what an 'outsider' thinks of our country! I've read every single book he's put out now, as he's addictive, and I read them in one sitting. The first I read was Made In America when I was in a bookclub and it was sent to me by mistake.

It's an amazing book. Very funny - laugh out loud funny - makes you want to quote the funny line at random strangers so'll they'll see how funny it is funny.

At the same time it paints a wonderful picture of 50s Midwest America. It really opened my eyes in terms of putting American psyche into context. They really were miles ahead of the rest of the world in terms of standard of living. I'm struggling to think of another example where such a large section of a population has had such a large material advantage over any other in the world.

Then he describes how it has all changed - poignant stuff and if you're American, worrying stuff. Where did it all go wrong?

er jfk's death i think was the turning point.

but great book and it really did paint a good picture of what America was probably like.

A Short History of Nearly Everything is the only book of his i've ever read... but it was superb. I wish that book has existed when i was doing my A-Levels - it is such an interesting and inspiring read.


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I honestly believe that book should be on the science syllabus for schools