At Home

A Short History of Private Life

By: Bill Bryson

Narrated by: Bill Bryson

Length: 16 hrs and 33 mins

Publisher's summary

From one of the most beloved authors of our time—more than six million copies of his books have been sold in this country alone - a fascinating excursion into the history behind the place we call home.

“Houses aren’t refuges from history. They are where history ends up.”

Bill Bryson and his family live in a Victorian parsonage in a part of England where nothing of any great significance has happened since the Romans decamped. Yet one day, he began to consider how very little he knew about the ordinary things of life as he found it in that comfortable home. To remedy this, he formed the idea of journeying about his house from room to room to “write a history of the world without leaving home.”

The bathroom provides the occasion for a history of hygiene; the bedroom, sex, death, and sleep; the kitchen, nutrition and the spice trade; and so on, as Bryson shows how each has fig­ured in the evolution of private life. Whatever happens in the world, he demonstrates, ends up in our house, in the paint and the pipes and the pillows and every item of furniture.

Bill Bryson has one of the liveliest, most inquisitive minds on the planet, and he is a master at turning the seemingly isolated or mundane fact into an occasion for the most diverting exposi­tion imaginable. His wit and sheer prose fluency make At Home one of the most entertaining books ever written about private life.

©2010 Bill Bryson (P)2010 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"There are many guilty pleasures, from Bryson's droll prose - "What really turned the Victorians to bathing, however, was the realization that it could be gloriously punishing" - to the many tantalizing glimpses behind closed doors at aristocratic English country houses. In demonstrating how everything we take for granted, from comfortable furniture to smoke-free air, went from unimaginable luxury to humdrum routine, Bryson shows us how odd and improbable our own lives really are." ( Publishers Weekly)

Alternate View oh History

Very interesting story on history that I was not expecting. I will likely listen again while doing some additional research and fact checking.

I loved this quirky book!

If you like quirky books, you will enjoy this book. Who knew people fought wars over pepper! Now we just shake it out of a shaker onto our food as a second thought. I loved learning about the history of electricity, closets, indoor plumbing, and the like. I found it an easy listen.

At Home

Another wonderful read by Bill Brysom whom always out does himself. If you engage in one of his reads, you will definitely have review in life past, present, and possibly future. I can say after I have completed a book, a ha!! I feel smarter. Bravo, Mr Bryson

Bill's At It Again!

If you could sum up At Home in three words, what would they be?

History lessons continue.

Any additional comments?

Once, again, Bryson manages to make history lessons humorous. I enjoy his books quite a bit and listen/read over and over again.

A winner

Fans of Bill Bryson will enjoy it very much. Excellent information. I will likely have to listen again to enjoy it even more.

This is going to sound weird...

But I’ve listened to this book every night while falling asleep for about three years. Not because it puts me to sleep!!! But because it’s always interesting, always amusing, and anecdotal enough that you can pick it up at any random point and be totally engrossed. I recommend it to everyone. So many favorite parts, the chapter on Capability Brown being the best.

So nice I listened twice (but really like 11 times)!!!

Exactly what I love about Bryson's works

Would you consider the audio edition of At Home to be better than the print version?

I'm not certain. The audio book was wonderful, but this might be something I would want to pick up and read sections of later. I'm a bit torn. I do know that I'll listen to it again.

What was one of the most memorable moments of At Home?

Actually it was at the beginning when he was describing the construction of the Crystal Palace in the Hyde Park. What an amazing feat! He really gets you into the story and the history of the people involved.

What about Bill Bryson’s performance did you like?

This was the first time I'd heard him read. I had often wondered what he would sound like given his US/UK existence. He's got a pleasant voice and a nearly unique accent.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The bit about child labor at the beginning of the industrial revolution. I had known of it, but I really didn't understand how horrible it was.

Any additional comments?

If you're ever wondering what to read. Bill Bryson is always a good choice.

Great audiobook

If you like history this is the book for you! Bryson manages to do it again with this telling novel.

Lots of facts, hard to follow story

There is supposed to be a flow, but I found it hard to follow. Lots of interesting information though.

Great Book!

The narrator is very good. I listened while making supper for many evenings. I learned a lot and appreciate so much more about human history.