• One Summer

  • America 1927
  • By: Bill Bryson
  • Narrated by: Bill Bryson
  • Length: 17 hrs and 3 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (265 ratings)

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One Summer  By  cover art

One Summer

By: Bill Bryson
Narrated by: Bill Bryson
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Editorial reviews

Award-winning and highly acclaimed author Bill Bryson delivers a captivating performance in his narration of his novel One Summer: America 1927. Bryson’s deeply researched novel captures the importance of unconnected events in the American summer of 1927 that became significant milestones in modern history. This complete and unabridged historical audiobook from Audible Studios delves into this summer at many angles - from seeing the face of aviation and international travel change forever, to the booming peak for those living blissfully unaware of the dawn of the Great Depression that would soon be upon them all. Available now from Audible.

Publisher's summary

Audible is proud to present One Summer: America, 1927, the new book by Britain’s favourite writer of narrative nonfiction, Bill Bryson.

Narrated by the man himself, One Summer takes you to the summer when America came of age, took centre stage, and changed the world forever. In the summer of 1927, America had a booming stock market, a president who worked just four hours a day, a semi-crazed sculptor with a plan to carve four giant heads into a mountain called Rushmore, a devastating flood of the Mississippi, a sensational murder trial, and a youthful aviator named Charles Lindbergh who started the summer wholly unknown, and finished it as the most famous man on Earth.

It was the summer of the first talking pictures, the invention of television, the peak of Al Capone's reign of terror, the ill-conceived decision that led to the Great Depression, and the thrillingly improbable return to greatness of a wheezing, over-the-hill baseball player named Babe Ruth.

With an unforgettable cast of personalities, Bill Bryson spins a story of brawling adventure, reckless optimism, and delirious energy. What a country; what a summer; and what a writer to bring it all so vividly to life.

Bill Bryson was born in Des Moines, Iowa, in 1951; he moved to and settled in England in 1977, working in journalism until becoming a full-time author. Bryson is much-loved for his best-selling travel books, from The Lost Continent to Down Under, and Notes from a Small Island earned a particularly special place in the nation's heart - a national poll for World Book Day voted it the book that best represents Britain. A Short History of Nearly Everything won the Aventis Prize for Science Books and the Descartes Science Communication Prize. Bryson has also written a memoir, The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid, and acclaimed books on language and social history (Mother Tongue, Made in America, At Home).

He lives in the UK with his wife and family, and was awarded an honorary OBE for services to literature.

©2013 Bill Bryson (P)2013 Audible Ltd
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History

What listeners say about One Summer

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Bill in usual greatness... but too much baseball!

Would you consider the audio edition of One Summer to be better than the print version?

Yes, Brysons dry narration is always a joy

Would you be willing to try another book from Bill Bryson? Why or why not?

I already own all of them

Have you listened to any of Bill Bryson’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Exactly the same as usual - if you like Bryson this is a definite buy.. but if you dont then avoid it!

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

There are moments of history that are extremely saddening, and Bryson gives his perspective. However most of the book is humorous to laugh out loud.

It's collection of happenings and events that are loosely tied around one theme - the summer of 1927. It's like having him round for dinner and saying.. tell us a story or two Bill.

Any additional comments?

TOO MUCH BASEBALL! I know his Dad was a baseball reporter and Im sure its a fab sport but wayyy too much coverage in this book

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A remarkable year. Or was it?

The Summer of 1927 in America was a remarkable time. Lindbergh crossed the Atlantic alone in a tiny plane and set off a hero-worship frenzy. Not just in the USA but across the globe. Television was born and Radio exploded. As did bombs set off by anarchists across the country. Criminals were electrocuted and Prohibition made other criminals rich. Bill Bryson tells this story in his unique style; finding the coincidences the curiosities and the connections that bring it all together in a way that is fascinating and at times, laugh-out-loud funny.

It was a remarkable year. But then I think Bill Bryson could throw a dart at a calendar, hitting any season in any year in any country, and turn it into a compelling story.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Bill Bryson and his stunning works

Bill Bryson has yet again shown his exceptional talent for the creation of entertaining and instructive non-fiction texts. To those who have already listened or read a Bill Bryson title, you know that his work is unparalleled in its' ability to instruct and entertain using true stories and Bill Bryson's excellent research.

One Summer America 1927, basically tells you what the book is focussed on. This brief period of time in the first half of the 20th century laid the ground work for many and varied events on the world stage. This was the time of the "roaring twenties", the pre-depression period, the creation of many ideas, inventions and dreams. America was reaching a turning point that would help to change the world forever.

This book tells the tales of audacious aircraft pilots, pioneering inventors, sports stars, bucking politicians, dastardly murderers and ploting mobsters. Bill Bryson delves into the depths of matters of this period and analyses the effects of the happenings on the future and how they were effected by the past.

One Summer America 1927 is a stunning example of Bill Bryson's best work and is delightfully humorous and clever whilst being able to instruct and inform.

So listen on, for there is One Summer in America during 1927 that is amazing.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Bryson , Great as Usual...

Bryson researches his books so well and puts them together in a way that make them fascinating to read or listen to. I like listening to Bill Bryson narrate as well. I suspect he could make almost anything interesting. If you've liked any of his previous books you will no doubt enjoy this.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Another excellent Bryson book

I have soon read, or listened to all of Brysons books. I love his popular science/history boons the most. Not being a baseball man myself this one was very informative regarding that part of US history.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Thoroughly engaging, fascinating and informative.

For anyone who loves historical facts this book will keep you riveted. Perfect as a travelling audible book, easy to listen to and full of interesting and quirky stories of the USA in the summer of 1927.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent as always

Another great book written and read by the masterful author himself. An exquisite and heartfelt exploration of the Summer of 1927, brought to us in his usual detail and joy.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Simply the best book on Audible!

Bill Bryson weaves a narrative so diverse in topics and with such intimate details it feels like he is giving you a personal guided tour of the most important facets of American life. Each story flows so naturally into the next you may not realise you have been swept off on one of the beautiful looping tangents he constructs, bobbing along with his funny insights and idiosyncrasies until you rejoin the main current of the book. I cannot find another storyteller like him, who draws so many strands into such a compelling adventure, and with such a wonderful voice and delivery. I love all his work but this is his best. I have listened to it on cosy winter nights, continuously on a road trip through Swedish summer when the sun never set and whether dipping in and out or ploughing through, this is a book you can re-listen to and always find something new to interest you or line to laugh at. I cannot recommend this highly enough; and if you’ve managed to get to the bottom of this review, I can guarantee listening to Bill will be a far better experience. He’s a literary magician.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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It's Bill Bryson

and as with most if not all of his books, this is just excellent and informative again. A pleasure.

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    4 out of 5 stars

A treasure.

Maybe not the best book by Bryson, as it’s less full of his signature humor. That being said, his skill at the craft is still second to none. Sharing historical and cultural significances, he moves seamlessly through several stories happening simultaneously in the summer of 1927. The richness of detail is astounding. He manages to give full descriptions of so many things without boring the listener.

I only buy audiobooks by Bryson when he is the one reading them. He does not disappoint.

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