In a Sunburned Country

By: Bill Bryson

Narrated by: Bill Bryson

Length: 11 hrs and 54 mins

Publisher's summary

Every time Bill Bryson walks out the door memorable travel literature threatens to break out. This time in Australia. His previous excursion up, down, and over the Appalachian Trail resulted in the sublime best seller A Walk in the Woods.

Now he has traveled around the world and all the way Down Under to Australia, the only island that is also a continent and the only continent that is also a country. Australia exists on a vast scale, a shockingly under-discovered country with the friendliest inhabitants, the hottest, driest weather, the most peculiar and lethal wildlife to be found on this planet, and more things that can kill you in extremely malicious ways than anywhere else: sharks, crocodiles, the 10 most deadly poisonous snakes on the planet, fluffy yet toxic caterpillars, seashells that actually attack you, and the unbelievable box jellyfish.

In a Sunburned Country is a delectably funny, fact-filled and adventurous performance by a writer who combines humor, wonder, and unflagging curiosity. Wherever Bryson goes he finds Australians who are cheerful, extroverted, and unfailingly obliging. They are the beaming products of a land with clean, safe cities, cold beer, and constant sunshine. Australia is an immense and fortunate land, and it has found in Bryson its perfect guide.

©2000 Bill Bryson (P)2000 Random House, Inc., Bantam Doubleday Dell Audio Publishing, A Division of Random House Inc.

Critic reviews

"Bryson's cheery Australian tale should entertain even the most listless driver. His strength lies in his ability to incorporate astounding facts about the country with nutty personal anecdotes." (Publishers Weekly)

Easy listening

Loved it. easy listening. great peak into Australia. love his writing. kept checking out a map to see where he was.

Great information & story

Really quite interesting & informative. I've been to Australia briefly & now would like to go back.

I've never wanted to go to a place so badly...

Bryson is a hoot. The book is impossibly fun! But, it made me want to ditch everything and head down under to live out my days. I ALMOST did that when I went to the Grand Canyon for the first time. As huge and impossibly picturesque that is, Australia is a whole continent of incredibly interesting things to see (and one-of-a-kind places to drink beah).

This is a great book and anyone who is interested in other places would do well to read/listen to it. Bryson is a great literary giant posing as an informal mortal. You will like him immensely.

On a scale of one to ten, I give it a thirdeen (as the Aussie's say, "thirteen" ;-) !!

Re: Great Travelog

This a fine, funny travel book on a fantastic country by a writer at the peak of his powers. This is well worth a listen even if you've read the a copy of the book in the past.

A view of Australia like no other

What a truly excellent book! I will admit it took me a bit to get rolling with this book, maybe it was other books I had recently read and/or listened to, maybe it was my expectation that this would be a bit more like “a walk in the woods”. After finishing this book I am happy to say that it is Bill Bryson’s best expulsion! Download!? Word dump!??

I’m not a writer but this is an excellent read/listen! I have looked forward to the time I could spend in this book and am sad it is done. I have a new appreciation for Australia and 1000 new subjects I want to purse! Thank you Bill for such a great telling of your adventures and stimulating my interest in subjects I have either passed over or had no idea they existed at all!

…yeah read this

Great book

I really liked this book. The narrator's voice was very soothing. I learned a lot from this book. Wonderful journey

Terrific book!

Funny and fun listening to Bryson
Makes me want to go back to Australia asap!

Australia discovered

Bill Bryson's narration was very enjoyable. We just read it for our book club. It was a learning experience for all with Bills sense of humor it truly was a hit.

I always enjoy his books

His travelogue books are always very interesting and this did not disappoint. I love learning interesting facts about Australia.

BEST TRAVEL WRITER/COMMENTATOR EVER!

I HAVE LISTENED TO THIS BOOK 3 TIMES. IT GETS BETTER EACH TIME. I LOVED BRYSON'S WALK IN THE WOODS ABOUT THE APPALACHIAN TRAIL AND IT IS 5 STARS JUST FOR THE HUMOR AND IN THIS BOOK ON AUSTRALIA HE DOES NOT DISAPPOINT.

WRITERS LIKE BRYSON AND GROGGIN AND GARRISON KEILLOR AND MARK TWAIN AND DAVID SEDARIS HAVE A UNIQUE AND OFTENTIMES QUIRKY WAY OF LOOKING AT THE WORLD AROUND THEM. THIS BOOK IS A GREAT INTRODUCTION TO AN UNKNOWN COUNTRY, OR TO A TRAIL THAT RUNS CLOSE TO YOUR OWN BACKYARD. I WISH BRYSON WOULD WRITE A SERIES ON THE NATIONAL PARKS.

I WILL BE FOREVER GRATEFUL FOR HIS EXPLAINING THAT SPORT: CRICKET.

IT IS JUST A FUN LISTEN. I FOUND I COULD SKIP AROUND DURING THE 2ND READING AND RE-LISTEN TO MY FAVORITE ANTIDOTES. THEN RETURN TO CH 1 AND THE TELLING OF AUSTRALIA VS THE OTHER COUNTRIES. AND THE SHARK STORIES. ONE COMES WITH A PRIME MINISTER! GET IT, IT'S AUSSIE HUMOUR IN THERE, TOO.

HAVING A GOOD MAP OF AUSTRALIA AND GPS-ING BRYSON'S DESTINATIONS WAS FUN TO DO. IT'S A BIG COUNTRY. A FRIENDLY COUNTRY. ONE WITH GREAT LANGUAGE:" G'DAY"-" MATE" --THE LIST GOES ON. COPIED THEM DOWN TO TRY THEM OUT WITH THE FEW AUSSIES I KNOW IN THE STATES.

IT'S JUST A WONDERFUL BOOK. GET IT. YOU WON'T BE DISAPPOINTED.