The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid

A Memoir

De: Bill Bryson

Narrado por: Bill Bryson

BONUS FEATURE: Exclusive interview with the author.

From one of the most beloved and bestselling authors in the English language, a vivid, nostalgic and utterly hilarious memoir of growing up in the middle of the United States in the middle of the last century. A book that delivers on the promise that it is “laugh-out-loud funny.”

Some say that the first hints that Bill Bryson was not of Planet Earth came from his discovery, at the age of six, of a woollen jersey of rare fineness. Across the moth-holed chest was a golden thunderbolt. It may have looked like an old college football sweater, but young Bryson knew better. It was obviously the Sacred Jersey of Zap, and proved that he had been placed with this innocuous family in the middle of America to fly, become invisible, shoot guns out of people’s hands from a distance, and wear his underpants over his jeans in the manner of Superman.

Bill Bryson’s first travel book opened with the immortal line, “I come from Des Moines. Somebody had to.” In this hilarious new memoir, he travels back to explore the kid he once was and the weird and wonderful world of 1950s America. He modestly claims that this is a book about not very much: about being small and getting much larger slowly. But for the rest of us, it is a laugh-out-loud book that will speak volumes – especially to anyone who has ever been young.©2006 Bill Bryson; (P)2006 Random House, inc. Random House Audio, a division of Random House, Inc.

Bryson at his best

The only thing better than reading Bill Bryson is listening to Bill Bryson read. His blend of Midwestern and English accent is soothing on the ears and his humor is irreverent and delightful.

Very, vary funny!!!! Very very true!!!

I have been a big fan of Bill Bryson but this book is his best! He had me Laughing the entire book. I grew up in the sixties but alot of the things he talked about related to me too. It brought back many of my child hood memories. Hes right too. Things were so inicent then.They will never be the same. I agree with him that the food wasn't too great either! No matter whose mother was cooking it! I can't beleive I loved TV dinners then! Bryson is my super hero auther!

Laugh out Loud

Loved listening to this book - Bill Bryson is able to catch the essence of childhood. I laughed out loud. Everyone would love this book who can recall what it was like to be a kid growing up the 1950's.I could listen to it all over again.

Dark Humor

I’ve been a fan of Bill Bryson for a long time and I have been trying to get through his titles whenever I need a good laugh and random information. With the year that we are having with Covid, a good laugh is being harder to come by. “The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid” is one of the funniest books that I’ve read because I didn’t know that it was Bill Bryson’s actual life story.

His dark humor about what it was like to grow up in the 1950’s through acting like a superhero wearing a cape and parading around the house is every childhood’s fantasy. It’s more than about his life. He shapes his life story on what it was like to grow up in a small town and how it eventually disappeared through time because of monopoly.

Laugh Out Loud

Would you consider the audio edition of The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid to be better than the print version?

Not better- just different!

What other book might you compare The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid to and why?

None- this book is hilarious!

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

Yes- all are excellent- this one is the funniest.

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

Many moving moments- if by moving you mean over the top funny.

Any additional comments?

GET THIS BOOK- it will lift your spirits- especially if you are a