• The Life & Times of the Thunderbolt Kid

  • By: Bill Bryson
  • Narrated by: Bill Bryson
  • Length: 7 hrs and 27 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (274 ratings)

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The Life & Times of the Thunderbolt Kid  By  cover art

The Life & Times of the Thunderbolt Kid

By: Bill Bryson
Narrated by: Bill Bryson
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Publisher's summary

Bill Bryson's hilarious memoir of growing up in middle America in the Fifties, complete, unabridged, and read by the author.

Born in 1951 in the middle of the United States, Des Moines, Iowa, Bill Bryson is perfectly positioned to mine his memories of a totally all-American childhood for 24 carat memoir gold. Like millions of his generation, Bill Bryson grew up with a rich fantasy life as a superhero. In his case, he ran around the house wearing a jersey with a thunderbolt on it and a towel round his neck that served as his cape, leaping tall buildings in a single bound and vanquishing evildoers (in his head) as The Thunderbolt Kid.

Using his old fantasy life as a springboard, Bill Bryson recreates the life of his family in the 1950s in all its transcendent normality. In a period that saw the inexorable rise of television, the opening of Disneyland, the testing of the atomic bomb, and the explosion of choice in everything from food to cars, Bill Bryson's days followed in reassuringly cosy succession, enlivened by modest triumphs and disasters.

Warm and laugh-out-loud funny, The Thunderbolt Kid is full of Bill Bryson's inimitable, pitch-perfect observations and this unabridged recording contains every single amusing anecdote and amazing fact. Nothing is left out, so you can enjoy the whole book in its entirety, read by Bill Bryson himself.

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Critic reviews

"The way he tells it, to be a child in 1950s Middle America was very heaven... His own happy scrapes and triumphs (mostly scrapes) contain a good few laugh-out-loud moments, but with trademark modesty he conjures an entire era, ' the ancient lost world of the mid-20th-century.'" ( The Sunday Times, Audio book of the week)

"Considerable added value as it is read unabridged by its author, Bill Bryson." (The Times)

What listeners say about The Life & Times of the Thunderbolt Kid

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

I just loved it!

This is such a funny autobiography and brings to life the minds of small and not so small boys! Having Bill Bryson read his own biography is an added bonus as he brings it to life. I laughed out loud so often. A wonderful listen.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Another Bryson Hit

This is a great book. It contains more profanity than his past works, but usually in a context where some explicatives are required. There are also some political jabs that I think will spoil this work a generation or two down the road. I love Bill Bryson and all his other works... and as usual, it's a real treat to have the author reading their own book!

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3 people found this helpful

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

A superhero's life in the superhero's words

Would you listen to The Life & Times of the Thunderbolt Kid again? Why?

I am listening to it again and again already!!! It is the funniest memoir I've read, period.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Life & Times of the Thunderbolt Kid?

There were quite a few, my favourite was when Bill Bryson was caught reading comics on his desk when the rest of his class was sitting under their desks for a mock air raid preparation.

The funniest was the todie jar incident, which involved peeing, jars, food and an absent minded mother. But the best bits were the turn of phrase that Bill employed and his own voice which add a texture and nuance which the other reader of this book can never match.

Other memorable moments were when Bill talked about the reality of life in the 50s, such as racism, sex and America's obession with communism. Bill only mentioned these issues in short but extremely well researched

What does Bill Bryson bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Bill's voice and nuance. It really does add stars to the book. If I could, I would give the book 6 stars, instead of 5, as Bill's own narration really takes the book up another level.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Funny, real, scary, great, and unmissable - The Wonder Years of Bill Bryson in the 50s.

Any additional comments?

For those people craving a longer book, this book despite its 7-8 hour length feels longer. Also, the rehearings will really add up as you are gaurenteed to listen to it again.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

a must for bryson fans

another great storytelling by bill bryson. well worth a credit for any fan. if youve not listened to bryson before, maybe start with a walk in the wood, one of my favourites

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars

Too many icky bits

I have enjoyed Bryson's other books but this one is an in-your-face reminder of how actually disgusting little boys can be - his loving and graphic descriptions of the things boys get up to had me almost sick; I had to stop listening. Some listeners may delight in remembering the sheer ickiness of childhood experience, but I didn't.

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1 person found this helpful

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

A classic Bryson

This book made us all laugh out loud and captures a moment in time so beautifully.

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

A very entertaining read

I am a fan or Bryson and I listened to this book on my daily walking commute to work and I wonder how many times my fellow commuters wondered on the source of my smile. Although I was a child of the 60s not the 50s and grew up in the UK, not the US, I could appreciate many of Bryons insightful observations but the highlight is the witty descriptions he applies to his childhood experiences.

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

one of the funniest Bryson books I've heard

it's not often I'll be forced to laugh out loud with a book, but this had me doing it several times a chapter. so enjoyable.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Absolutely loved this book, nicely read!

I loved this book, well read with just enough wit and humour to make me laugh out loud at times. sincere and heart-warming at times. a must read or listen for anyone who enjoys Bill Bryson!

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

The 50's were dangerous

Any additional comments?

Obviously this type of book benefits greatly by having the author read it and this was very enjoyable. Wow the 50's were dangerous, its a wonder anyone survived. A great romp through Bill Bryson's early life, growing up in the 50's. If you like his other books you will like this one. It has some wonderful over and understatements throughout. He captures a kid's perspective with great skill.

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