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In a Sunburned Country
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Bill Bryson Collector's Edition
- Notes from a Small Island, Neither Here Nor There, and I'm a Stranger Here Myself
- By: Bill Bryson
- Narrated by: Bill Bryson
- Length: 17 hrs and 11 mins
- Abridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 1,705
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 1,288
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 1,273
In the first of three essays included in this audiobook, Bill Bryson decides to move his wife and kids back to his homeland, the United States, after nearly two decades in Britain. But not before taking one last trip around Britain, a sort of valedictory tour of the green and kindly island that had so long been his home. The result is a hilarious social commentary.
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5 out of 5 stars
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So good I hated for it to end
- By J. Dominy on 08-08-12
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A Walk in the Woods
- Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail
- By: Bill Bryson
- Narrated by: Rob McQuay
- Length: 9 hrs and 44 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 6,814
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 6,145
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 6,161
The Appalachian Trail trail stretches from Georgia to Maine and covers some of the most breathtaking terrain in America - majestic mountains, silent forests, sparking lakes. If you’re going to take a hike, it’s probably the place to go. And Bill Bryson is surely the most entertaing guide you’ll find. He introduces us to the history and ecology of the trail and to some of the other hardy (or just foolhardy) folks he meets along the way - and a couple of bears. Already a classic, A Walk in the Woods will make you long for the great outdoors (or at least a comfortable chair to sit and read in).
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3 out of 5 stars
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Informational
- By Moises C. on 03-29-17
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At Home
- A Short History of Private Life
- By: Bill Bryson
- Narrated by: Bill Bryson
- Length: 16 hrs and 33 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 4,782
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 3,295
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 3,285
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.”
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4 out of 5 stars
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Another wonderful Bryson
- By Tina on 10-23-10
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Girt
- The Unauthorised History of Australia
- By: David Hunt
- Narrated by: David Hunt
- Length: 6 hrs and 43 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 142
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 132
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 132
Girt. No word could better capture the essence of Australia.... In this hilarious history, David Hunt reveals the truth of Australia's past, from megafauna to Macquarie - the cock-ups and curiosities, the forgotten eccentrics and Eureka moments that have made us who we are. Girt introduces forgotten heroes like Mary McLoghlin, transported for the crime of "felony of sock", and Trim the cat, who beat a French monkey to become the first animal to circumnavigate Australia.
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3 out of 5 stars
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Seriously irritating voice. Can I get a refund?
- By Jodelle on 07-31-16
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Made in America
- By: Bill Bryson
- Narrated by: William Roberts
- Length: 18 hrs and 10 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 987
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 820
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 822
In Made in America, Bryson de-mythologizes his native land, explaining how a dusty hamlet with neither woods nor holly became Hollywood, how the Wild West wasn't won, why Americans say 'lootenant' and 'Toosday', how Americans were eating junk food long before the word itself was cooked up, as well as exposing the true origins of the G-string, the original $64,000 question, and Dr Kellogg of cornflakes fame.
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3 out of 5 stars
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Bryson Not Reading Makes For a Rare Fail
- By John on 02-28-14
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The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid
- A Memoir
- By: Bill Bryson
- Narrated by: Bill Bryson
- Length: 7 hrs and 39 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 1,847
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 1,016
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 1,023
Bill Bryson was born in the middle of the American century, 1951, in the middle of the United States, Des Moines, Iowa, in the middle of the largest generation in American history, the baby boomers. As one of the best and funniest writers alive, his is perfectly positioned to mine his memories of a totally all-American childhood for 24-carat memoir gold. Like millions of his generational peers, Bill Bryson grew up with a rich fantasy life as a superhero.
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4 out of 5 stars
-
Fun, but not for squeamish
- By David on 11-30-06
-
Bill Bryson Collector's Edition
- Notes from a Small Island, Neither Here Nor There, and I'm a Stranger Here Myself
- By: Bill Bryson
- Narrated by: Bill Bryson
- Length: 17 hrs and 11 mins
- Abridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 1,705
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 1,288
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 1,273
In the first of three essays included in this audiobook, Bill Bryson decides to move his wife and kids back to his homeland, the United States, after nearly two decades in Britain. But not before taking one last trip around Britain, a sort of valedictory tour of the green and kindly island that had so long been his home. The result is a hilarious social commentary.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
So good I hated for it to end
- By J. Dominy on 08-08-12
-
A Walk in the Woods
- Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail
- By: Bill Bryson
- Narrated by: Rob McQuay
- Length: 9 hrs and 44 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 6,814
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 6,145
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 6,161
The Appalachian Trail trail stretches from Georgia to Maine and covers some of the most breathtaking terrain in America - majestic mountains, silent forests, sparking lakes. If you’re going to take a hike, it’s probably the place to go. And Bill Bryson is surely the most entertaing guide you’ll find. He introduces us to the history and ecology of the trail and to some of the other hardy (or just foolhardy) folks he meets along the way - and a couple of bears. Already a classic, A Walk in the Woods will make you long for the great outdoors (or at least a comfortable chair to sit and read in).
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
Informational
- By Moises C. on 03-29-17
-
At Home
- A Short History of Private Life
- By: Bill Bryson
- Narrated by: Bill Bryson
- Length: 16 hrs and 33 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 4,782
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 3,295
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 3,285
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.”
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
Another wonderful Bryson
- By Tina on 10-23-10
-
Girt
- The Unauthorised History of Australia
- By: David Hunt
- Narrated by: David Hunt
- Length: 6 hrs and 43 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 142
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 132
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 132
Girt. No word could better capture the essence of Australia.... In this hilarious history, David Hunt reveals the truth of Australia's past, from megafauna to Macquarie - the cock-ups and curiosities, the forgotten eccentrics and Eureka moments that have made us who we are. Girt introduces forgotten heroes like Mary McLoghlin, transported for the crime of "felony of sock", and Trim the cat, who beat a French monkey to become the first animal to circumnavigate Australia.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
Seriously irritating voice. Can I get a refund?
- By Jodelle on 07-31-16
-
Made in America
- By: Bill Bryson
- Narrated by: William Roberts
- Length: 18 hrs and 10 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 987
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 820
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 822
In Made in America, Bryson de-mythologizes his native land, explaining how a dusty hamlet with neither woods nor holly became Hollywood, how the Wild West wasn't won, why Americans say 'lootenant' and 'Toosday', how Americans were eating junk food long before the word itself was cooked up, as well as exposing the true origins of the G-string, the original $64,000 question, and Dr Kellogg of cornflakes fame.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
Bryson Not Reading Makes For a Rare Fail
- By John on 02-28-14
-
The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid
- A Memoir
- By: Bill Bryson
- Narrated by: Bill Bryson
- Length: 7 hrs and 39 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 1,847
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 1,016
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 1,023
Bill Bryson was born in the middle of the American century, 1951, in the middle of the United States, Des Moines, Iowa, in the middle of the largest generation in American history, the baby boomers. As one of the best and funniest writers alive, his is perfectly positioned to mine his memories of a totally all-American childhood for 24-carat memoir gold. Like millions of his generational peers, Bill Bryson grew up with a rich fantasy life as a superhero.
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4 out of 5 stars
-
Fun, but not for squeamish
- By David on 11-30-06
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The Lost Continent
- Travels In Small Town America
- By: Bill Bryson
- Narrated by: William Roberts
- Length: 10 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4 out of 5 stars 499
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Performance4 out of 5 stars 403
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 403
Hardly anyone ever leaves Des Moines, Iowa. But Bill Bryson did, and after 10 years in England he decided to go home, to a foreign country. In an ageing Chevrolet Chevette, he drove nearly 14,000 miles through 38 states to compile this hilarious and perceptive state-of-the-nation report on small-town America.
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3 out of 5 stars
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There are better Bill Bryson audiobooks
- By Rachel on 08-10-14
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The Road to Little Dribbling
- Adventures of an American in Britain
- By: Bill Bryson
- Narrated by: Nathan Osgood
- Length: 14 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 1,266
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 1,150
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 1,142
Twenty years ago, Bill Bryson went on a trip around Britain to discover and celebrate that green and pleasant land. The result was Notes from a Small Island, a true classic and one of the best-selling travel books ever written. Now, he has traveled about Britain again, by bus and train and rental car and on foot, to see what has changed - and what hasn’t.
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3 out of 5 stars
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No Bryson?? Alas, another disappointed fan
- By Richard on 01-25-16
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Notes from a Small Island
- By: Bill Bryson
- Narrated by: Ron McLarty
- Length: 12 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 137
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Performance4 out of 5 stars 122
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Story4 out of 5 stars 123
Grab your umbrella and join best-selling author Bill Bryson for a grand tour through the heartland of the United Kingdom. As he wanders through tiny villages and bustling cities, his irreverent travelogue will keep you laughing out loud and eager to explore what lies just around the next corner. Before he returns to the United States after nearly two decades on British soil, Bryson decides to take a farewell jaunt through his adopted homeland. But his plans to neatly traverse the island by foot, bus, and train are soon thwarted.
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2 out of 5 stars
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Appallingly badly read
- By Sharon on 03-19-12
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The Mother Tongue
- By: Bill Bryson
- Narrated by: Stephen McLaughlin
- Length: 10 hrs and 44 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 842
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Performance4 out of 5 stars 757
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 758
With dazzling wit and astonishing insight, Bill Bryson - the acclaimed author of The Lost Continent - brilliantly explores the remarkable history, eccentricities, resilience, and sheer fun of the English language. From the first descent of the larynx into the throat (why you can talk but your dog can't) to the fine lost art of swearing, Bryson tells the fascinating, often uproarious story of an inadequate, second-rate tongue of peasants that developed into one of the world's largest growth industries.
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3 out of 5 stars
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More satire than history
- By Barbara on 12-18-15
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I'm a Stranger Here Myself
- Notes on Returning to America After 20 Years Away
- By: Bill Bryson
- Narrated by: William Roberts
- Length: 9 hrs and 16 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 166
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 151
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Story4 out of 5 stars 151
After living in Britain for two decades, Bill Bryson recently moved back to the United States with his English wife and four children (he had read somewhere that nearly 3 million Americans believed they had been abducted by aliens - as he later put it, "It was clear my people needed me." They were greeted by a new and improved America that boasts microwave pancakes, twenty-four-hour dental-floss hotlines, and the staunch conviction that ice is not a luxury item.
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4 out of 5 stars
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How strange! Not as recently written as described.
- By Lynn on 10-12-12
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A Short History of Nearly Everything
- By: Bill Bryson
- Narrated by: Richard Matthews
- Length: 18 hrs and 13 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 18,372
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 13,099
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 13,053
Bill Bryson has been an enormously popular author both for his travel books and for his books on the English language. Now, this beloved comic genius turns his attention to science. Although he doesn't know anything about the subject (at first), he is eager to learn, and takes information that he gets from the world's leading experts and explains it to us in a way that makes it exciting and relevant.
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4 out of 5 stars
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Fascinating; Perfect for Adult ADHD
- By Sean on 05-13-04
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One Summer
- America, 1927
- By: Bill Bryson
- Narrated by: Bill Bryson
- Length: 17 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 3,417
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 3,042
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 3,031
One of the most admired nonfiction writers of our time retells the story of one truly fabulous year in the life of his native country - a fascinating and gripping narrative featuring such outsized American heroes as Charles Lindbergh, Babe Ruth, and yes Herbert Hoover, and a gallery of criminals (Al Capone), eccentrics (Shipwreck Kelly), and close-mouthed politicians (Calvin Coolidge). It was the year Americans attempted and accomplished outsized things and came of age in a big, brawling manner. What a country. What a summer. And what a writer to bring it all so vividly alive.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Why 1927?
- By Mark on 10-18-13
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Shakespeare
- The World as Stage
- By: Bill Bryson
- Narrated by: Bill Bryson
- Length: 5 hrs and 29 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4 out of 5 stars 1,330
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 846
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 839
William Shakespeare, the most celebrated poet in the English language, left behind nearly a million words of text, but his biography has long been a thicket of wild supposition arranged around scant facts. With a steady hand and his trademark wit, Bill Bryson sorts through this colorful muddle to reveal the man himself.
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4 out of 5 stars
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Too Little, Too Short
- By Charles L. Burkins on 11-30-07
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A Shorter History of Australia
- By: Geoffrey Blainey
- Narrated by: Humphrey Bower
- Length: 10 hrs and 59 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4 out of 5 stars 166
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Performance4 out of 5 stars 115
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Story4 out of 5 stars 116
After a lifetime of research and debate on Australian and international history, Geoffrey Blainey is well-placed to introduce us to the people who have played a part and to guide us through the events which have created the Australian identity: the mania for spectator sport, the suspicion of the tall poppy, the rivalries of Catholic and Protestant, Sydney and Melbourne, new and old homelands, the conflicts of war abroad and race at home, the importance of technology, the recognition of our Aboriginal past and Native Title.
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4 out of 5 stars
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Good!
- By Jivanildo Pinheiro Miranda on 02-11-13
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Australia - Culture Smart!
- By: Barry Penney, Gina Teague
- Narrated by: Peter Noble
- Length: 3 hrs and 25 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4 out of 5 stars 4
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Performance5 out of 5 stars 4
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Story4 out of 5 stars 4
Australia is different - a vast island continent with distances so great that the capital of Western Australia is closer to Singapore than it is to Sydney. The landscape embraces magnificent tropical rainforests and deserts the size of several European states; temperate areas that sustain a flourishing wine industry, making Australia the world's fourth largest wine exporter; and a 16,000-mile coastline of breathtaking beaches. Plus its unique fauna is testament to the country's down-underness.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Very Informative
- By Kelly on 01-18-18
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Neither Here Nor There
- Travels in Europe
- By: Bill Bryson
- Narrated by: Bill Bryson
- Length: 5 hrs and 38 mins
- Abridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 641
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 284
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 280
You'll stop at Europe's most diverting and historic locales and view the Old World through Bryson's tourist eye view in this affectionate, blisteringly insightful, and riotously funny pilgrimage from the frozen wastes of Scandinavia to the chaotic tumult of Istanbul.
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5 out of 5 stars
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I wish he were my neighbour.
- By Heather on 08-29-12
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The Aborigines and Maori: The History of the Indigenous Peoples in Australia and New Zealand
- By: Charles River Editors
- Narrated by: Dan Gallagher
- Length: 3 hrs and 25 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 1
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Performance4 out of 5 stars 1
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Story4 out of 5 stars 1
In 1769, Captain James Cook’s historic expedition would lead to an English claim on Australia, but before he reached Australia, he sailed near New Zealand and spent weeks mapping part of New Zealand’s coast. Thus, he was one of the first to observe and take note of the indigenous peoples of the two islands.
Publisher's Summary
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)
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Overall
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4.5 out of 5 stars
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5 Stars2,723
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4 Stars1,121
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3 Stars364
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2 Stars86
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1 Stars41
Performance
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4.5 out of 5 stars
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5 Stars1,946
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4 Stars540
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3 Stars165
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2 Stars38
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1 Stars18
Story
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4.5 out of 5 stars
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5 Stars1,745
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4 Stars692
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3 Stars222
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2 Stars29
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1 Stars16
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- Larry
- El Paso, TX, USA
- 06-09-03
Laugh out loud funny
This is my first book by Bryson but it won't be my last. His wit and satire made this one of the most enjoyable books I have read in a long time. In addition to its humor, the book provides an excellent glimpse of Australia... its history, its people, its cities, and its unique and beautiful sights. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn about Australia and have a good time to boot. (Memorable quote from the book: "Most people, when sleeping, look like they need a blanket. I look like I need medical attention.")
28 of 28 people found this review helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- Cassie Anderson
- 04-03-07
informative and entertaining
Wow! I loved this book. I laughed out loud so many times and was completely entertained for the full reading. Bill Bryson is a great narrator. Funny, very funny. I also learned so much about Australia. Fantastic.
7 of 7 people found this review helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- Lisa
- Magalia, CA, USA
- 11-15-07
Let's Go!
Wow! What a fabulously entertaining and informative book. Not only do you get to learn some of the history of Australia, you also get to take a trip around the country with this humorous author and enjoy his view of things "down under." Almost makes you want to go there--but then again, with all the poisonous critters and vast outback to get lost in, you might just be safer staying in your car with this audiobook.
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- Terry
- Kells, Co MeathIreland
- 04-08-03
Travel writing at its best
Fans of Bill Bryson will know what to expect: sharp, scathing, hilariously funny tales from the master of travel writing. If anything, this book is even better than normal because the subject matter is less familiar - giving Bryson free rein to expound on the history, culture(?) and natural perils of Australia. He also narrates the book himself - something that is normally a Very Bad Thing. But he does an excellent job - better, perhaps, than anyone else would have done. All things considered, an excellent book.
11 of 12 people found this review helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
- Christina
- Medina, OH, USA
- 02-03-04
Fantastic introduction to Australia
I downloaded this because I am planning a trip 'down under' and thoroughly enjoyed it. It is beautifully written, amusing, and extremely informative. Bryson has done an immense amount of research on this country, and imparts it in a thought-provoking, insightful, and funny way. I would highly recommend this to anyone interested in Australia or in travel writing in general. Only a few minor drawbacks keep this from five stars in my opinion: it has a confusing strucutre (I'm never sure which visit we're on) and gets a bit too long and repetitive toward the end.
15 of 17 people found this review helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- Leslie
- Atlanta, GA, USA
- 04-21-09
Bill Bryson is great
Funny and informative. I learned so much. I always enjoy Bill Bryson's books and I always laugh out loud. What could be better than to learn and laugh at the same time.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- Carole P
- USA
- 03-07-08
Outstandingly Funny!
Written with a perfect blend of insightful facts, droll sarcasm, and superlative wit. I was ready to book passage to Australia to go on my own quirky tour after listening to this account of Mr. Bryson's trip across that continent. Not to be missed.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- William
- Winston Salem, NC, United States
- 03-04-10
Arrive at end. Start over. Repeat.
This book is informative, educational, charming, and hilarious. I've read the paper version and listened to it and will probably return to it once every few years to remind myself of all the poisonous things I need to avoid.
7 of 8 people found this review helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- Alan Lewis
- Carlsbad, CA United States
- 11-08-09
Wonderful book
If you listen to this book on headphones on an airplane (as I did), you will disturb other passengers when you laugh out loud. Funny and informative. As with all his books, he mixes personal experience with well researched facts and insights. It is always a treat to listen to Bill Bryson narrate his own work.
6 of 7 people found this review helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Scott
- Roseville, CA, United States
- 10-07-12
Bryson World Class Writer and Narrator
Ultimately when you "travel" with with Bill you feel as if you are along for the ride enjoying the sights or puzzling over the oddities of any given location. He describes all the characters or ridiculous situations in which he finds himself in such delightful way that you often feel as if you have stumbled into the fictional word of "The Phantom Tollbooth" (with its odd but well intention inhabitants) but with the thrill of it all having been real. Both history and natural wonders are described with proper perspective to sound quite worthy of one's appreciation. You even enjoy the occasional pause for refreshment, that cup of tea before a day's adventures, or a well earned pint at some colorful pub at the end of a long day. This book allows you to enjoy myriad dangers of Australia's vast and deadly outback without the slightest risk of being reduced to drinking any urine. (a recurring joke only readers of the book will get)
Bryson does his own narration and is one of the few authors for whom this works. His self deprecating tones add humor to the many absurd situations in which finds himself. For example he asks, with the perfectly quizzical note of concern in his voice, "So are you suggesting that I just drown calmly?" after having been advised on how to deal with the dangerous rip currents off Australia's beaches. I had no idea Australia was such a fascinating place. As far as my enjoyment of the audiobook I will quote Bryson who says occasionally if and when appropriate, "I couldn't have been more pleased."
2 of 2 people found this review helpful