Bill Bryson

[englisharcher]

Are there any other Bill Bryson fans on here?

My favourite book is, A walk in the woods, at times I thought I was in the woods with him.

What is your favourite Bryson book?

[paranoid airbag]

a short history of nearly everything - great layman's guide to science (and quite interesting for scientists too)

[Luftgekuhlt]

"At Home" is the only one I've read, but I'd like some more in a similar vein. Any recommendations?

[Silver]

paranoid airbag said:

a short history of nearly everything - great layman's guide to science (and quite interesting for scientists too)

I have to admit that much as I like Bryson, most of this book bored me rigid. Apart from the section on earthquakes and volcanoes which I read saucer-eyed. There was quite an interesting bit about how aborigines may have got to Australia too.

Probably my favourite of his books is Notes From A Small Island.

[Flippin' Kipper]

A walk in the woods is one of my favorite books, but also have enjoyed most of his other books.

[marcosgt]

I've read a number and Walk in the Woods was my favourite too.

M.

[nicanary]

His travelogue style books are all a good read. America, the UK, Australia and Europe..

His book about his childhood, The Thunderbolt Kid is brilliant, and just reminded me so much of my own experiences. The guy is funny and academic at the same time. My favourite author.

[VinceFox]

Big fan. He worked here in bournemouth for a while and has an enthusiasm for britain that few natives do.

[g3org3y]

I loved 'A Short History...' Other faves include 'The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid'.

[Eric Mc]

All of them.

I am very fond of "Mother Tongue".

[LordGrover]

VinceFox said:

Big fan. He worked here in bournemouth for a while and has an enthusiasm for britain that few natives do.

Completely different but in the same vein, someone mentioned on the Jack Reacher thread how well Lee Child describes the US from a British perspective (albeit in the guise of a native).

On topic; Mother Tongue and A Brief History are my favourites so far.

[98elise]

paranoid airbag said:

a short history of nearly everything - great layman's guide to science (and quite interesting for scientists too)

Great book, I've read it 3 times. School text books should be written by BIll

[rehab71]

Luftgekuhlt said:

"At Home" is the only one I've read, but I'd like some more in a similar vein. Any recommendations?

Read them all! Notes from a Small Island had me in stitches

[stevesuk]

I loved Neither Here Nor There (where he revisits various European cities he first saw as a backpacking student in the 1970s), and also the book about small town America (The Lost Continent?).

If you're looking for a similar author, check out Tim Moore. His French Revolutions book tells the story of him trying to cycle the entire route of the Tour de France out of season. He's written a few other similar travelogue style books too.

Both authors seems to have the ability to make you feel like you're right there with them

[Countdown]

I'm a big fan.

Favourite is notes from a small country

[Pothole]

stevesuk said:

I loved Neither Here Nor There (where he revisits various European cities he first saw as a backpacking student in the 1970s), and also the book about small town America (The Lost Continent?).

If you're looking for a similar author, check out Tim Moore. His French Revolutions book tells the story of him trying to cycle the entire route of the Tour de France out of season. He's written a few other similar travelogue style books too.

Both authors seems to have the ability to make you feel like you're right there with them

Tim Moore's Do Not Pass go, about the history of and a trip around, the original London Monopoly board is really funny, too.

[spud989]

Notes from a Big Country is great. Neither here Nor there is pretty decent too.

[PugwasHDJ80]

Notes from a small island is the one I still go back to (and ocosionally notes from a big country or whatever it's called). The thers are all worth a read, buy I don't find myself re-reading them like the first two.

[sider]

Notes from a Small Island fan here.

Read that in about 1999 when i was 16 or so. Liked it them - would imagine if i read it now, with all the mileage i do for work, i'd end up following in his tracks a bit and it'd cost me a fortune in diesel, and possibly losing my job through not doing any work!

Also read Notes from Big Country.

I'm currently reading 'Adventures on the High Teas - In Search of Middle England' by Stuart Maconie - which, albeit only 50 pages in, does remind me a little bit of some of Bryson's stuff.

[jbudgie]

Most (but not all !) of them.