Book Review: Made In America by Bill Bryson

Another magnificent book by Bill Bryson!

It’s been so long since I read my first Bryson book that I’m not sure which one was first, but I have at least read A Walk In The Woods, A Short History of Nearly Everything and The Body, and every single one has helped cement Bryson as my favorite non-fiction author.

Bryson writes informative, quirky, facts-based books, where you usually end up learning stuff you never even knew you wanted to learn – and he has you at the edge of your seat while you do it!

This one is all about America, but before you think that has nothing to do with you since you’re not American, let me stop you right there. It has all to do with you because Bryson starts at the very beginning, with who “found” it, who was already there from the start, where those people who made it their new home came from and how they managed to (barely) survive out there. Then he goes on, through history, and talks about how the language evolved, how the cities were planned and developed, how the trains, car and postal service changed it, and how it has all ended up becoming what it is today.

He goes on to talk about the culture, the economy, the language, the things America has invented, produced, sold and created and, honestly, it’s fascinating. I found the parts about language particularly interesting, especially the part about donuts (no, I’m not going to elaborate).

And Bryson’s books are expertly written! He manages to fill them chock full of fun facts and tidbits while at the same time not bogging down the narrative with overlong, drawn-out passages. One minute you’re learning about some historical figure from Europe who founded something, next thing you know he’s explaining how train stations defined time zones. It’s magnificent. You’re going to be reading this cover to cover and wonder how it ended so quickly.

Have you read any of Bryson’s books? Which one’s are your favorites? Do you know of any authors who write similar books? I’d love to hear about them. Let me know in the comments!

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Books by Trey Stone

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