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  • Notes From a Big Country

  • By: Bill Bryson
  • Narrated by: William Roberts
  • Length: 9 hrs and 19 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (1,296 ratings)

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Notes From a Big Country

By: Bill Bryson
Narrated by: William Roberts
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Summary

Des Moines, Iowa-born writer Bryson's first success was the travel book The Lost Continent. After living in England for several years, he wanted to go back to the USA to find the perfect little US town of his past, he lovingly called Amalgam. More travel books followed, in the form of Neither Here Nor There (where he travels through Europe), Notes From A Small Island (where he travels around the United Kingdom, before returning back to the USA to live there for good) and A Walk In The Woods (where he walks the Appalachian trail). After moving back to the States, Bryson started to write a column for The Mail on Sunday Night and Day magazine. This is a collection of these column entries. Bryson writes about everything from everyday chores, to suing people, the beach, TV, movies, air conditioners, college, Americana, injury dangers, wasting resources, and holiday seasons.

©1998 Bill Bryson (P)2014 Audible, Inc.
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Critic reviews

"This is Bryson at his best." ( Amazon.co.uk)

What listeners say about Notes From a Big Country

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Profile Image for Chris Tarplee

Bill never fails

You can count on Bill Bryson. it's entertaining and well observed. Always a winner. Thank you Bill.

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Profile Image for Victoria S.

Really enjoyed the book. It's very witty

and informative. Giving you information on things that you just wouldn't know unless you'd spent some time in the states.

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Profile Image for Bob

Excellent!

My neighbours must think I have gone slightly mad - Since downloading the book I walk the dogs with a constant smile on my face, chuckling and occasionally doubling up with laughter for no apparent reason. They can’t see the headphones as they are buried under hats and scarves. I dare not listen whilst driving in case I burst to in hysterical laughter and crash the car! Up there with the best of Bill Bryson’s best....

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Profile Image for Lee

Chuckles Galore

My first Bill Bryson book but definitely not my last. Oh how I laughed. I really liked how he poked fun at his home nation and himself without having to use profanities or toilet humour. Although written twenty years ago it didn't feel dated ...just funny!

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Profile Image for Graham

Bryson at his best

This is, by far, the most amusing, funny, delightful book in Bill Bryson’s repertoire. I wonder if he and I are related?

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Profile Image for Zara

Great book, well written.

Overall a fantastic buy but for me William Roberts does not have a voice I appreciate listening to hours of.

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Profile Image for Hank

Good if a little dated

I generally love Bill Bryson. I enjoyed this collection of columns however some of it comes across as slightly ignorant in todays world. I'm thinking specifically about the chapter on photo i.d at airports. Remember when this was written and you'll enjoy it a whole lot more.

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Profile Image for Lindsay S. Wilson

Another brilliant Bill Bryson book

I always end up in hysterics reading Bill Bryson. I have a fixed smile on my face from page one

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Profile Image for Karen

Very Entertaining

As always, Mr Bryson is very entertaining, and he provides a very interesting account of the trials and tribultations of returning to your mother country after years of being an Alien in another land.

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Profile Image for Jon Green

What a legend

More please in no less than fifteen words; which Bill would in no doubt comment on.

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