At Home - Bill Bryson

At Home

By Bill Bryson

  • Release Date: 2010-10-05
  • Genre: Art & Architecture
Score: 4
4
From 254 Ratings

Description

In these pages, the beloved Bill Bryson gives us a fascinating history of the modern home, taking us on a room-by-room tour through his own house and using each room to explore the vast history of the domestic artifacts we take for granted. As he takes us through the history of our modern comforts, Bryson demonstrates that whatever happens in the world eventually ends up in our home, in the paint, the pipes, the pillows, and every item of furniture. Bryson has one of the liveliest, most inquisitive minds on the planet, and his sheer prose fluency makes At Home one of the most entertaining books ever written about private life.

Reviews

  • Must read for everyone who lives in a home.

    5
    By Sandstead
    This is an excellent book and a must read for anyone who lives in a western home. But this is actually a brief history of the West--which the author actually likes. It is hard to find a book on the West that is not simply a list of crimes, but Bill Bryson actually likes the history if the West and all that it has produced--most especially the home.
  • Good Book

    3
    By Megwal
    Not great but interesting
  • Loved it.

    5
    By bejane
    Humorous, well-written, and informative. I really couldn't put it down. It's a great read if you love knowing where our cultural quirks come from, and the origins/history of our surroundings.
  • Astonishing

    5
    By Rance_Wiley
    I could spend my whole life trying to compile this much information in a book.... but even if I did, it wouldn't be nearly as engrossing, fun, or thoughtful. At worst, it's an expansive history book, and at it's best it's pure Bryson brilliance.
  • Not like the blurb

    1
    By ItsMyNickname
    I thought it was going to be more of a book detailing why and how certain items end up in the house. The book's blurb talked about things such as why we have salt and pepper shakers and not anything else. The book was more of a history book than anything else. I feel cheated.
  • Loved it

    5
    By pjmckellar
    If you enjoyed "A short history of nearly everything" you'll want to read this.