At Home: A Short History of Private Life Audiobook

" Bryson is such a terrific writer! Thorough research and written in a style that is easy to listen to and very enjoyable. AT HOME is a wonderful trip through the ages about dwellings, food, social life, and much more. Makes a long car ride an informative and educational trip. His other books are also super! "

" Interesting read on the history of the home. "

" Really interesting how our homes became what they are. "

" Read it for book club. Very well done. "

" This book started out somewhat boring, but interesting. Each chapter explores a different room in a home and explains how each room evolved over centuries to what we know today. Interesting facts are abundant, if not overwhelming. There are some great stories such as how the modern chimney came to be and when glass in windows started becoming prevalent. However, this book slowly sinks into the depths of stomach-churning, nauseating descriptions of Victorian life. I was so completely turned off by Bryson's gory details of the dreary, horror-filled life of 19th-century English citizens that I actually put this book down and I don't expect to finish it. For instance, the chapter entitled "Nursery" was almost totally devoted to recounting the tragedies, misfortunes and abuses of the unfortunate English children of the Victorian era. Bill Bryson really got off track on this one! A more fitting title would be "The Victorians: A Damned Crazy Bunch". "

" Oh, Mr Bryson, you fill me with so much somewhat useless knowledge that I actually feel smarter for reading your books. I think my family is smarter too thanks to my frequent blurts of "wow, did you know that..." Loved it! "

" If you like to read history as a slew of odd factoids, this is a good one. Humans are weird. We've always been weird. Bill shows us proof. "

" Very interesting, although more appropriately titled: "At Home: Random But Interesting Stuff I Think of When I think of the Rooms in My House (Pre-historic to the time I was born). "

" I loved it. So many cool anecdotes on the origin of things and words. Right up my alley. "

" Found it interesting in the beginning, but he lost me somewhere around the 1/3 to 1/2 mark. "

" Really loved this book. Never put it down, an anthology of the home and how and why the way we live and the homes and spaces we live in have changed over time. "

" I really enjoyed this, and even the meandering way he goes from one idea to another until you forget what the book is supposed to be about. "

" Anything Bill Bryson writes is magic, in my opinion. This book is an amazing look at the history of how we live in our homes from the orgins of the bedroom to the reason we have hallways. It so fascinating and I learned so much. "

" Very interesting and PACKED with information. I like Bill Bryson, and liked the subject matter (and all the minutiae). But I found I couldn't read much of this at a time -- small doses went down more easily. "

" The history of home life, as could only be told by Bryson. "

" I thought I would like it, but not so much. "

" "No-one, possibly except the Luftwaffe, has done more in changing the look of London during the following years than the architect John Nash." Well put, huh? Listened as an audiobook read by author - had to buy the book as well. 'Cause I love it! "

" This is an interesting book. I was reminded that many of our modern conveniences are recent inventions. Thank God for sanitation. The nursery chapter was difficult to read. "

" This was fascinating on all levels. Loved the...how some English sayings came about...Bigwigs etc. Also the depth of filth that people lived in on a daily occurrence, not that long ago was incredible. An interesting read. "

" Very enjoyable, somewhat random look at the history of domestic life from the late Middle Ages to the early 20th century England. "

" A really entertaining read. Bryson moves effortlessly from one subject to the next, making a fascinating series of connections and links. Great stuff! "

" This book is really not about homes but a random assortment of interesting facts that will improve your trivial pursuit game skills "

" I'm only on page 100 or so, but I'm in love with this book! I am a huge fan of a Short History of Nearly Evrything and this book is very similar. I must forewarn that in order to really enjoy the book you have to be willing to take in a lot about of information about England. "

" Great fun. Discursive, chatty, informal, but illuminating history. "

" Interesting and yet at the same time boring. "

" I love Bill Bryson's books and this one did not dissapoint. I learned so much about why we now live the way we do, and the people who came before who influence everything that we have in our homes, from spices to furniture. A must read. Funny and informative. "

" Wonderful recounting of the meaning/contents/etc. of each room in a house told in Bryson's droll style. "

" Loved it! Fascinating look at how some traditions in home life came to be—or at least pretty good speculation about said things. It helps that the author uses his English former vicarage home as the frame for the story, but even for those less enamored of all things British, a fun read! "

" LOVED this book--spent weeks enthralling (ahem) both my family and my students with tidbits from it. It gives you tons of info to carry around in your head, info that changes the way you perceive the world. WOW. My first whole-book Bryson, but I hope not my last! "

" Once on the Bryson kick, I started reading all of his work. This was on the new book shelves in my Austin branch library. I enjoyed the mental images of his current house in England, but the book was just OK. No laughing out loud. "

" Really fun read. Chock full of interesting stuff and beautifully written. Author has a great way of digging out fun facts and relevant trivia to illuminate obscure but important details on significant historical events that inform the way we live. Highly recommended. "

" Wow, why have I never read this author before? This was fascinating and entertaining the whole way through. Now I need to read his other books! "