At Home: A Short History of Private Life Audiobook By Bill Bryson cover art

At Home: A Short History of Private Life

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At Home: A Short History of Private Life

By: Bill Bryson
Narrated by: Bill Bryson
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About this listen

Here is Bill Bryson’s entertaining and illuminating book about the history of the way we live - complete, unabridged and read by the author.

Bill Bryson was struck one day by the thought that we devote more time to studying the battles and wars of history than to considering what history really consists of: centuries of people quietly going about their daily business. This inspired him to start a journey around his own house, an old rectory in Norfolk, considering how the ordinary things in life came to be. Along the way, he researched the history of anything and everything, from architecture to electricity, from food preservation to epidemics, from the spice trade to the Eiffel Tower, from crinolines to toilets. And he discovered that there is a huge amount of history, interest and excitement - and even a little danger - lurking in the corners of every home.

Where A Short History of Nearly Everything was a sweeping panorama of the world, the universe and everything, At Home peers at private life through a microscope. Bryson applies the same irrepressible curiosity, irresistible wit, stylish prose, and masterful storytelling that made A Short History of Nearly Everything one of the most lauded books of the last decade.

©2010 Bill Bryson (P)2014 Audible, Inc.
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Editorial reviews

A tremendous look at the very dense but often overlooked history of ordinary, everyday life can be found in the brilliant audiobook At Home: A Short History of Private Life, written and narrated by award-winning and appraised author Bill Bryson. This book delivers the perfect combination of lighthearted entertainment and thoroughly researched facts. Bryson’s beautifully constructed prose brings even the most seemingly insignificant of household items to an entirely exciting front. Listeners will find themselves gazing far more closely and with much more appreciation at the small items that make up much of their daily life. Available now from Audible.
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Once again, Bill has provided an interesting, humourous, compelling overview of the things we all take for granted. Spoken in his easy-listening mid-western accent, he's a pleasure to listen to again and again and again.

As usual, very entertaining

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Bill Bryson has an ability to make you see everything from your everyday life in a new light. Everything is different, more interesting, more meaningful, and often not as innosent as you may have always believed! 'At Home' is thouroughly enjoyable and read perfectly by Mr Bryson, himself. I cannot wait for his next work of art!

Bill Bryson is a Legend

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I thoroughly enjoyed listening to the author read this book. It’s a compelling, fascinating history of ordinary life and full of wonderful trivia.

Fascinating

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Bryson has a way of telling his story like you're chatting over a glass of red wine. All the facts are really interesting and you get a great variety of different pieces of history in one book.

It's not often that you get a writer that can actually read too, so I have to say; well done!
I'm off to find another Bryson book!

Fascinating!

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The trivial nature of this book wad right up my alley. If you like finding out about both the history of words and also where everyday objects came from this is the book for you. I am an unabashed Bryson fan, and he has used one of the techniques which makes him such a good travel writer (weaving 'trivial', but fascinating facts throughout a story) to create this book - it is really good.

right up my alley

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Fascinating knowledge and profound insights. Felt somewhat overwhelmed by ordure and contaminated repellent food, sorry

HOME ; Beautifully written and read

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I throughly enjoyed this book, and highly recommended it. Full of many interesting, well researched daily facts and background.

Throughly Enjoyed

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I have read a few reviews of other Bill Bryson books where they say that they don't like the fact that he isn't narrating. However, I disagree. I am sorry Mr. Bryson if you're reading this as I love your work but I can't handle the narration due to the accent. Don't get me wrong, you'll love the book anyway but I'd have preferred another narrator. This book is great and well worth a credit so buy it.

This says optional but it obviously isn't... grrr

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Every story is fascinating and told with enthusiasm. To hear it in the author voice is such a privilege.

The narrative forms in which Bill weaves history, is exquisite!

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I've listened to "a short history of nearly everything" before and I enjoyed "at home" just as much. It's great for listening to in short bursts as each chapter doesn't rely on the previous one, but is explained in such a way that listening for a longer period isn't overwhelming. I can see myself listening to this again as there is no way I will be able to remember all of it after one reading and I think it would be just as enjoyable a second time around. Bill Bryson is a fantastic reader, really drawing you into his superb writing. I couldn't recommend this more.

Best use of a credit

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