Made in America

By: Bill Bryson

Narrated by: William Roberts

In Made in America, Bryson de-mythologizes his native land, explaining how a dusty hamlet with neither woods nor holly became Hollywood, how the Wild West wasn't won, why Americans say 'lootenant' and 'Toosday', how Americans were eating junk food long before the word itself was cooked up, as well as exposing the true origins of the G-string, the original $64,000 question, and Dr Kellogg of cornflakes fame.©1994 Bill Bryson (P)2014 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Bryson offers a playfully anecdotal account of the etymology of distinctive words and phrases that help to create a distinctly American English." ( Publishers Weekly)
"A treat....Filled with surprises....A literate exploration of why we use, or mangle, our native tongue." ( USA Today)

The reader ruins it

I’ve given up part way through because I can’t bear the reader’s voice. He sounds like a 1950s radio announcer and it’s just plain difficult to listen to. The story has promise, so I think this may be one I return to in print form when I have time.

Loud

I prefer when Bryson reads his own work. William Roberts basically shouts the entire thing. He’s enthusiastic and his pronunciation is good, but holy cow, turn your volume WAY down.

Good book

I am fond of this book. It is well written and well read. Thank you book.

Seemingly mundane topic, nonetheless… captivating.

Bill Bryson has the unmatched ability to turn a seemingly unexceptional topic into an enthralling narrative. Sure, the spellings and pronunciations were a bit tedious at times, but not nearly enough so as to take away from my enjoyment of this book. The narrator, while not Bryson himself, performed admirably, waltzing through wacky words without end. Bryson combined ‘history’ with the stories of the people that made it in a way such that it entertained more like fiction than factual information, and most importantly, left me hungry for more.

Geat Stories, Great Narration

I loved this book. For the life of me I can't understand the distress people on here display for the narrator. William Roberts is a magnificent narrator. The book is magnificent also. This is my second Bill Bryson book and I can't wait for the next one.