The Lost Continent

Travels In Small Town America

By: Bill Bryson

Narrated by: William Roberts

Hardly anyone ever leaves Des Moines, Iowa. But Bill Bryson did, and after 10 years in England he decided to go home, to a foreign country.

In an ageing Chevrolet Chevette, he drove nearly 14,000 miles through 38 states to compile this hilarious and perceptive state-of-the-nation report on small-town America.

From the Deep South to the Wild West, from Elvis' birthplace through to Custer's Last Stand, Bryson visits places he re-named Dullard, Coma, and Doldrum (so the residents don't sue or come after him with baseball bats). But his hopes of finding the American dream end in a nightmare of greed, ignorance, and pollution. This is a wickedly witty and savagely funny assessment of a country lost to itself, and to him.

©1989 Bill Bryson (P)2014 Audible, Inc.

Bill should always read his own books

Would you try another book from Bill Bryson and/or William Roberts?

Yes. I read all of Bill Bryson's books.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Bill.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of William Roberts?

Bill Bryson

Any additional comments?

Bill has always done a great job narrating his books. This book suffered for not having him do it. His voice adds so much to the experience. There is a tone to his work that is just difficult for anyone else to pull off. While William Roberts made a good attempt, without Bill giving his unique interpretation of his text, this book came off sounding like a long rant. He complained about just about everything he saw and everyone he met. The narrator did not come off as a likable character. Instead, he just sounded arrogant and snarky. That's too bad, because I can just imagine Bill putting just the right subtle spin on the text to keep it from sounding that way. I hope he will narrate his other books in the future. He is great at it.

Fun and mostly accurate.

Very fun to listen to. Good and slightly snarky review of small town America today. He obviously is a Democrat, but I won’t hold that against him. Good read.

Snarky and Fun

Different than other Bill Bryson books - much more bitting style of humor. But, this was one of his earlier books. Very entertaining nonetheless.

a little dated

what was classic Bryson 20 years ago suffers today but is still funny. So he doesnt narrate it - get over it

I'm Sorry

The concept sounded interesting. That's where it ends. Yes, there are humorous sections to the book, but for the most part it does not hold my attention. The major over all feeling I got was that he doesn't like the South.