book data
7,040 ratings,
3.99
average rating, 993 reviews
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published
May 15th 2001
(first published 2000)
by Broadway
binding
Paperback, 352 pages
isbn
0767903862
(isbn13: 9780767903868)
description
Also released as "Down Under."
Bill Bryson follows his Appalachian amble, A Walk in the Woods, with the story of his exploits in ...more
Bill Bryson follows his Appalachian amble, A Walk in the Woods, with the story of his exploits in ...more
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avg 3.99
editions: all | this edition
editions: all | this edition
Read in September, 2008
recommends it for:
people that yearn to see the world.
Ok! First of all I'm here to tell you that non-fiction is normally not my bag. I think I got this book because I forgot to send in the "do not send" notice in a book club. That said..... I'm soooo happy that I didn't and I "made" myself read this. OMG!!! I lost track of how many times I laughed until there were tears running down my cheeks and how many smiles and chuckles it rang out of me!
This is a book about Bryson's trips (I believe he combines a few trips to "...more
This is a book about Bryson's trips (I believe he combines a few trips to "...more
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Read in May, 2008
I developed a taste for Bill Bryson last year when I read his Short History of Nearly Everything, an ambitious attempt to trace the history of life, the universe and everything in just 574 pages. While many of the scientific discoveries outlined in the book were a little beyond me, I thoroughly enjoyed Bryson's descriptions of the larger-than-life personalities behind the discoveries, which really brought the science described to life. So when I found out that he had also written a travelogue of...more
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Read in July, 2000
Bill Bryson, In a Sunburned Country (Broadway, 2000)
I originally encountered the writing of Bill Bryson in a small article he wrote for National Geographic on the Orkney Islands a year or so ago. By the time I had finished the article, I was (and still am, to an extent) seriously considering relocating to the Orkney Islands. Well, I've now finished In a Sunburned Country, Bryson's travelogue of Australia-- and I never, ever want to go there.
Bryson gives us the world's forgott...more
I originally encountered the writing of Bill Bryson in a small article he wrote for National Geographic on the Orkney Islands a year or so ago. By the time I had finished the article, I was (and still am, to an extent) seriously considering relocating to the Orkney Islands. Well, I've now finished In a Sunburned Country, Bryson's travelogue of Australia-- and I never, ever want to go there.
Bryson gives us the world's forgott...more
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Read in June, 2008
This book is so funny, so well-written, and so interesting I couldn't stop reading it, even when I had to use a caver's headlamp and stuff my pillow into my mouth to keep from waking my family with my laughter. Bryson is a master writer, and hilarious. His tour of Australia is interesting, and he does not gloss over the "problem" of the relationship between European Australians and the Aborigines. Though I was occasionally put off by seemingly random sexist comments, I still enjoyed th...more
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Happy Bryson—book review
August 16, 2008 · No Comments
Finally finished Bill Bryson’s huge book on Australia—”In a Sunburned Country.” I started it months ago and read only a paragraph or so a day. Bryson is a happy writer and a jovial soul. I wonder that he’s not more rotund but then I haven’t seen a recent photo of him. He put the book together about ten years ago out of a number of trips he had taken to Australia.
The Chapter on Ayer’s Rock is r...more
August 16, 2008 · No Comments
Finally finished Bill Bryson’s huge book on Australia—”In a Sunburned Country.” I started it months ago and read only a paragraph or so a day. Bryson is a happy writer and a jovial soul. I wonder that he’s not more rotund but then I haven’t seen a recent photo of him. He put the book together about ten years ago out of a number of trips he had taken to Australia.
The Chapter on Ayer’s Rock is r...more
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Read in July, 2008
Like most Americans, I have never really given much thought to Australia. It's an island where the seasons are backwards, there's a famous opera house, my ex husband's ex girlfriend is expating it up there, and there are loads of gorgeous men running around shirtless, drinking Fosters and saying "No worries, mate" in a delicious Crocodile Dundee sort of accent. Nothing too exciting, right?
Wrong! Australia is fascinating, and Bill Bryson has done an excellent job of tell...more
Wrong! Australia is fascinating, and Bill Bryson has done an excellent job of tell...more
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recommends it for:
everyone, especially those planning to visit me in Australia!!
I re-read this one in preparation for my move to Australia, and, for the first time, realized that there was a good possibility that I could be eaten by a crocodile while working in the rivers here! The book also alerted me to the many other dangerous creatures and long-distance driving that have now become a normal part of my life. Oh, and he was dead on with his description of Canberra. Most boring city ever (though, surprisingly, there are good Ethiopian restaurants there. Yum!). Thanks, Bill...more
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Read in June, 2001
This was a bit disappointing considering it being a rendition of a travelogue -- my favorite genre -- of my most favorite continent ever. Bryson, generally extremely adept at mixing humorous personal narrative with informative and insightful commentary on the subject of his travels, just didn't seem to appreciate Australia enough. Or perhaps Bryson's white, overweight, middle-aged stature was just not up for the job. More damaging was his superficial treatment of race relations concerning Aust...more
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Read in May, 2009
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
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I found a recommendation for Bill Bryson on someone's list of 'funniest books I've read.' Bryson is an engaging writer; he has that Calvin Trillin, Maarten Troost-style self-deprecating humor that I enjoy so much. There were segments of this book where I was literally writhing with laughter. It is the story of Bryson's infatuation with and travels to Australia, a strange, strange place in so many ways...
Interestingly, I read this book just after attending an Art for Lunch lecture at ...more
Interestingly, I read this book just after attending an Art for Lunch lecture at ...more
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Read in May, 2009
The audio version of this book is read by the author and I had the pleasure of listening to it during almost a week’s worth of very long bike rides. He sounds remarkably like John Malkovich. I’ve had my complaints about Bryson in the past but I found this book to be a lot of fun and I found myself laughing out loud on several occasions or admiring Bryson’s deft wordplay.
I’ll admit that I knew next-to-nothing about Australia before this book. I did read Robert Hughes’ clas...more
I’ll admit that I knew next-to-nothing about Australia before this book. I did read Robert Hughes’ clas...more
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bookshelves:
australia-new-zealand,
five-star-nonfiction,
history,
nonfiction,
to-be-read-again,
travel-adventure
Read in December, 2008
recommends it for:
Everyone who knows how to read
How do I love this book? Let me count the ways...Better yet, read it for yourself and you'll discover your own reasons to love it. I honestly cannot think of one person to whom I would not recommend this book. It's fascinating, funny, and fact-filled. I'd bet even native Aussies could learn a thing or five they didn't know about their country.
Australia is an even more interesting place than I thought. Let Bill Bryson give you an entertaining and educational tour. He researched m...more
Australia is an even more interesting place than I thought. Let Bill Bryson give you an entertaining and educational tour. He researched m...more
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2 comments
My favorite Bryson book so far. I was reading this book in bed and scared the crap out of my dog. I was laughing so hard, tears streaming down my face and kicking my legs. My dog had no idea what was going on. I re-read my favorite chapter in the book in the London airport and had to restrain myself from not rolling on the ground. In the UK the book goes by the title "Down Under."
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Read in March, 2009
I'm going to quit making sweeping statements about they genres of books I like because each time I declare that I don't care for fantasy or travelogues, I find myself up until five a.m. reading the Twilight series or laughing hysterically at Bill Bryson's In a Sunburned Country.
This guy can write from the depths of his lilly white, Yankee toes. He is a skilled humorist who captures Australia and his experiences with exacting language and wit. Although this is an entertaining read...more
This guy can write from the depths of his lilly white, Yankee toes. He is a skilled humorist who captures Australia and his experiences with exacting language and wit. Although this is an entertaining read...more
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recommended to Teagan by:
Mom
recommends it for: anyone with a sense of humour, people who like Australia
recommends it for: anyone with a sense of humour, people who like Australia
Such a wonderful book. It's technically a travel book, but Bill Bryson looks at everything with wit and humour, including the many and various toxic creatures of Australia, riptides, crocodiles, and desert.
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Read in January, 2009
I just finished a 350 page book about the dangers, wonders and comedy of the forgotten country of Australia. It's by the author of "The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid" which I enjoyed reading, but doesn't hold a candle to "In a Sunburned Country." I've always looked for a book that combines enough comedy, with the right amount of information without being daunting and overwhelming. I found that in this book.
I found myself being so intrigued by the subject m...more
I found myself being so intrigued by the subject m...more
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Read in October, 2008
Bill Bryson is a wonderful writer. I found myself laughing out loud at some of his stories and perspectives. I appreciate his natural curiosity and the amount of research he seems to do for his books. He gives a well-balanced account of the history of a place and his perspective on it. You don't get the feeling that you're reading a travel guide when you read this book, but you come away with a strong desire to visit the places he's been and an understanding deeper than you would get from a ...more
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Read in February, 2009
Despite never having been to Australia, and it being fairly unlikely I'll go there any time soon, I have read this book a number of times in the past few years. Bryson is such a great writer, and really transmits his likes and dislikes about a place well. One thing I like in particular is that he doesn't stay with the well-traveled tourist places, but instead seeks out off the beaten path things to see, sometimes missing the standard stuff entirely. He also has a wry, sarcastic sense of humor, a...more
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Read in January, 2004
recommends it for:
People wanting to visit Australia
Some parts of this book are admittedly less interesting than others, but I will always love it for the fact that it records the true horror of our native species ;)
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Pretty good, though not my favorite of Bryson's travel books. Maybe I've just read too many in a row? For a writer of his skill, I found far too many sections ending with some variation of "I couldn't wait to see more," or "Trust me, this is an interesting place." Honestly, Australia is home to wallabies, platypus, kangaroos, and Uluru (Ayers Rock); I don't need encouragement to be convinced that it's a continent worth exploring.
Still, he relates some hysterical expe...more
Still, he relates some hysterical expe...more
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Vote for a June Book! The Category is Travel. Thank you for voting!
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quotes from this book
"It is not true that the English invented cricket as a way of making all other human endeavors look interesting and lively; that was merely an unintended side effect. ...It is the only sport that incorporates meal breaks. It is the only sport that shares its name with an insect. It is the only sport in which spectators burn as many calories as the players-more if they are moderately restless."
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