At Home: A Short History of Private Life in Pick-a-Shelf

Nov 17, 2015 Marie (UK) rated it liked it

Shelves: 2016-reading-challenge

this is an unusual but interesting treatise of the development of house and home. His connections wander somewhat and we go from bedrooms to the medical treatment of disease in women. From an elucidation of vitamins and minerals through furniture making, house building and landscaping and on to mice and rats. Bryson brings up some interesting facts although i could have done without the mice, lice and rats, I am glad i read this on audio as i think i would have sped read or skipped parts otherwi ...more

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Jan 06, 2011 Stephanie rated it really liked it

Shelves: non-fiction, science, history

I quite enjoyed this book, and learned a lot of interesting - - if not particularly useful - - facts! Example: that whole thing about back when corsets were big that ladies had ribs surgically removed to decrease their waistline is a myth. Apparently the surgeons of that time wouldn't have been able to do that, plus there is no documented case of it. Lots of other stuff makes me very very glad I was born in these times and not back a hundred years ago or so.

I like the way the book was arranged ...more

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Jun 17, 2012 Rachel rated it really liked it

I enjoyed the book, I generally like Bill Bryson and microhistories that focus on one minor thing. This wasn't the best of either but it was interesting and I'd recommend it if you think you might be interested. ...more

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Jul 17, 2011 Jenny Gendel rated it it was amazing

Well worth it. Recommended by my Dad as what to listen to next in the car. I'm glad I did. I love that Bill reads his own books and has one of the best sense of humors about the subject matter he is exploring. My patient asked me why we were listening listening to Bill Bryson and I said because I found him humorous. ...more

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