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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. Thought-Provoking Funny Witty Suspenseful Imperialism War

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Editor 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.
All stars
Most relevant  
Bryson does it again weaving a merry path of fact upon fact upon fact as he takes us on a tour around the origins of the home. If you like interesting general and not so general knowledge and are interested in the way we are, where we are from and how we came to develop ideas then you should listen to this. Its like throwing open an encyclopaedia and exploring and researching thread after thread of information. Absorbing!!

Outstanding

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A joy to hear Bryson's wit with his own timing and tempo. His softened American accent, while in truth is not best suited for narration, is more than made up for in the delivery of his material as intended.

The book itself is a eclectic mash up of researched social history, distilled into portions with both alarming amount of fact and entertainment. Each chapter is never too long or tedious, and the variety of information is huge. This book (and Bryson's others) have kept me in dinner party conversation for the last year.

Great Book, Great Delivery!

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if you want to know the history and origins of most of the rooms in your house... along with Bill's amazing depth and attention to detail, all narrated in a dry, easy to listen to style... you'll enjoy this as much as I did.

loved it! fascinating British history

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I have read and listened with equal enthusiasm to almost all of Bill Bryson's books. However although this book is an excellent read it is not an equally excellent listen. The previous titles, read by William Roberts, were fabulous to listen to. This one however is not In the same league. Please keep writing fabulous books but perhaps give William Roberts his job back - he was rather excellent!

Author/ Narrator

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What made the experience of listening to At Home: A Short History of Private Life the most enjoyable?

I have always meant to read or listen to Bill Bryson's "A Short History of nearly Everything" and it has been on my wish list several months, but this book "A Short History of Private Life" was offered by Audible at reduced rate so i chose it - the book has filled me up with so much information that I have deleted his history book on ".....Nearly verything".A few months ago I listen to BB's book "A walk in the woods" which I enjoyed much more than this list of facts. Whether I every listen to another of his books - at present I don't think so, but my opinion my change .....

Would you recommend At Home: A Short History of Private Life to your friends? Why or why not?

no, see above

Have you listened to any of Bill Bryson’s other performances? How does this one compare?

Yes, see above

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

NO

Any additional comments?

See Above !

Astonishingly full of Facts !

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I loved this audio book. Perfect accompaniment to running, driving, just about anything. Bill Bryson reads beautifully - pace and tone are spot on. His wry humour shines through in both his writing and his speaking. The book really is a fascinating look at so much of our relatively close history. It also is a reminder of how incredibly lucky we are to live in today's world. That said, his last few comments are a pointed comment at the challenges which now lie ahead of us.

Halfway through this, after a glass of wine, I went a little mad and bought four more Bryson's, read by Bryson - and was mortified then to find they were abridged. Audible kindly let me make an immediate swap for the unabridged versions - though I am disappointed that they are not narrated by Mr. B himself. Still I am sure that William Roberts will be excellent and I'll soon settle in to it.

Wonderfully interesting & entertaining

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Packed with lots of interesting facts and cleverly linked back to a journey though the author's home. Highly recommended.

Loved this book

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Another great book narrated by the man himself which gives great personal touch.
I love his History of Nearly Everything but find the subjects hard going at times due to its scientific nature. This book is a much easier listen. Another insight into history with great personality. It brings history to life and leaves you very great full to be living comfortably in the 21st century full sanitary ware for you private convenience and not pissing in vases and wiping your bum with a well used sponge on a stick.

Favourite Bryson Book!

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just love this book!... and so good to have the man himself reading! such an inspiration..

so nice to have the man himself reading!

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full of facts and interesting stories. a great listen like usual fro. Mr Bryson

very enlightening

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