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At Home: A Short History of Private Life
- Narrated by: Bill Bryson
- Length: 16 hrs and 32 mins
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Overall
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Editorial reviews
Publisher's Summary
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.
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What listeners say about At Home: A Short History of Private Life
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- Lina
- 11-08-2018
Good listening
Good listening as most of Bill Bryson's books. Enlightening and entertaining. A goid picture of life tgrough the ages.
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- Tom
- 01-04-2016
Witty and Exceptionally Informative
What did you like most about At Home: A Short History of Private Life?
Using a the simple premise of a his own abode Bill Bryson guides the reader through a compelling history of private with rigorous detail. Bryson's book covers numerous subjects including the curious habits of Victorian era Brits all the way to the great architectural and engineering marvels that have made society what it is today.
What about Bill Bryson’s performance did you like?
The voicing is clear and easy to listen to and retains the comedic timing that one might hear in their own mind while reading a Bryson book.
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- Mark G
- 22-03-2021
I'll be listening to this one again
Bryson takes you around his own home in England and as he walks from room to room, tells you how the room, how it is used, the name it is given etc have developed over the years. Fascinating stuff - I'll be listening to this one again for sure.
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- Debra Marshall
- 30-01-2022
another great book from Bill
Bill Bryson once again making me happy with a book full of charming stories & facts.
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- Anonymous User
- 15-04-2022
fascinating and well read
witty and informative.
beautifully read by the author.
a wealth of little known facts about early domesticity.
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- Robert
- 27-04-2022
A likeable lesson
This book, and the narrator, convey a lot of information in a very interesting way. Very enjoyable, if you like history.
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- Andrew Dettrick
- 31-12-2022
Wonderful insight
Wonderfully entertaining writing. Pure Bryson. thoroughly enjoyed it. The reading is a bit flat though.
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- Amy Clare
- 02-01-2023
Entertaining and informative
Easy to listen to. So many great facts and very witty. I would listen again. Recommend to any one who likes history.
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- Alan J. Couch
- 18-03-2023
Making the mundane fascinating
Fantastic listen. I wished it was longer. Bryson knows how to make anything come to life.
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- Anonymous User
- 12-10-2023
Engaging, and wonderfully informative
This book explores, history, people events and our connection to them. Bill Bryson is an incredible writer - this book is so informative, engaging, entertaining and well-written. It flows seemingly effortlessly and yet is so astoundingly detailed that you can only wonder at his talent, intellect and the immense research that went into making this book.
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