Bryson hits another Home Run

I've long been a fan of Bill Bryson's books and this latest release continues to raise the bar on his fellow writers. At once engaging and informative Bryson connects with the listener from the outset and the pace never flags. With characters such as Babe Ruth, Al Capone, Woodrow Wilson, Jack Dempsey and, of course, Charles Lindburgh the narrative guides the listener through what was a golden time in America's history.

The book looks at a wealth of topics from aviation, sport, politics, prohibition and the rise of the movies. I was particularly interested in the sections about the Anarchists who sent parcel bombs to leading political and authority figures. One failed to go off so the police thought it would be a good idea to take it back to the station for further investigation, where it promptly exploded, killing ten officers and some members of the public.

An excellent,informative book and like all of Bryson's work, worthy of repeated listenings. I almost wish I had a road trip coming up as this would be the perfect accompaniment

Highly recommended

28 people found this helpful

Bored by all the hours about baseball

I’ve greatly enjoyed previous books by the author and was looking forward to another treat. The early chapters made me think I was in for a 5 star listen, however as the book progressed I found that there was far too much about baseball the nadir of which was at least an hour of the recording devoted to performance statistics of baseball players of the 1920s. After yet another lengthy, tedious section about baseball, I thereafter fast-forwarded the recording when he started on the topic yet again until the subject changed. I had to do this several times. Why Bill Byrson thought that most of his readers/listeners would be interested in the fine details of baseball games played in the 1920s is beyond me. I found the other topics in the book, that were tied in time to the summer of 1927, interesting, but I was disappointed by the book. I also felt that it lacked the wry humour that enlivens his other books.

The author’s narration is competent with out being memorable, but the periods of boredom may have given me a jaundiced view.

48 people found this helpful

A fancinating examination of one summer in America

What did you like most about One Summer?
Bryson's ability to turn up the most unusual facts and stories and combine them into a portrait of a nation. It gives a detailed snapshot of the landscape, the people their lives and the changes their society was undergoing. Bryson's research has allowed him to deftly draw them into a collection of threads that come together in a vivid sense of what America was in 1927.

What other book might you compare One Summer to, and why?
This is similar to Bryson's other non-fiction books - A Walk in the Woods and a Short History of Nearly Everything in that we are presented with Bryson's amiable wandering through a subject. However this isn't about him as such, it's a reflection of what he was interested in his subject.

What about Bill Bryson’s performance did you like?
The clear animation in his voice - at times you could hear him smiling as he read or shaking his head in disbelief with you. Bryson enjoys a relaxed easy style that eats up the hours and is the perfect accompaniment to a long drive, cooking a meal or doing the washing up.

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?
Could you film this? Better to imagine it I think - let it live in your mind's eye.

Any additional comments?
The only reason I deducted 1 star from the overall score was that in a very few places it probably paid to actually be an American (understanding baseball in detail and the odd reference). However do not let this put you off the wonderfully animated journey the book takes you on. I laughed out loud several times while listening - even when commuting on the train.

I recommend it wholeheartedly.

16 people found this helpful

Bill Bryson Does It Again

Bill Bryson has a clever way of making everything interesting. Even subjects I'm not normally bothered about. He has a fantastic dry wit and an entertaining way of putting things across. He's one of those rare authors I'd actually like to meet and have a cuppa with. Also, I normally hate it when the author reads their own work, but I must say I enjoy his laid-back tone and his unique accent - USA/UK. Well done, Bill. Great work. Can't wait to see what you've got to show us next.

11 people found this helpful

Baseball and biplanes

If this book wasn’t for you, who do you think might enjoy it more?

Not one of Bill's best and if you don't have any interest in baseball or early aviation (which I don't) then it's a bit of a slog. For those that do, good luck.

What will your next listen be?

Back to a thriller, something with a bit of pace hopefully

Would you be willing to try another one of Bill Bryson’s performances?

Perhaps on a better book

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from One Summer?

Heavily edit the baseball tales especially all the scores which while no doubt impressive if you aren't into that, and for the casual listenner, it was painful.

Any additional comments?

No

19 people found this helpful

Bill Bryson makes prohibition America interesting

Would you listen to One Summer again? Why?

Yes. This is a cornucopia of loosely connected facts most unfamiliar to an English audience. At last baseball is interesting, the aviation air races understandable and prohibition America now seen in a context where it (almost) makes sense. It was all fascinating.

Which character – as performed by Bill Bryson – was your favourite?

Babe Ruth

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Prohibition America as it really was.

Any additional comments?

It took a minute or two to tune into Bill's voice but his reading was wonderful.

7 people found this helpful

Hold on to your seats for one heck of a ride...

Bryson has selected a period of about six months (April to September) in one year (1927) when the most remarkable events and people in the USA intersected. He is a master story teller and traces the history and personalities of his “actors” without ever reverting to a catalogue of dates or achievements.

It was one heck of a year: Babe Ruth, Charles Lindbergh, Herbert Hoover, Al Capone, Talking pictures, prohibition, Saco and Vanzetti, Mount Rushmore and a handful or murderers all had their moment in the sun – and this is not a complete list.
It was a perfect moment in time - after the war and before the depression. It was an instant when the height of 1920s excess clashed with the depths of conservative USA reaction. All in all, a remarkable year.

Bryson revels in this type of book – he dredges up little-known facts and sketches his characters as larger-than-life figures (or not). The “story” never lags and his sense of hyperbole keeps the reader riveted. How about this as a sample of the irrelevant but interesting snippets which litter to book: The morning after Lindbergh’s triumphant landing in Paris the authorities collected over a ton of lost property at the airfield (following the frenzied reception by the French). There are many more. Some of the actions, decisions and statements are almost inconceivable. The fact, for example, that Al Capone paid wages of almost $700,000 every week – to crooked cops in Chicago.

I guess there were other summers which held as many significant occurrences (probably very few) but I wonder if it is an accident that exactly 40 years later the summer of love would again yield a treasure trove of events and personalities. I’m hoping Bryson is busy on this book already: 1967 Another Summer.

I really wish publishers would stop using authors to read books. I have said this so often. Bill is a great writer and he is one of my favourites. His diction is poor and his reading style is rushed and unprofessional. PLEASE USE ACTORS to read and writers to write.

10 people found this helpful

Professionals please!

How did the narrator detract from the book?

Bill Bryson is a very fine author......he is not a professional narrator. I found his voice to be thin and without the required authority and expression of a trained actor or experienced reader. A very good book lacking a very good narrator!

21 people found this helpful

Great - if you like lots of baseball data

Some parts of this history were really interesting but others were deathly boring. I really like Bill Bryson's books but this had way too many baseball figures. Also, I'm sorry Bill but your performance was boring. It also sounded like the sound engineers had cut and pasted different versions mid sentence sometimes. A great book to fall asleep to.

3 people found this helpful

Bill Bryson a joy as always!

Great to hear Bill Bryson read his own work, the content as always with him teaches you things you didn't know about events or places you thought you knew. Has made a drive to Nuremberg from the UK a pleasure, looking forward to the second half on the return leg!

6 people found this helpful