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Made in America Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

Bill Bryson (Author), William Roberts (Narrator), Audible Studios (Publisher)
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 2,215 ratings
See all formats and editions
In Made in America, Bryson de-mythologizes his native land, explaining how a dusty hamlet with neither woods nor holly became Hollywood, how the Wild West wasn't won, why Americans say 'lootenant' and 'Toosday', how Americans were eating junk food long before the word itself was cooked up, as well as exposing the true origins of the G-string, the original $64,000 question, and Dr Kellogg of cornflakes fame.
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  1. Listening Length
    18 hours and 10 minutes
  2. Author
    Bill Bryson
  3. Narrator
    William Roberts
  4. Audible release date
    January 16, 2006
  5. Language
    English
  6. Publisher
    Audible Studios
  7. ASIN
    B000E6G928
  8. Version
    Unabridged
  9. Program Type
    Audiobook
  10. See all details
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Product details

Listening Length 18 hours and 10 minutes
Author Bill Bryson
Narrator William Roberts
Audible.com Release Date January 16, 2006
Publisher Audible Studios
Program Type Audiobook
Version Unabridged
Language English
ASIN B000E6G928
Best Sellers Rank #10,215 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals)
#12 in Travel Pictorial Reference Books
#16 in Travel Writing & Commentary
#27 in Linguistics Reference

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
2,215 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book informative and interesting. They describe it as a wonderful, enjoyable read with humor and wit. Readers appreciate the author's writing style and find the history fascinating. The book is described as a great read by a brilliant writer.

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Information qualityReadabilityHumorLanguageHistoryAuthorPacing
116 customers mention "Information quality"113 positive3 negative

Customers find the book informative and interesting. They appreciate the author's choice of topics and his entertaining, readable style. The book provides good information on how Americanized English came about and includes trivia about the US. Readers are enlightened and expand their knowledge base after reading it.

"This book, full of fascinating facts and details, is a great way to learn about American history...." Read more

"...Bill Bryson is a writer, a storyteller, and man of wide interests who can churn out charming, remarkably well researched books at a satisfying rate...." Read more

"...It's mostly about fascinating, usually funny, historical anecdotes, with just a dash of English language thrown in...." Read more

"Bryson can make a bowl of jello as interesting and fascinating as any subject.. one of my all time favorite writers...." Read more

106 customers mention "Readability"95 positive11 negative

Customers find the book enjoyable and educational. They say it's well-researched, a good read for history buffs and those interested in the evolution of English. Readers say Bryson is always good.

"...If your expectations are reasonable, this book is a pleasure and I suspect you will pick it up later, from time to time, to remind yourself of the..." Read more

"...I'm very glad I eventually found it, because it's wonderful...." Read more

"I enjoyed reading this book and found many of his insights interesting. He has a droll sense of humor which added to the content...." Read more

"...Bryson doesn't disappoint in this follow-up to the brilliant, amazing (and one my favorite books ever) The Mother Tongue...." Read more

88 customers mention "Humor"88 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's humor. They mention it's informative and interesting, with wit and hearty laughs along the way. Readers appreciate the author's amusing way of wording things and the fun read.

"...Bryson's prose is intelligent and entertaining." Read more

"...history and points out the bits that interest him most, and makes it enjoyable, entertaining and even educational...." Read more

"...It's mostly about fascinating, usually funny, historical anecdotes, with just a dash of English language thrown in...." Read more

"...He has a droll sense of humor which added to the content. He did ramble a lot and some of the subject matter seemed unrelated...." Read more

68 customers mention "Language"54 positive14 negative

Customers find the book's language readable and informative. They appreciate the author's style and say it's a fun excursion through the evolution of American English.

"...It's easy to read a bit at a time, so just opening it up is not a commitment. Bryson's prose is intelligent and entertaining." Read more

"...usually funny, historical anecdotes, with just a dash of English language thrown in...." Read more

"...Well worth the time reading." Read more

"...Bryson tells a fascinating story, and a brilliant linguistic one. I loved this book. So full of fascinating goodies...." Read more

60 customers mention "History"60 positive0 negative

Customers find the book interesting and engaging. They appreciate the historical facts, trivia, cultural and technological context, and the history of American English. The book debunks myths about our past while covering a wide variety of topics from early times.

"...Bill Bryson is a writer, a storyteller, and man of wide interests who can churn out charming, remarkably well researched books at a satisfying rate...." Read more

"...It's mostly about fascinating, usually funny, historical anecdotes, with just a dash of English language thrown in...." Read more

"...to tell a fascinating historical, sociological, psychological, and cultural story, from America's beginnings with the blending of English and native..." Read more

"...n't some dry, clinical, (boring) scholarly study; it's fun, conversational-style tale of how a brand new country absorbed, confiscated, and..." Read more

19 customers mention "Author"19 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the author's writing style. They find his prose intelligent and entertaining, with great information. The author is described as brilliant, a terrific researcher, and a masterful essay writer. Readers enjoy reading and listening to Bryson's books.

"...Bryson's prose is intelligent and entertaining." Read more

"...and man of wide interests who can churn out charming, remarkably well researched books at a satisfying rate...." Read more

"...History..." would be a good place to become addicted to this extraordinary author." Read more

"This is the second time that I have read Bill Bryson's masterful essay, documenting the major influences in American history and how these events..." Read more

14 customers mention "Pacing"11 positive3 negative

Customers find the book's pacing good. It flows smoothly, with plenty of conversation points and great mind food. They say it's informative while being a quick and humorous read.

"...who can churn out charming, remarkably well researched books at a satisfying rate...." Read more

"...He seems to write faster than I can read. But I'm discovering his history of chronicles and I will catch up.." Read more

""The American was good natured, generous, hospitable and sociable, and he reversed the whole of language to make the term 'stranger' one of welcome...." Read more

"...Bryson's humor amongst the facts, but this one is pretty heavy and slow reading." Read more

Fun, interesting, Bryson
4 out of 5 stars
Fun, interesting, Bryson
This is a fun book. An overview of American history with an eye (or ear?) towards the origins of familiar words and phrases as well as some once popular words that have been forgotten.This isn't some dry, clinical, (boring) scholarly study; it's fun, conversational-style tale of how a brand new country absorbed, confiscated, and assimilated words and phrases from other languages to form it's very own.Great fun. Highly informative. Bill Bryson has done it again!
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Yuri Sobol
    5.0 out of 5 stars Very Interesting and Entrtaining
    Reviewed in the United States on June 26, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    This book, full of fascinating facts and details, is a great way to learn about American history. It's easy to read a bit at a time, so just opening it up is not a commitment. Bryson's prose is intelligent and entertaining.
    One person found this helpful
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  • A. Anderson
    4.0 out of 5 stars A knowledgeable conversation about the language
    Reviewed in the United States on May 10, 2008
    Verified Purchase
    Pardon me while I whine a bit, but the reviewers who complain that the book lacks scholarship and similar pedantic complaints have missed the point. Bill Bryson is a writer, a storyteller, and man of wide interests who can churn out charming, remarkably well researched books at a satisfying rate. Like his History of Everything (the "history" of science), The Informal History of American English is not a textbook, not complete and not intended for a serious study of the language. It makes the point that language is evolutionary, a flexible, variable tool that, in America, probably has had a broader range of lasting influences than most languages, and those influences reflect American society. If you are a reader and like words and their derivations, this is dessert--fully satisfying but not the complete meal. He prefers the words and sayings that have good stories about them, and his 20 years of living in England are reflected in is often wry, dryly witty take on the facts. It is occasionally laugh out loud, has any number of chuckles and is interesting throughout. He writes easily and occasionally reflects some real depth in his efforts. He relies perhaps a bit too much on Mencken's research, but then they share a world view and sense of humor. Originally a travel writer, he takes a trip through American history and points out the bits that interest him most, and makes it enjoyable, entertaining and even educational. Like a conversation, the book sometimes wanders off topic to charming or ironic side note, but he always returns to the main road. If your expectations are reasonable, this book is a pleasure and I suspect you will pick it up later, from time to time, to remind yourself of the story or circumstances behind the way we speak or just to get a moment of intelligent wit. I gave it 4, instead of 5, stars because he could have written more, because it needs a little editing and because despite an impressive bibliography, a bit of the philosophy of language development would not have gone amiss. But for a pleasurable read on an interesting topic for the dilettante (history of the word dilettante is in the book), this is a good buy.
    26 people found this helpful
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  • Eric DiPier
    5.0 out of 5 stars Classic Bill Bryson
    Reviewed in the United States on August 18, 2019
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    Somehow, I missed this book, even after discovering Bill Bryson and reading all of his other works. I'm very glad I eventually found it, because it's wonderful. The title is a little bit misleading, because it's really only partly about the English language. It's mostly about fascinating, usually funny, historical anecdotes, with just a dash of English language thrown in. There are several points in the book where you're just reading about history for page after page -- written in the classic Bill Bryson style, so much less dull than it would otherwise be -- with seemingly no connection to language. Then after three or four pages, he makes the connection to a single word. And then he dashes off to another series of historical events.

    I'd say this is a can't-miss for any Bryson fans, and a great place to start if you're interested in the author but have not experienced his writing yet.
    21 people found this helpful
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  • Ralph Douglas
    5.0 out of 5 stars The most interesting useless information!
    Reviewed in the United States on July 14, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Bryson can make a bowl of jello as interesting and fascinating as any subject.. one of my all time favorite writers.
    If I had teachers like Bill Bryson growing up,
    I’m sure my life would have been changed significantly for the better. He seems to write faster than I can read. But I'm discovering his history of chronicles and I will catch up..
    One person found this helpful
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  • Kindle Customer
    3.0 out of 5 stars Disappointed by last chapter
    Reviewed in the United States on March 29, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Overall, I found this book very interesting. It is a bit difficult to read all at once, and I found it was easier to retain all of the information if I read it in smaller chunks in between other books. I was deeply disappointed, however, that the author felt the need to equate religious beliefs with a lack of education in the final chapter. Unlike other statements in the book, this statement is unsupported by any type of data and is nothing more than the author's opinion. I suspect if similar comments had been made about other religious systems, the editors would have flagged them as inappropriate.
    One person found this helpful
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  • mailer
    4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting read, but a bit rambling
    Reviewed in the United States on December 19, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    I enjoyed reading this book and found many of his insights interesting. He has a droll sense of humor which added to the content. He did ramble a lot and some of the subject matter seemed unrelated.
    The other problem I had is that parts of the book seem outdated with the current historical and political atmosphere. Some of our politicians would be well advised to read his last two chapters.
    Well worth the time reading.
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  • David F Tambling
    5.0 out of 5 stars Very Humorous
    Reviewed in the United States on November 21, 2024
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    Bill Bryson books are always a fun read.
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  • Kelsey May Dangelo
    5.0 out of 5 stars Another great read from Bill Bryson!
    Reviewed in the United States on October 9, 2010
    Verified Purchase
    "The American was good natured, generous, hospitable and sociable, and he reversed the whole of language to make the term 'stranger' one of welcome."--Henry Steele Commager

    Whenever I am reading Bill Bryson, I am compelled to talk about it incessantly. So, I'm sure it was a long few weeks for my friends and family. Bryson doesn't disappoint in this follow-up to the brilliant, amazing (and one my favorite books ever) The Mother Tongue. Made in America basically tells the history of the United States, using its unique take on the English language as the medium by which to tell a fascinating historical, sociological, psychological, and cultural story, from America's beginnings with the blending of English and native languages that created a poetry of nomenclature, to the immigrant contribution to vocabulary, to the inventive spirit of business and machines that influence linguistics. Americans use English differently, different clichés, different vocabulary, different prose and style, and have contributed greatly to language. Bryson tells a fascinating story, and a brilliant linguistic one. I loved this book. So full of fascinating goodies. Thanks again for another great read, Bill! Grade: A
    10 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • RAGHU RAO H R
    5.0 out of 5 stars American English words and phrases
    Reviewed in India on October 14, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    A most enlightening account the American history with emphasis on the evolution of words. Entertaining too.
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  • MBeyeline
    5.0 out of 5 stars Libro spesso, ben scritto, umoristico
    Reviewed in Italy on May 1, 2021
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    Bill Bryson, come sempre, oltre le aspettative. Ho imparato la storia degli Stati Uniti, come hanno deciso la lingua, chi ha scritto i primi documenti, come hanno combattuto per il nome di presidente, come si divertivano ai tempi, e mille altre cose solo perché Bill sa presentare l'informazione fattuale in un modo molto umoristico. Consiglio il libro solo per chi è fluente col Inglese.
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    MBeyeline
    5.0 out of 5 stars Libro spesso, ben scritto, umoristico
    Reviewed in Italy on May 1, 2021
    Bill Bryson, come sempre, oltre le aspettative. Ho imparato la storia degli Stati Uniti, come hanno deciso la lingua, chi ha scritto i primi documenti, come hanno combattuto per il nome di presidente, come si divertivano ai tempi, e mille altre cose solo perché Bill sa presentare l'informazione fattuale in un modo molto umoristico. Consiglio il libro solo per chi è fluente col Inglese.
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  • Rob Hunt
    5.0 out of 5 stars Muy bien
    Reviewed in Spain on October 4, 2020
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    Muy bien
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  • michael davis
    5.0 out of 5 stars If its written by Bill Bryson, buy it.
    Reviewed in Canada on May 21, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Extraordinary history of America and American english. Amazingly well written, researched and humorously presented. I have all his books: I don't know of a more entertaining, informative or engaging writer.
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  • Charys Schuler
    5.0 out of 5 stars Bill Bryson: humor, interesting facts, and a voice of reason relevant to today's issues
    Reviewed in Germany on September 27, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    I'm a lover of language, so it doesn't get much better for me than a gifted non - fiction writer writing about my native language. Far from being a dry study of linguistics, it's a laugh-out-loud collection of anecdotes spanning centuries of cultural development. I always get to the end of a Bryson book thinking, "I MUST remember this, that, and the other piece of information!" Unfortunately, my inner filing system is over-filled with extraordinarily interesting trivia so that I can rarely trot out the appropriate bits at the appropriate moment. But it has the advantage that I can reread this book every few years and be amazed and entertained as if for the first time.
    Although some of the information is slightly out of date, it remains astonishingly pertinent. His call for inclusion and evolution in culture as well as language resonates powerfully in today's climate of suspicion and entrenched opinions.
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