Exploring Small-Town America: A Journey Through the Lost Continent

Amazon Customer: Not quite as good as his Australian adventures nor his English escapades, nevertheless Bill Bryson's return to the land of his birth gives rise to plenty of laughs. The east coast is to the author decidedly more interesting than the rest of the country. Bryson's preferences for old-timey colonial ways are well-known, but his commentary on social issues prove insightful when read at a remove, such as the then racial reality of the Deep South.

Canada on Nov 28, 2023

Melissa McLaughlin: Bill Bryson never disappoints. This book is a descriptive and clever way to remind us that there’s adventure in towns big and small

United States on Nov 03, 2023

Marcus White: So, I first read "A Walk in the Woods" and loved it. I enjoy hiking so I have been planning hiking the Appalachian Trail one day after reading it. This was my first Bill Bryson book and I decided to read another.
Another activity I have done a little of and want to explore more of is a road trip across the United States. I drove from Atlanta to For Drum in Norther New York in 2019, stopping along Chattanooga, Nashville, Gatlinburg, Washington DC, Atlantic City, and then Fort Drum itself. Having read other books on road trips, I was hoping this one would be entertaining with all the sites and annoying things you find on road trips.
So, he must have done this road trip in more than one year. In some places, it says the places were closing up for the season like he was driving in fall. Then in the last part he says it was in May. That was confusing, then he basically just complained about everything. I can say from road trips, finding a place that sells sandwiches and stocking up in case restaurants are closed or full is essential. He was alone on this road trip and I would be bored out of my mind if I was driving over 13,000 miles alone. He also stopped at tourist spots, then...

United States on Sep 28, 2023

Amazon Customer: I read this book many years ago and enjoyed it immensely. Looking for watered to reading it again. It was a bargain, second hand but in good condition

United Kingdom on Jul 11, 2023

John G Ellis FAIA RIBA: Bill Bryson writes with humour and style about his travels across America following similar journeys with his parents when he was a kid. His descriptions of the sprawl and wastelands of much of America are only too accurate while in the search for the ideal American town of past eras. His descriptions of Des Moines are so hilarious I almost wanted to go there and see it for myself. His road travels take him to New York and California past all the weird features that only an American landscape and cultures provide.
I remember hearing his reading the book on the BBC as their Book at Bedtime and racing the following morning to buy a copy. It was that good!

United States on Apr 03, 2023

Elizabeth Rose: I came of age and started travelling the U.S. in the mid-80s, so this book, describing two trips across the U.S. (one going east, one going west, both starting in Iowa) in the late 80s brought back some great memories. And reminded me that the more things change, the more they stay the same.

I could've done without the fat women jokes (this was published in the late 80s, when our last "acceptable" prejudice was even more acceptable), and they were fairly numerous, so in spite of trying to consider the context of the era, I still took off a star. I think I would've found them obnoxious in 1989, too.

The rest was typical dry-humor Bryson, with keen observations about his travels, interspersed with pithy anecdotes of the family vacations of his youth.

But here's the two things that amaze me. He manages to avoid Texas (although the Alamo gets a mention), which is a feat in itself. And he reveals that in all his youth growing up in Des Moines, he never made a trip to Minnesota, which is literally right up the road. (Spoiler Alert) He finally passes through a patch on this trip.

He missed seeing some great places, and I kept wanting to say, damn, Bill, if you...

United States on Mar 08, 2022

ana: Me encantó

Spain on Oct 22, 2021

Andrew Desmond: Over the years, I’ve read most of Bill Bryson’s books. Indeed, in the case of “The Lost Continent”, this was a re-read after an absence of about thirty years.

Bryson is an amusing writer. I admit to openly chuckling on a number of occasions reading “The Lost Continent”. Here, Bryson takes a long road trip largely through small town America. He is often critical, often amusing and sometimes very flattering. Many people think that Bryson is too critical. But this isn’t fair. I find him to be quite open and honest. Like any country, America is not perfect. There is much to criticise as well as much to praise. Bryson gets the balance about right.

“The Lost Continent” is now more than thirty years old. Like most books, the passage of more than a generation means that some parts are dated. However, this is inevitable. It’s not a particular fault of Bryson’s; rather it’s the changing mindset of his readers. Most likely, if Bryson wrote the book today there would be different nuances. Nonetheless, he remains an often funny and insightful travel writer.

United States on Sep 27, 2021

rohit: Book quality is amazing considering its printed in 1990s.
Bought in second hand but its almost new and no wear and scribbles.
Overall more than satisfied with pages quality font size, binding and one of the funniest books to read

India on Feb 26, 2020

Amazon Customer: A really enjoyable book from beginning to end.

I love all Bill Bryson's books and this is no exception. He writes with authority and with great humour

France on Aug 21, 2016