I think Bill and I would make good friends, and I certainly won't judge his personality on this book. There's nothing worse than an author who makes jokes for the sake of making jokes, and "I'm a Stranger" is fat with needless hyperbole. The quotes and stories aren't real -- they're clearly exaggerated for the sake of wit, undermining every word of this ridiculous book. Friends have recommended "Stranger" for years, citing its amusing indictment of American consumerism; but Bryson lives around Dartmouth, a progressive Ivy League college, in a small, walkable New Hampshire town. Bryson may have spent years in Britain, but the transition from rural England to rural New England isn't that significant; like everything in this dusty book, Bryson scrapes the barrel's bottom for shavings of difference. Now, had he lived in Romania and then moved to Kansas City, THAT book wouldn't require exaggeration -- the culture shock would have sourced limitless comedy (or, I don't know, un-ironic introspection). Here, Bryson imitates Dave Barry (what could be less noble?), proving just how provincial Americans can be: Even a best-selling travel writer thinks that Britons are exotic.

This was decent. It was fun and interesting to have someone point out things that are American-as it is something only really non-Americans or people who don’t live in America, can point out. It is especially fun because he is coming from England, and being the significant other of an Englishman (and having visited myself), it really was laugh out loud funny the direct contrasts he points out. At times, it can feel as though he drags on in what felt like a never ending complaint train. It is definitely meant to be sarcastic and funny, that when it is-it really is- but when it’s not, it really, kinda sucks.

I recommend this book as a fun, non-serious break, and a surprising look at what being American is like from an outsider. Pretty cool-and absolutely has its moments.

Bryson regressado aos States depois de 20 anos de UK assina crónicas sobre essa América. Ainda que datadas resultam irresistíveis de humor e perspicácia. Entretenimento agradável.

I always really want to love Bill Bryson, but never can quite get there, he's like the best friend you want to fall in love with, but just doesn't have the magic. Usually I get about halfway or even (on a good day) three-quarters of the way through his books and I start to find him annoying or repetitive. This, I had less issue with...as it's a collection of his newspaper columns, so they're short vignettes, and difficult to get tired halfway through. Also, I read this one sporadically over several months, so again, less time to get irritated.

I enjoy his comparisons of the UK to the US, though I am not sure I buy all of them--although he always hit the nail on the head when he talked about everything in America being big: houses, cars, serving sizes, people. I got fairly annoyed at his cutesy way of tidying up each column with a summation sentance, but I found that if I just didn't read the last paragraphs of each chapter, I did ok.

All in all, not my favorite Bryson, but certainly not a bad read under the right circumstances.

Thoroughly enjoyed reading this one. I was laughing out loud in all kinds of public places and people were trying to see the title of the book. Oh, I'm in love with Bryson!

I was just about to write a review, when I came across Jason Koivu’s review of this book, which was exactly what I had wanted to say but which was written so much better than I would have been able to say it. Here is the link to this review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Just allow me to add a few words:

The above book is a collection of essays, written for the weekly column of an English newspaper. And as Jason Koivu says in his review, these essays are rather disjointed and diverse in style. So let me use a little allegory:

I love the following foods: ice cream, mayonnaise, mashed potatoes, raisins, garlic, and caraway seed. Yet I can assure you that I wouldn’t get the idea to mix these foods together in a bowl. And this is, kind of, what Bill Bryson has done with the above book.

Nevertheless of its shortcomings, I think this book should be mandatory reading for every American, as most of these essays—some humorous, some not so humorous—are a society critique—that should be hammered into every American brain. People who have grown up in other countries, or—as Bill Bryson—have lived substantial time in other countries, recognize what’s wrong with our country. (Yes, OUR country, because I have obtained American citizenship.) And as a German saying goes: “Selbsterkenntnis ist der erste Weg zur Besserung.” (Self-awareness is the first step to improvement.)

P.S. Please note that I am a digital 150% idiot. I keep finding typos in my review, which I have to correct. So I keep editing this review, but I do not know how I can delete the previous, typo-ridden reviews, as for some reason I cannot even guess, my reviews no longer show under Notifications on my Home Page. Can somebody, who is familiar with Goodreads' latest quirks and changes, please help?

P.P.S. I keep having trouble editing this review. I just noticed that it says that I read this book twice, which I didn't. I tried to correct it, but it didn't take. Still says that I read this book 2-times.

This was a good book just like all his books that I've read. Favorites were the one where he talks about getting the Christmas decorations out, and his graduation speech for a high school; least favorite was the Titanic one. Since this was a collection of essays, he did not go as in depth on any one topic.

This was first published in 2000 and most of the essays held up. However there were a couple that felt dated, but that's my fault for waiting twenty years to get to this.

Popsugar 2020-A book with 20 or Twenty in the title

Bill Bryson grew up in Iowa, then spent twenty years in England. He has returned to the U.S. with his British wife and children. I'm a Stranger Here is selections from his newspaper column which chronicles his experiences. Some of them are funny, like "Dying Accents" and "The Best American Holiday". Others, particularly anything is which he tries to mock the writing style on instructional booklets, electronics, the government (I'm all for mocking the government, but he just doesn't do it well), are overreaching and dull.
He also has the annoying habit of showing off a keen sense of understanding, both of general topics and the English language, and then goes on long rambling paragraphs about how he doesn't understand anything.

Bill Bryson is a writing genius. He turns everyday situations into real LOL opportunities like no other author I have ever read.
This particular book is not his best as it a collection of newspaper articles,however it still has some truly funny observations that we all encounter frequently.
I have reread this twice,as a bit of humour before I go to sleep ,but beware as your bed partner may be annoyed with your true laugh out loud response to some of his comments.
For anyone who needs some cheering up, I suggest trying one of Bill’s travel books…you won’t be disappointed.

2.5 rounded up

Tal vez el libro más gracioso que he leído en mi vida. Los gringos no son tan prácticos como se cree, están locos y tan jodidos como nosotros. No lo digo yo, sino un gringo como Bill Bryson.