Much as I resented having to grow up in Des Moines, it gave me a real appreciation for every place in the world that's not Des Moines. Bill Bryson appreciationgivegrow Change image and share on social
I'm definitely an American, because I grew up here. But I've lived very happily in Britain. Bill Bryson americanbritaingrow Change image and share on social
To me, the greatest invention of my lifetime is the laptop computer and the fact that I can be working on a book and be in an airport lounge, in a hotel room, and continue working; I fire up my laptop, and I'm in exactly the same place I was when I left home - that, to me, is a miracle. Bill Bryson airportbookcomputer share on social
I can't imagine there has ever been a more gratifying time or place to be alive than America in the 1950s. No country had ever known such prosperity. Bill Bryson 1950saliveamerica Change image and share on social
Coming back to your native land after an absence of many years is a surprisingly unsettling business, a little like waking from a long coma. Time, you discover, has wrought changes that leave you feeling mildly foolish and out of touch. Bill Bryson absencebackbusiness share on social
I grew up, really, in the days before air conditioning. So I can remember what it was like to be really hot, for instance, and I can remember what it was like when your barber shop and your local stores weren't air conditioned, so it was hot when you went in them and they propped the doors open. Bill Bryson airbarbercondition share on social
The world is very lucky to have America. It's got to be the first time in the whole history of the planet that a country has been the dominant force in the world and it has actually been a force for good... America really deserves more credit. Bill Bryson americacountrycredit share on social
Very little of what America does is actually bad, and I don't think it ever does anything anywhere that is intentionally bad. I mean, sometimes we make mistakes and bad judgments and kind of back the wrong regimes and things, but by and large what America does is really good. Bill Bryson americabackbad share on social
Where I grew up, in Des Moines, Iowa, there is hardly any downtown economic activity now. Everybody shops in malls - you don't find a sense of community in malls. Bill Bryson activitycommunitydowntown Change image and share on social
I'm not funny in person. I mean I'm really not. I'm one of those people who always screw up anecdotes. Bill Bryson anecdotefunnypeople Change image and share on social