I often feel I'm a disappointment to people because they expect me to be the guy in the books. When I sit next to someone at a dinner party I can see they expect me to be quick and witty, and I'm not at all. Bill Bryson bookdinnerdisappointment share on social
I had always thought that once you grew up you could do anything you wanted - stay up all night or eat ice-cream straight out of the container. Bill Bryson containercreameat Change image and share on social
If you go out on the Appalachian Trail, you have to bring so much more equipment - a tent, sleeping bag - but if you go hiking in England, or Europe, generally, towns and villages are near enough together at the end of the day you can always go to a nice little inn and have a hot bath and something to drink. Bill Bryson appalachianbagbath share on social
In the countryside, litter doesn't have a friend. It doesn't have anybody who's saying, 'Wait a minute, this is really starting to get out of control.' Bill Bryson controlcountrysidefriend Change image and share on social
I grew up in Des Moines. My dad had a house full of books, things like P.G. Wodehouse books and 'Wuthering Heights' by Emily Bronte. Bill Bryson bookbrontedad Change image and share on social
America is a great disappointment to me. As I said in one of my books, other societies create civilisations; we build shopping malls. Bill Bryson americabookbuild Change image and share on social
I wish I could adjust my voice, but it's just what's happened to me. It's because I've lived abroad for a long time, and my wife is English and my kids all have English accents, and every voice I hear is English. I've never intentionally changed my accent at all. Bill Bryson abroadaccentadjust 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
The basic challenge of any book is you know you're going to be working on it for three or four years or more. So you want to have a subject that will keep you engaged. Bill Bryson basicbookchallenge Change image and share on social
Open your refrigerator door, and you summon forth more light than the total amount enjoyed by most households in the 18th century. The world at night, for much of history, was a very dark place indeed. Bill Bryson 18thamountcentury share on social