Bestseller book

Critically acclaimed

Buy on Amazon

Already read? Rate it!

At home

a short history of private life

byBill Bryson

Genres: Nonfiction Creative Nonfiction

Who is this book for? Readers interested in history, domestic life, and cultural studies.

Topics ArchitectureTechnologyGeographyCommerceSocial historyDomestic lifeHome economicsSocial evolutionSocial conditionsSocial changeDomestic LifeSocial HistoryEvolution of Private Life

MoodReflective, Humorous

HumorOccasional Humor

From one of the most beloved authors of our time—more than six million copies of his books have been sold in this country alone—a fascinating excursion into the history behind the place we call home. “Houses aren’t refuges from history. They are where history ends up.” Bill Bryson and his family live in a Victorian parsonage in a part of England where nothing of any great significance has happened since the Romans decamped. Yet one day, he began to consider how very little he knew about the ordinary things of life as he found it in that comfortable home. To remedy this, he formed the idea of journeying about his house from room to room to “write a history of the world without leaving home.” The bathroom provides the occasion for a history of hygiene; the bedroom, sex, death, and sleep; the kitchen, nutrition and the spice trade; and so on, as Bryson shows how each has figured in the evolution of private life. Whatever happens in the world, he demonstrates, ends up in our house, in the paint and the pipes and the pillows and every item of furniture. Bill Bryson has one of the liveliest, most inquisitive minds on the planet, and he is a master at turning the seemingly isolated or mundane fact into an occasion for the most diverting exposition imaginable. His wit and sheer prose fluency make At Home one of the most entertaining books ever written about private life.

Language

Published on

01/01/2010

Pages

497

Format

Hardcover

ISBN

9780767919388

Price Comparison

10.99 £

13.09 €

More books by Bill Bryson

Show all

Bill BrysonThe Body

The Body

by Bill Bryson

Bill BrysonNotes From A Small Island

Notes From A Small Island

by Bill Bryson

Bill BrysonA Short History of Nearly Everything

A Short History of Nearly Everything

by Bill Bryson

Bill BrysonThe Lost Continent

The Lost Continent

by Bill Bryson

Bill BrysonDown Under

Down Under

by Bill Bryson

Bill BrysonThe Mother Tongue

The Mother Tongue

by Bill Bryson

Bill BrysonThe Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid

The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid

by Bill Bryson

Bill BrysonA Really Short History of Nearly Everything

A Really Short History of Nearly Everything

by Bill Bryson

Bill BrysonI'm a stranger here myself

I'm a stranger here myself

by Bill Bryson

Bill BrysonThe Road to Little Dribbling

The Road to Little Dribbling

by Bill Bryson

Bill BrysonA Walk in the Woods

A Walk in the Woods

by Bill Bryson

Bill BrysonNeither Here, Nor There

Neither Here, Nor There

by Bill Bryson

Bill BrysonOne Summer

One Summer

by Bill Bryson

Bill BrysonShakespeare

Shakespeare

by Bill Bryson

Books similar to “At home”

If you enjoyed reading “At home” by Bill Bryson, you may also like some of the following books.

Sarah BroomThe Yellow House

The Yellow House

Sarah Broom

Riley SagerHome Before Dark

Home Before Dark

Riley Sager

Virginia WoolfA Room of One's Own

A Room of One's Own

Virginia Woolf

Natalie WaltonThis Is Home

This Is Home

Natalie Walton

Tembi LockeFrom Scratch

From Scratch

Tembi Locke

Ruth Bladen, Emma McNamara, Whitney HansonHome

Home

Ruth Bladen, Emma McNamara, Whitney Hanson

Anuk ArudpragasamThe Story of a Brief Marriage

The Story of a Brief Marriage

Anuk Arudpragasam

Kate MortonThe House at Riverton

The House at Riverton

Kate Morton

Creative Nonfiction

Creative Nonfiction blends factual reporting with literary storytelling to create engaging narratives. This subgenre is ideal for readers who appreciate the artistry of writing paired with real-world experiences. Expect captivating stories that are as informative as they are entertaining.

David ShariatmadariDon't Believe A Word

Don't Believe A Word

by David Shariatmadari

Levy RozmanHow to Win At Chess

How to Win At Chess

by Levy Rozman

John Strelecky, Root LeebThe Café on the Edge of the World

The Café on the Edge of the World

by John Strelecky, Root Leeb

George OrwellShooting an Elephant

Shooting an Elephant

by George Orwell

Daniel KeyesKeyes, D: Flowers for Algernon

Keyes, D: Flowers for Algernon

by Daniel Keyes

Sam KeanThe Icepick Surgeon

The Icepick Surgeon

by Sam Kean

Ross KingThe Bookseller of Florence

The Bookseller of Florence

by Ross King

Victoria ChangObit

Obit

by Victoria Chang

Suzanne SimardFinding the Mother Tree

Finding the Mother Tree

by Suzanne Simard

Susie DentWord Perfect

Word Perfect

by Susie Dent

Jenny DiskiWhy Didn’t You Just Do What You Were Told?

Why Didn’t You Just Do What You Were Told?

by Jenny Diski

Jonny SunGoodbye, Again

Goodbye, Again

by Jonny Sun

Christopher HitchensArguably

Arguably

by Christopher Hitchens

Helen MacdonaldVesper Flights

Vesper Flights

by Helen Macdonald

Mira JacobGood Talk

Good Talk

by Mira Jacob

Lulu MillerWhy Fish Don't Exist

Why Fish Don't Exist

by Lulu Miller

Philipp DettmerImmune

Immune

by Philipp Dettmer

Mason CurreyDaily Rituals

Daily Rituals

by Mason Currey

Adam KayDear NHS

Dear NHS

by Adam Kay

Michele Filgate, VariousWhat My Mother and I Don't Talk About

What My Mother and I Don't Talk About

by Michele Filgate, Various

Corbin ReiffTotal F*cking Godhead

Total F*cking Godhead

by Corbin Reiff

Adrian TomineThe Loneliness of the Long-Distance Cartoonist

The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Cartoonist

by Adrian Tomine

Maggie SmithKeep Moving

Keep Moving

by Maggie Smith

Emily OsterCribsheet

Cribsheet

by Emily Oster

Show all

Nonfiction

Uncover the world of nonfiction books that illuminate truths, challenge perceptions, and expand your understanding of reality. From gripping investigative journalism to insightful creative nonfiction, these works delve into the intricacies of our world, offering compelling narratives and factual depth.

Rebecca SklootThe Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

by Rebecca Skloot

Michelle ZaunerCrying in H Mart

Crying in H Mart

by Michelle Zauner

Patrick Radden Keefe, Ricard GilEmpire of Pain

Empire of Pain

by Patrick Radden Keefe, Ricard Gil

John GreenThe Anthropocene Reviewed

The Anthropocene Reviewed

by John Green

Kai Bird, Martin J. SherwinAmerican Prometheus

American Prometheus

by Kai Bird, Martin J. Sherwin

Jon RonsonThe Psychopath Test

The Psychopath Test

by Jon Ronson

Tembi LockeFrom Scratch

From Scratch

by Tembi Locke

Clayton M Christensen, Clayton M. Christensen, Don Leslie, L J GanserThe Innovator's Dilemma

The Innovator's Dilemma

by Clayton M Christensen, Clayton M. Christensen et al.

David Grann, Luis Murillo FortKillers of the Flower Moon

Killers of the Flower Moon

by David Grann, Luis Murillo Fort

Matthew PerryFriends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing

Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing

by Matthew Perry

Michaela CoelMisfits

Misfits

by Michaela Coel

Jonathan Davis, Oliver SacksAwakenings

Awakenings

by Jonathan Davis, Oliver Sacks

George OrwellHomage to Catalonia

Homage to Catalonia

by George Orwell

Bill GatesHow to Avoid a Climate Disaster

How to Avoid a Climate Disaster

by Bill Gates

Kay Redfield Jamison, Kay R. JamisonAn Unquiet Mind

An Unquiet Mind

by Kay Redfield Jamison, Kay R. Jamison

Bill BrysonNotes from a Small Island

Notes from a Small Island

by Bill Bryson

Bill BrysonThe Body - Illustrated

The Body - Illustrated

by Bill Bryson

Rebecca SolnitMen Explain Things to Me

Men Explain Things to Me

by Rebecca Solnit

Emily RatajkowskiMy Body

My Body

by Emily Ratajkowski

Stanley TucciTaste

Taste

by Stanley Tucci

Seth GodinTribes

Tribes

by Seth Godin

Russell BrandRecovery

Recovery

by Russell Brand

Michael SchurHow to be Perfect

How to be Perfect

by Michael Schur

Olivie BlakeThe Atlas Complex

The Atlas Complex

by Olivie Blake

Charles T. MungerPoor Charlie's Almanack

Poor Charlie's Almanack

by Charles T. Munger

Anthony Bourdain, Laurie WooleverWorld Travel

World Travel

by Anthony Bourdain, Laurie Woolever

Brandon SandersonMistborn: The Wax & Wayne Series

Mistborn: The Wax & Wayne Series

by Brandon Sanderson

Joanna Faber, Julie KingHow To Talk So Little Kids Will Listen

How To Talk So Little Kids Will Listen

by Joanna Faber, Julie King

Elliot PagePageboy

Pageboy

by Elliot Page

Andrea ElliottInvisible Child

Invisible Child

by Andrea Elliott

Show all

Award Winning Literature

Step into the world of **Award Winning Literature books**, where every page resonates with excellence and acclaim. These books have not only captured the hearts of readers but have also been recognized by prestigious literary awards.