Made in America

Like all Bryson's work, this was a fast and fascinating read where I learned a lot.I only took issue with the final chapter on which hasn't aged well at all.

Pardon me while I whine a bit, but the reviewers who complain that the book lacks scholarship and similar pedantic complaints have missed the point. Bill Bryson is a writer, a storyteller, and man of wide interests who can churn out charming, remarkably well researched books at a satisfying rate. Like his History of Everything (the "history" of science), The Informal History of American English is not a textbook, not complete and not intended for a serious study of the language. It makes the point that language is evolutionary, a flexible, variable tool that, in America, probably has had a broader range of lasting influences than most languages, and those influences reflect American society. If you are a reader and like words and their derivations, this is dessert--fully satisfying but not the complete meal. He prefers the words and sayings that have good stories about them, and his 20 years of living in England are reflected in is often wry, dryly witty take on the facts. It is occasionally laugh out loud, has any number of chuckles and is interesting throughout. He writes easily and occasionally reflects some real depth in his efforts. He relies perhaps a bit too much on Mencken's research, but then they share a world view and sense of humor. Originally a travel writer, he takes a trip through American history and points out the bits that interest him most, and makes it enjoyable, entertaining and even educational. Like a conversation, the book sometimes wanders off topic to charming or ironic side note, but he always returns to the main road. If your expectations are reasonable, this book is a pleasure and I suspect you will pick it up later, from time to time, to remind yourself of the story or circumstances behind the way we speak or just to get a moment of intelligent wit. I gave it 4, instead of 5, stars because he could have written more, because it needs a little editing and because despite an impressive bibliography, a bit of the philosophy of language development would not have gone amiss. But for a pleasurable read on an interesting topic for the dilettante (history of the word dilettante is in the book), this is a good buy.

This novel approach to history kept amazing me for days on end. Well-researched, it is chocked full of facts and statistics as well as debunking popular myths about our past. I would highly recommend this to historians, journalists and sociologists, as well as to trivia buffs. There is something for almost everyone to enjoy.

This edition of a wonderful book has such tiny font that it's hard to read. Even for someone with sharp eyes, and I bought the book for an older person. I will look for a more readable copy.

It was cool to read about how our language in America has evolved. Lots of words have come from lots of people.

Somehow, I missed this book, even after discovering Bill Bryson and reading all of his other works. I'm very glad I eventually found it, because it's wonderful. The title is a little bit misleading, because it's really only partly about the English language. It's mostly about fascinating, usually funny, historical anecdotes, with just a dash of English language thrown in. There are several points in the book where you're just reading about history for page after page -- written in the classic Bill Bryson style, so much less dull than it would otherwise be -- with seemingly no connection to language. Then after three or four pages, he makes the connection to a single word. And then he dashes off to another series of historical events.I'd say this is a can't-miss for any Bryson fans, and a great place to start if you're interested in the author but have not experienced his writing yet.

To learn about many of his interesting travels, subjects such as other eras, Bryson’s interesting childhood adventures. One Summer in America is one of my favorite books. The summer of 1927 was fascinating.

"The American was good natured, generous, hospitable and sociable, and he reversed the whole of language to make the term 'stranger' one of welcome."--Henry Steele CommagerWhenever I am reading Bill Bryson, I am compelled to talk about it incessantly. So, I'm sure it was a long few weeks for my friends and family. Bryson doesn't disappoint in this follow-up to the brilliant, amazing (and one my favorite books ever) The Mother Tongue. Made in America basically tells the history of the United States, using its unique take on the English language as the medium by which to tell a fascinating historical, sociological, psychological, and cultural story, from America's beginnings with the blending of English and native languages that created a poetry of nomenclature, to the immigrant contribution to vocabulary, to the inventive spirit of business and machines that influence linguistics. Americans use English differently, different clichés, different vocabulary, different prose and style, and have contributed greatly to language. Bryson tells a fascinating story, and a brilliant linguistic one. I loved this book. So full of fascinating goodies. Thanks again for another great read, Bill! Grade: A

I felt the final chapter let this down, being a summary of how the education system in America isn't all that bad. Since it was written a decade ago now, there's definitely a new edition to be made about the neologisms that have erupted in the new digital age. Bryson occasionally fails to find the etymological roots of words ( eg political correctness) but other than these tiny caveats this is a bloody brilliant gripping read. From the wright bros to Piggly Wiggly, Kellogg's to Macy's, its an absolute treasure of man stuff. This has provided me with hours of useful/ useless dinner party trivia to bore with: and not only that, I will also be able to Annoy my students too. I love the way he takes apart every myth concerning the founding fathers and exposes the slaughter of the indigenous population. Top, top stuff.

I am a great fan of Bill Bryson so it is maybe unfair for me to comment. But - I think I have every book he has written and this is the latest. He is generally known for his acute sense of humour and sharp observation, so this book is a bit of a surprise. One is suddenly aware of his wide interests and deep research that he has put into this book on the development of the American English language. Quite fascinating.

With this book, Bill Bryson does for language what he did for science in A SHort History Of Everything. Here you not only get the history and evolution of the Englisg language in North AMerica, but alongside that a revealing and entertaining history of American cultural, social, economic and political development. It is constructed in thematic chapters that illuminate America and its myriad immigrant communities. Every pages throws up some wonderful or amusing fact and I guarantee you will know and understand a whole lot more about the USA at the end of this book than when you started. A plesure and treasure trove from beginning to end.

This is a very interesting read, many facts and information. Could only read in small doses but loved it.

I was expecting a deep dive into the American language and traditions, much along the lines of Melvyn Bragg's Adventure of English, but this is so much more. I don't (yet) know too much about American history, so some of the myths Bryson blows up weren't too familiar to me, but a lot of it blew my mind is a sort of 'but... hey!' kind of way. A huge selection of themes and a sweeping timeline means that this will be difficult to beat for book of the year, already!