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3.93 AVERAGE
3.93 AVERAGE
informative
slow-paced
Meanderings into history related to each room in a particular house. So, for example, when he gets to the room with a fireplace he talks about the history of the use of fire within homes that leads to the development of the fireplace. If you really like random historical information, especially about England in the 18th and 19th centuries, it is great. If you don't, you probably won't like it.
I thought this book was really interesting! Bill Bryson crams in a lot of information about daily life throughout history as well as many other facts!
funny
informative
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
This fell quite flat for me. I had higher expectations for Bill Bryson. I just felt like the rooms in the home analogy was a bit of a stretch for some of the historical events/discoveries he explored.
Some interesting parts, some not so interesting. Hideously gruesome account of medieval medical practices that I am scarred by. Learned about how tiring the life of a housemaid was in English history. A profoundly white account of history. Would’ve been interesting to have a broader overview of the history of the household across many continents and countries.
—
RAW NOTES TAKEN DURING READING
Who knew that the origins of the corn plant could be so contentious!
Humans and guinea pigs are the only species in the animal kingdom that can’t produce their own vitamin c (but potatoes can!)
Captain cooks years at sea discovery Australia was one of the first expeditions where none of its sailors died or scurvy (less famously known for but one of his more redeeming achievements)
I like that we toured around the rooms of a westernized house to structure the exploration of the history of life at home. I’m not a dates person so sometimes it felt difficult for me to follow the jumping around of dates. But I understand the concept of exploring history by theme rather than chronologically so can’t really complain.
Largely a recount of the western evolution of the home and objects within the home. Not necessarily a flaw of the book, but something to be aware of in case you are not so interested in the UK and US history. I can’t say with certainty that the evolution of the home and its contents differ from culture to culture as I’m not very knowledgeable but I expect it would tell a different story.
Yuck very tempted to skip the chapter on bacteria and rodents in the household. A famous germ pert named is daughter after a germ…dishwashing cloth is one of the most germ filled object in the house… flushing the toilet with the lid open spews millions of germs into the air that last for up to 2 hours …bumblebee bats sound so cute!
Little bit scarred and horrified hearing about the the horrible medical treatments for women and in general STDs and STIs. UMMM the description of a primitive unanethised mastectomy I actually skipped.. no need to hear that
Sometimes the historical topic had no connection with the room we were in?
Some interesting parts, some not so interesting. Hideously gruesome account of medieval medical practices that I am scarred by. Learned about how tiring the life of a housemaid was in English history. A profoundly white account of history. Would’ve been interesting to have a broader overview of the history of the household across many continents and countries.
—
RAW NOTES TAKEN DURING READING
Who knew that the origins of the corn plant could be so contentious!
Humans and guinea pigs are the only species in the animal kingdom that can’t produce their own vitamin c (but potatoes can!)
Captain cooks years at sea discovery Australia was one of the first expeditions where none of its sailors died or scurvy (less famously known for but one of his more redeeming achievements)
I like that we toured around the rooms of a westernized house to structure the exploration of the history of life at home. I’m not a dates person so sometimes it felt difficult for me to follow the jumping around of dates. But I understand the concept of exploring history by theme rather than chronologically so can’t really complain.
Largely a recount of the western evolution of the home and objects within the home. Not necessarily a flaw of the book, but something to be aware of in case you are not so interested in the UK and US history. I can’t say with certainty that the evolution of the home and its contents differ from culture to culture as I’m not very knowledgeable but I expect it would tell a different story.
Yuck very tempted to skip the chapter on bacteria and rodents in the household. A famous germ pert named is daughter after a germ…dishwashing cloth is one of the most germ filled object in the house… flushing the toilet with the lid open spews millions of germs into the air that last for up to 2 hours …bumblebee bats sound so cute!
Little bit scarred and horrified hearing about the the horrible medical treatments for women and in general STDs and STIs. UMMM the description of a primitive unanethised mastectomy I actually skipped.. no need to hear that
Sometimes the historical topic had no connection with the room we were in?
At over 500 pages, this book packs in a lot of information. Bryson chose to present history by going through each room in his current house and relating how history had impacted the room.
As always with Bill, I really enjoyed it and learned all sorts of fascinating tidbits. I especially liked the story of the life of Watson, the famous assistant to Alexander Graham Bell, after he retired rich, including becoming a Shakespearean actor. Unfortunately, I found it a little too exciting for a bedtime read, which was my intent for it. I got too upset about the poor little Victorian children in particular.
informative
relaxing
slow-paced
A very enjoyable, if somewhat meandering read. It wasn't exactly what I expected but it was very interesting.
funny
informative
lighthearted
medium-paced