Made In America
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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
Bill Bryson's "Informal History of the English Language in the United States" is, in a word, fascinating. After reading this tour de force, it's clear that a nation's language speaks volumes about its true character: you are what you speak. Bryson traces America's history through the language of the time, then goes on to discuss words culled from everyday activities: immigration, eating, shopping, advertising, going to the movies, and others.
Made in America will supply you with interesting facts and cocktail chatter for a year or more. Did you know, for example, that Teddy Roosevelt's "speak softly and carry a big stick" credo has its roots in a West African proverb? Or that actor Walter Matthau's given name is Walter Mattaschanskayasky? Or that the supposedly frigid Puritans--who called themselves "Saints," by the way--had something called a pre-contract, which was a license for premarital sex? Made in America is an excellent discussion of American English, but what makes the book such a treasure is that it offers much, much more. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.
Book Description
Bill Bryson being very funny about his native land.
--This text refers to the
Paperback
edition.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
21 of 21 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
To be honest, I always associated Bill Bryson with light travel books, so I was pleasantly suprised to find his refreshing writing style applied to etymology; not always the easiest topic to entertain with!
Having said that, there is so much more than etymology. The anecdotes are amusing, and you will find yourself repeating them to everyone you know. The work that debunks urban myths is fascinating and, as is often the case, fact is stranger than fiction; some of the truths behind words and phrases are truly special.
The lists of when words were first used did not appeal to me personally, although I am perfectly willing to believe that there are people out there who would be interested, but they are fairly easy to skip.
The one thing I take away from this book more than anything else is respect for American English. As a young Englishman, I have been pre-conditioned into a certain disregard for 'Americanisms'. Yet after reading this book, you will see how useful many of these words are, and the ones we choose to attack are very limited. I think the book is worth reading for this information alone.
In conclusion, a good read that you can take your time over.
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio Cassette
A very impressively researched and entertaining book. It sets out as an exploration of what happened to the English language when it got to North America, and achieves this goal admirably. However, it also provides a wealth of insights into the growth phases and catalysts which caused the US economy to grow to the super power it is today. This aspect of the book provides (perhaps unwittingly) many valuable historical perspectives on recent internet- driven developments - and how they may pan out. I read 'Mother Tongue' first. 'Made in America' is a perfect follow up.
17 of 18 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I read first read this book a few years ago but still find myself going back to it time and again. My copy is so well thumbed it is falling apart. Billed as a history of American English, this book is much more than that. It is one of those books which entertains and informs. I learned more about American history from this book than I did from a whole set of textbooks on the topic. I would recommend this book wholeheartedly to anyone. It is his best book by far.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Not the Bryson I know
I'm a big fan of Bryson, and have read all of his books in paperback format, before buying this for my Kindle. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Rotten Johnny
Shabbiest looking book ever1
The book is grotty, and has pencil marks on the cover, dissapointed, will steer clear of this seller next time.
Published 10 months ago by Michael Smith
Bill Bryson
I orderd a book by this exelent writer, and as expected it was just a book for me, it also arrived very quickly so things went vel this time, as usualy.
Lars
Lars
Published 13 months ago by L Meldgaard
Enjoyable Bryson as ever.
This was an entertaining and generally informative read. Bryson explores in his likeable way the development of American English from the first English speaking colonists up to the... Read more
Published 14 months ago by Paul Harris
Good but hard going
I have a few favourite authors and Bill Bryson is one of them. However, while I enjoyed his wry comments and observations, I found this book to be very hard going. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Jimser10
VERY HEAVY
I like Bill Bryson's books,well the travel books anyway, but this genre of book for me does not work.Bryson's talent is his humour and easy familiar writing style. Read more
Published 21 months ago by L. Andrews
Another great book from Bryson
Let me start by saying: I'm a huge Bryson fan. I've read most of his books and each has taught me something and made me laugh out loud: any book that can do that has to be worth a... Read more
Published 21 months ago by M. G. Tokyo
Made in America, by Bill Bryson
Mr Bryson's book is a very entertaining, knowledgeable book and surprisingly, enjoyably readable, even to the non-American reader. Read more
Published on 13 Mar 2010 by Amlougheed
Informative and Entertaining
With this book, Bill Bryson does for language what he did for science in A SHort History Of Everything. Read more
Published on 30 Jun 2008 by GeeJayBee
One of his best
Probably one of my favourite Bryson books. Apart from the humour this book provides an excellent history of American culture and the derivation of many of the US phrases and... Read more
Published on 7 Sep 2007 by Mark Mcclelland
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