The Lost Continent
Travels in Small Town America
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3.7 • 119 Ratings
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- $7.99
Publisher Description
“The kind of book Steinbeck might have written if he’d traveled with David Letterman.” —New York magazine
An inspiring and hilarious account of one man’s rediscovery of America and his search for the perfect small town.
Following an urge to rediscover his youth, Bill Bryson left his native Des Moines, Iowa, on a cross-country road trip that would take him across 38 states. Lucky for us, he brought a notebook. With a razor wit and a kind heart, Bryson serves up a colorful tale of boredom, kitsch, and beauty when you least expect it. From Times Square to the Mississippi River to Williamsburg, Virginia, Bryson's keen and hilarious search for the perfect American small town is a beloved travelogue straight into the heart and soul of America.
He was looking for the idyllic America of his youth. What he found was—something else entirely.
Travel Humor: Experience Bryson’s legendary wit as he navigates the kitsch, beauty, and sheer absurdity of America's forgotten corners.Small Town America: Join the hilarious, heartfelt search for the perfect small town—and the stranger-than-fiction reality of what’s really out there.A Nostalgic Journey: A poignant and funny look at coming home, this trip through 38 states is a rediscovery of the country Bryson left behind.Classic Americana: From bizarre tourist traps to the surprising soul of the nation, it’s a loving, laugh-out-loud tribute to the heart of America.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Journalist Bryson decided to relive the dreary vacation car trips of his American childhood. Starting out at his mother's house in Des Moines, Iowa, he motors through 38 states over the course of two months, looking for the quintessential American small town. ``Some of Bryson's comments are hilarious--if you enjoy the nonstop whining wisecracks of a 36-year-old kid,'' determined PW.
Customer Reviews
Another Bill Bryson great!
Happily, being a Bill Bryson fan, I was not let down by this book. His travels across the states of the West and Midwest are informative as well as brilliantly hilarious (as only Bryson can be). His honest and no-nonsense writing once again hits the spot.
One for the nightstand.
Hilariously entertaining, yet poignant and informative. A wonderful read!
Lost Continent.
Condescending of most people and places. Repetitive, pseudo intellectual humor. Refers to his Republican neighbor as a cretin twice… what does severe hypothyroidism have to with party affiliation?
“At Home” was immensely readable. This was tripe. Can’t believe it’s the same author.