I enjoyed this collection of his weekly columns very much. Bryson turned two years worth of weekly observations on American life done for an English periodical into this book. What informs Brits will delight Americans as Bryson explores American trends, small town life and his personal experiences as the expatriate returned with English bride and children in tow.
This collection runs the gamut. Bryson muses on the wonders of his hometown post office (with an annual customer appreciation day), American statistics pulled from the census (his piece on the number of us injured by our bedding -- sheets, pillows and spreads -- every year is a riot), travel over our vast expanses, his local coffee shop, his very own garden and English gardener (his wife), and very many other et ceteras.
This is an eclectic selection. Although in some places the American reader may find some articles over-explained (one has to keep in mind he was writing for a foreign audience), this is a very well written collection of short essays.
The confident Bryson humor is here, as well as his excellent use of language and sentence structure. Whereas I thought some of Bryson's early works tried for too much humor and sometimes seemed forced as well as overly sarcastic, here the author is content to share interesting thoughts and stories punctuated by yuks. This writer does have an engaging way with words. There are laugh-out-loud moments in the book and generally it is a very pleasant light diversion. Worth the read.