At Home: A Short History of Private Life by Bill Bryson
by Jenners • 11/04/2010 • 4.5 Stars, A Titles, B Authors, Non-Fiction • 57 Comments
At Home: A Short History of Private Life by Bill Bryson
The Crystal Palace from the Great Exhibition of 1851 is discussed extensively in the book. (click on photo for source)
In At Home: A Short History of Private Life, I followed Bryson as he toured his family home, which just so happens to be an old English parsonage. As he goes through each room, he ruminates about why we live the way we do and how the rooms and things in our homes evolved. The journey through the house is riveting and educational—answering such questions as: Why are salt and pepper the two condiments we keep on our kitchen tables? What does “board” mean in the phrase “room and board?” Why are there four tines on a fork? Why do men have a row of pointless buttons on their suit jacket sleeves?
Thomas Jefferson's Monticello. An influential house if there ever was one. (click on photo for source)
Each chapter focuses on a different room, allowing Bryson to explore things such as the history of hygiene in the bathroom, the advent of electricity while poking around the fuse box, and the important issues of sex, death and sleeping while visiting the bedroom. It is an ingenious way to structure the book, and it gives Bryson lots of leeway to ramble about wherever his interests and research took him. For the most part, Bryson focuses on the last 150 years, which encompasses the time from when his home was built until modern times—and also, as Bryson points out, when “the modern world was really born.
The Building of the London Sewers. After reading the section on the history of sewage management, you'll be so happy you live in modern times. (click on photo for source)
The book is packed with interesting stories, facts, anecdotes and histories that if I took the time to tell you about all the ones that interested me, I would be writing a book myself. So, I’ll content myself with sharing a few excerpts from the book that I highlighted while reading. (And even then I had to cut out a few because I highlighted so many.)
On the popularity of hermitages: For a time it was highly fashionable to build a hermitage and install in it a live-in hermit. At Painshill in Surrey, one man signed a contract to live seven years in picturesque seclusion, observing a monastic silence, for £100 a year, but was fired after just three weeks when he was spotted drinking in the local pub.
Statistics on stairs: Everybody trips on stairs at some time or other. It has been calculated that you are likely to miss a step once in every 2,222 occasions you use stairs, suffer a minor accident once in every 63,000 uses, suffer a painful accident once in every 734,000, and need hospital attention once every 3,616,667 uses.
On Christopher Columbus: It would be hard to name any figure in history who has achieved more lasting fame with less competence. He spent large parts of eight years bouncing around Caribbean islands and coastal South America convinced that he was in the heart of the Orient and that Japan and China were at the edge of every sunset. He never worked out that Cuba is an island and never once set foot on, or even suspected the existence of, the landmass to the north that everyone thinks he discovered: the United States. He filled his holds with valueless iron pyrite (thinking it was gold) and with what he confidently believed to be cinnamon and pepper. The first was actually a worthless tree bark, and the second were not true peppers but chili peppers—excellent when you have grasped the general idea of them, but a little eye-wateringly astonishing
A more interesting side effect of lead paint: One of the quirks of lead poisoning is that it causes an enlargement of the retina that makes some victims see halos around objects—an effect Vincent van Gogh famously exploited in his paintings. It is probable that he was suffering lead poisoning himself. Artists often did.
On servant-master sleep arrangements: Even at home, it was entirely usual for a servant to sleep at the foot of his master’s bed, regardless of what his master might be doing within the bed. The records make clear that King Henry V’s steward and chamberlain both were present when he bedded Catherine of Valois.
On the difficulties of getting medical care while being a woman: As late as 1878 the British Medical Journal was able to run a spirited and protracted correspondence on whether a menstruating woman’s touch could spoil a ham.On the dangers of life before proper sewer systems: Most sewage went into cesspits, but these were commonly neglected, and the contents often seeped into neighboring water supplies. In the worst cases they overflowed. Samuel Pepys recorded one such occasion in his diary: “Going down into my cellar … I put my foot into a great heap of turds … by which I found that Mr Turner’s house of office is full and comes into my cellar, which doth trouble me.”
I just adored this book and was engrossed through all 512 pages. This is vintage Bryson, and his fans will not be disappointed. And, if you’ve never read a Bill Bryson book before, I strongly encourage you to do so. No one presents history with as much humor, accessibility and curiosity as Bryson. (And if there is someone who does, I need to know who it is!) And since we all live in homes of some kind, I’m sure everyone will find something of interest in this book. After all, we are all benefiting from the advances and history described in this book. For my part, I know that I’ll never turn on a light, flush a toilet, sit in a chair, or walk up a flight of stairs without thinking of some anecdote from this book. Highly recommended.
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The Whys and Wheres: I bought this book for my Kindle with my Mother’s Day Amazon gift certificate. I preordered this way back in April and devoured it upon receipt.
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I love Bill Bryson and can’t get enough of his work. This is definitely going on my list
If you are a Bryson fan, I think you’ll find this one of his better ones. Enjoy it!
I absoultely love Bryson! I haven’t gotten around to this one yet but now you have me all excited about it.
It is good … real good! You’ll love it.
I got tired of Bryson for a while, but this review makes me want to read this book!
It is just wonderful … I think it would make you love him all over again.
Sounds good. I just enjoyed his biography of Shakespeare.
I have that waiting to be read!
Bryson is a favorite author of mine, as well. I have been terribly remiss about reading him the last couple of years. I must remedy that! At Home sounds like a fantastic book & the one to get me back to reading him. The structure of the book sounds fascinating. I was unaware of how Bryson wrote this book until I read it here. The topics Bryon discusses in relation to each room sound so interesting. What a brilliant idea. This sounds like vintage Bryson, as you said. I cannot wait to read this now!
I think your idea about Bryson writing the history and english texts used in grammar and high schools is a wonderful idea! I would have looked forward to my assignments and devoured them if Bryson had penned the texts.
Awesome review, Jenners! Thanks!
~ Amy
I think this would be a great way to get back into reading Bryson. As much as I enjoy his travel books, I think I like his “history” books more.
And if I’m ever the Secretary of Education, I’m having him be Official Textbook Writer.
I read his book about the Appalachian Trail. I laughed through most of it. This book looks even better.
As much as I enjoy his travel books, I think his books like this are even better.
I’ve never read Bryson before but you’ve sold me if he talks about The Crystal Palace. That is slowly becoming a new obsession for me! This sounds like a great read to get through the winter blahs.
He talks about the Crystal Palace quite a bit. And I bet you’d just love Bryson.
Wonderful review. I adore Bryson, so will no doubt love this book.
I thought it was one of his best.
I have a copy of this on my shelf! I completely forgot about it! Must bump it up the list. It sounds fantastic.
Yes … bump it up to the very top! It is a fantastic, fascinating read.
I just bought this for my husband for Christmas. We have an entire shelf devoted just to Bill Bryson.
I’m so glad you left a comment … I just got your lovely and rather amusing Goodreads invitation. : )
I think every home should have a Bill Bryson shelf! I know we do!
Didn’t Bryson walk across England? Would you follow him there?
I bought this book last weekend…I’m looking forward to it, although who knows when I’ll actually get to it.
He did the Appalachian trail and lives in England. And yes .. I’d follow him there. Nyah nyah nyah.
i worship bill bryson and wish he was a family friend or quirky uncle. his writing never fails to make me laugh and after i saw this book on your blog, i immediately snapped it up for my kindle! i didn’t even realize that he had a new book out–i’m living in a cave these days!
i’m slowly making my way through the book–i’ve got 4 or 5 books going at once–and love how he effortlessly weaves history and humor. LOVE THIS MAN.
I love him too. I’m so glad I was able to alert you to his new book!!! You’re going to love it!
Bryson has been hit or miss for me so far, but the theme of this one is just too fascinating to pass! I’m glad to hear you loved it so much – I really think I will too.
It is such a compelling and relatable theme isn’t it? I hope you like it and it is a “hit.”
Jen….you put all of us to shame with your top drawer reviews. I too love Bill Bryson and think AT HOME is one of his best. I really wallowed in all the information, and found it wonderful to be able to read it one room at a time, without feeling like I had to rush through it to find out “what happened.” Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Glad to see another person who read it and loved it as much as I did. And you’re right … it wasn’t a book you felt like you had to rush through. I could have lingered in a few of those rooms for much longer.
I’ve only leafed through a few sections of this (the print edition is heftier than your e-reader!), but, yes, Bill Bryson could write about bathroom mold and make it sound fascinating. He SHOULD write history textbooks (or, schools can adopt his various books into the curriculum). I hope to settle down and read this cover-to-cover over the holidays.
It didn’t seem like 512 pages when I was reading on the Kindle, which says a lot for Bryson’s writing. Thank goodness for e-readers!
Interesting about Van Gogh. I always wondered if he had poor distance vision because his starry nights painting reminds me of what lights look like to me without my glasses on. I would never have thought of lead poisoning. This book looks like a lot of fun!
I thought that Van Gogh bit was interesting too. I think you’d really like this book. Full of fascinating stuff.
I won this book (along with a few others) during BBAW, and I’m looking forward to getting to it — I haven’t heard anything negative about it yet! What I’ve read of Bryson before, I’ve enjoyed, so I’m sure I’ll like this one as well.
How great that you won a copy!!!! Hope you love it as much as I did.
This sounds fascinating!!! I’ve never read any of his books, but based on this review I bet I’d love his stuff.
Hmmm..seeing the stuff about the sewer reminds me that I still need to read “The Great Stink” which takes place in the sewers of London.
Sounds like “The Great Stink” would be a great companion book to this one. I think you would LOVE Bryson’s stuff.
Ok, now I have to read it! I must know the answers to all those questions, lol.
You’ll find those answers answered and tons more. So much interesting stuff that I never once thought about but once he brought it up, I felt like I had to know about it!
I love Bill Bryson and can’t wait to read this one!
I wish I could send my copy to you.
Funny thing. I have been reading about Bryson all over the place, and recently went to the bookstore to check out some of his stuff. The sales person I spoke to was a big fan, and had read all of his books. He loaded me down with every Bryson book the store had, and let me sit and browse through them. I almost bought this one, but decided on Neither Here Nor There, about his travels in Europe. I devoured it and laughed my butt off. I am now a fan, and am going to be getting this one this weekend. I am so glad to hear you loved it, and I am hoping to as well.
I’m pretty sure you will love it … his stuff is fantastic.
Hey, I give it my best shot! Why be normal?
My husband and I are both fans so I think this book will find its way into our home very soon. Love your review!
I think you will both love it. I think I could even get my husband to read it!
I LOVE Bill Bryson’s books — and it’s all about everyday life, what could be more interesting? Must put this book on reserve at the library immediately!
Do so!!! It is a wonderful book … especially if you are a Bryson fan already.
At a recent author event, I mentioned another Bryson book, which got everyone at the table talking about their favorite of his. We don’t keep salt and pepper on our table, but aren’t they spices and not condiments?
Well, you just fly in the face of all conventions, don’t you?
I’m a little overwhelmed with all of the books that I have stacked under our tv to read, but I really should add him to the list. I’ve never read any of his stuff and I think we have a book or two by him around here somewhere.
Gonna get on that….at some point.
Especially his books focused on England!!!
We just get this one in at our College library. I love Bryson! Glad this was a home run Jenners.
He rarely hits anything less than a home run I think.
I love Bill Bryson’s travel books and certainly count one as one of my favorite authors. I was wondering if this book would be as enjoyable as the others of his that I read and after reading the excerpts above I’m sure I would love this book as much as the other. Can’t wait to read myself now.
I think he could write about anything and make it interesting. Just think of this as a “travel back in time” to explore history book.