Bill Bryson's take on Australia is hilarious. I'm going there in a few weeks and can't wait to compare my experiences with him. This is a book that will have you chuckling, laughing out loud and then marveling at his insight and sense of humor. A must read for anyone interested in Australia and that part of the world.

source: http://www.nytimes.com/books/first/b/bryson-sunburned.html
excerpt: (C) 2000 Bill Bryson All rights reserved. ISBN: 0-7679-0385-4
It is the home of the largest living thing on earth, the Great Barrier Reef, and of the largest monolith, Ayers Rock (or Uluru to use its now-official, more respectful Aboriginal name). It has more things that will kill you than anywhere else. Of the world's ten most poisonous snakes, all are Australian. Five of its creatures--the funnel web spider, box jellyfish, blue-ringed octopus, paralysis tick, and stonefish--are the most lethal of their type in the world. This is a country where even the fluffiest of caterpillars can lay you out with a toxic nip, where seashells will not just sting you but actually sometimes go for you. Pick up an innocuous cone shell from a Queensland beach, as innocent tourists are all too wont to do, and you will discover that the little fellow inside is not just astoundingly swift and testy but exceedingly venomous. If you are not stung or pronged to death in some unexpected manner, you may be fatally chomped by sharks or crocodiles, or carried helplessly out to sea by irresistible currents, or left to stagger to an unhappy death in the baking outback. It's a tough place.

Oh yes, I read it, also the German version Frühstück mit Kängurus, both several times. And I will have to warn you: First you will read a lot about a lot of things, events and facts you never never knew before, and secondly: You schouln'd read this book in public places (like buses, trolly, metro, libraries etc). You outbursting laughter will make people worried about your well being.
You will not be able to narrate from this book to your family or as a teacher to your students. At least not continuously for more than 3 minutes. Bill Bryson is not a clown, he is very serious ..... me too.

Bryson really captures the essence of Australia by detailing his experiences and interactions in different places throughout the country. Using humor or strange conversations, he conveys the attitude and friendly personalities of the the Aussies. While spending long passages describing too many historical details that he might only find interesting, he dives deep into the culture and history of a country most people know nothing about. Seeing as I just moved here, this introduction was perfect to welcoming me here. :)

This funny account of travel in Australia isn't necessarily the greatest of Bryson's works, but it is worth a read! You will find it entertaining, with his usual piercing, sarcastic, and witty insight.

Funny, funny. I want to travel to Australia during retirement. Cannot wait to go!

I was given this book while visiting Sydney. The title of the book in AUS is "Down Under" I guess they didn't want to offend anyone. Anyhow, I spent many days laughing out loud while reading this book....absolutely brilliant!

Given to my for Christmas. One of the best travel stories I've ever read. I'm looking forward to reading more of his books.

I wish I had discovered Bill Bryson's writing much earlier. I already have another of his books on order (A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail). Bryson's writing is witty and at times hysterical, as he takes us across the mysterious, engrossing and never ending source of gripping, tragic, tragic-comic, and comic stories that are Australia's history, people, land and unimaginable numbers of flaura and fauna. He is self-effacing but is willing to "efface" others when justified, not holding back when his encounters leave something to be desired.

He explores the Australian character via anecdotes of personal experience and history, and gives a comprehensive perspective and understading of this most unusual and mostly ignored continent/country. If you are interested in a voyeuristic experience that goes beyond the standard American's knowledge about Australia of kangaroos, Steve Irwin and the Bee Gees, and want to be laughing and enthralled at the same time, read this book.

i've never been to australia, but i feel like i've just taken a 3 week vacation there. bryson's style and descriptions are great.

As a fellow author---though I'd never be arrogant enough to include that in my user name---I have a love/hate relationship with Bill Bryson. I love reading about travel, and overall, though he is an angry hippie, he does write about interesting places, mixing in history, which is what I want to read about when perusing travel.

In this work, Bryson disucsses a lot about the Aussie history. That was pleasant to learn. Australia, a land of mostly good folks who understand their role in the world and, thanks to the great prime minister now fighting for re-election, recognize good and evil, unlike Eurabia and many other place. Bryson notes a lot of this and paints a stellar picture of the nation/island.

But....as usual, Bill runs into two problems:

1. Despite what some other reviewers say, the book is too long. I'm all for depth, but you lose your readers by penning a book of nearly 300 pages when it could be 200-250 like your others, Bill. Wordiness is okay, but some of the chapters could be half as long.

2. I know I am one of the few travel readers/writers, who is not a self-loathing, white guilt-laden leftist, but I don't need Bill to whine about the Aborigines. Surely they deserve mention, and the first few pages of Chapter 13's historical background is fine, but I didn't need the usual Bryson social commentary whereupon he bemoans past imperialism/colonialism and tries to act as a spokesperson for people he really could care less about. Then he spends page after page whining about the lack of coverage of the Myall Creek Massacre, even going so far as to bemoan a Memorial to the Two World Wars (tens of millions died in these wars to save humanity after all), instead of Myall Creek...where 28 aborigines were sadly murdered. More folks are murdered in a month in Detroit, Bill, you apologist. Thankfully, Bill found some lunatic reporter to talk with. 28 people no civilization has ever admired dying is clearly more important to him than real battles for freedom in Eurabia. (For the record, a google search in our white guilt, PC world of 2007, turns up hundreds of articles about the Myall Creek Massacre.)

Let's be honest though; this is what lefties, profs, etc do best. We can find enough of that in hippie books and college classrooms. in Bill's world and theirs, it's all about white guilt tripping over past racial injustice. Dark skinned individuals are presumed victims of Western imperialism. They have essentially a blank check to do anything they wish. The West is evil. We are allegedly the scum of the Earth.

That's what will always irk me about Bryson. Aussies deserve better.

This is Bryson's fifth and latest (last?) travel narrative and in it he writes with a bit more confidence and maturity as he navigates from the "frappaccino heaven that is modern Sydney" to the Gold Coast, Ayers Rock, the tropics and beyond. And he does so in the classicly effervescent, witty, and thoughful manner for which he has become famous. This first hand account gets lots of support from historical snippets and overviews, almost all of which are intriquing. This is not as humorous as his other books nor is it as fast. Yes, in some sections it is somewhat slow, but certainly this only mirrors what traveling in a country as vast and relatively empty as Australia must really be like. Largely absent from this book too are Bryson's famous rants. He is enamored by Australia and seldom has a bad encounter or a bad thing to say although when he does, it's typically entertaining. His estimation of the country is that it is largely a blend of American and British influences, primarily the positive influences. If anything, this book should make you want to head Down Under yourself someday.

Troy Parfitt, author of Notes from the Other China - Adventures in Asia

Bill Bryson loves and hates Australia. It's sunny climes and lush hills on the Gold Coast, flat open seemingly endless expanse of desert, and then another wonderful coast all serve to fill him with prose of praise for the place, and remarks on some of the stranger aspects of Ozzie life.

The people's charm is pleasantly placed next to the strangeness of a land where a Prime Minister can walk into the sea and no one hear from him again. Or that they built a city to house all the politicians, filled it with fantastic gardens, and yet have no idea how the government actually works.

The book follow Bryson on his trip around and across the southern-most continent and is chock-a-block full of interesting stories, people, and places. His usual wit and sarcasm does seem to fall off a bit, but (having been there I can say) that has more to do with the place than the writer. It's almost impossible to find nasty things to say about Oz.

If you've even been to Aussie-land you'll love this book for the memories it evokes, and if you have never been consider this book as a fantastic rainy-day travel guide and let your imagination sore (then get down to your travel agent and book a flight ;) ).

It's obvious in reading this book that Bryson fell head over heels for the land down under. What makes him such a great travel writer is that, in love or not, he never resorts to gushing. He maintains the dry wit and eye for oddities that are his trademarks. I particularly liked the recurring bits about sharks and other potential agents of death. Bryson shows us a country full of interesting, likable and hardworking people; a harsh country not without problems, but a gosh-darned interesting place. You'll laugh a lot reading this, but without laughing at anyone. That's a difficult thing to pull off, and Bryson does it. His affection for the place is palpable. This is a great armchair travel book.

This is a great book, in my opinion. Bryson makes this tale both informative and funny. I had at least a few laugh-out-loud moments with this book. After I finished, I felt almost as if I had just taken a trip to Australia (never been there yet)- def the sign of a good writer. If you've never read Bill Bryson before, take a chance on this one - you won't regret it.

This should be required reading for anybody heading to Australia. He is an astute observer of human behavior, and relates his findings in the most humorous way. His description of the game of cricket is the most accurate and hilarious I've ever read, and his constant reminders of how everything in Australia will kill you provides nice continuity throughout the book.

What stands out about this book for me is that it stays with me. I often find myself referring back to it, telling people stories I read in it, chuckling about something in it. It helps that I appreciate Bryson's humor, his hypochondria and morbidity and his delight in the ridiculous. And since it is a travel book, its only fair to say that since I read his book, I went to see some of the things he saw, and I mean to see more of them.

I didn't know much about Bill Bryson except that he had written A Short History of Nearly Everything (which had nearly bored me to tears, the first time I tried to read it), but I gave this book a chance and I am so glad I did.
I think Bill Bryson is just about the funniest man alive. I was laughing so hard I was in tears more than a few times. I also really enjoy the history he gave about Australia.
Bill Bryson is one of my very favorite authors because of this book.

This was a fun book. Meandering the Australian countryside with Bryson was enjoyable. I learned a lot, too, about culture, history, the people, the slang. I will be visiting Sydney, Melbourne, and other places this December, and the information from this book will be handy. I wish he'd right one about New Zealand (I'm going there, too)!

I purchased Sunburned after reading a couple of others by Bryson. While Sunburned is a relaxing read, I was ultimately disappointed. One glaring omission is the lack of witty character development so prominent in other Bryson books. Further, Sunburned is long - 300 pages of what seemed like 8 point type - and painfully slow at times. All in all, it seemed like Bryson was uncharacteristically straining to come up with things to write about.
If you are new to Bill Bryson, I suggest going with A Walk in the Woods instead.

A rather slow moving books, but still a good read.

I like to equate "In A Sunburned Country" to Australia itself. It seems to go on forever, and at some points you just want to stop, but when it is finally over you are pining for more.

I'm reluctant to give this five stars, only because I don't want to seem like "that guy" who gives everything five stars. But what the hell, it deserves it.

What made this book so excellent is Bryson's perfect blend of wit, wonder and historical facts. He never overwhelms the reader with too much dry information, his humour isn't derived from negative Australian stereotypes and he always brings to life what a wonderful, strange country it really is. The cast of characters, so to speak, are simply superb and I'm glad that Bryson decided to include them in this book.

Some people might criticize the fact that Bryson didn't spend a lot of time in each location, or that he missed some really good locations, but I think this is entirely fine. One of the main themes of this book is that Australia is simply huge and the spaces between civilized areas are massive. If he decided to spend more time in each location, why, he would still be there today.

Bryson's sense of humour in this book is just phenomenal. His conversations with his friends, his mental dialogues and the commentary about Australia's strange history will make you chuckle delightfully, if not laugh out loud.

This book isn't a comprehensive history of Australia, nor would I want it to be. What Bryson does instead of boring us to death with a dry revival is pick out some of the most interesting little tidbits of Australian history and present them to us in a way that really gives us a greater understanding of the country. He often uses the historical examples to prove a point, such as the poor sod Harold Holt and the dangers Down under, and the Japanese atomic bomb that nobody noticed because Australia is so big and empty.

As a recent resident of Australia, I can personally vouch for the claims that he makes about the country. It is outstandingly beautiful, the people are unfailingly laid back and accommodating, and you will die if you aren't careful.

This book was an absolute treat to read.

This one started me reading all of Bryson's work but is still my all time favorite!

Bill Bryson is the man.
EXCELLENT book.
His descriptions are mind blowing.
I'm taking it with me when I go to Australia...one day. :)

I felt like I was with him on along his travels...unfortunatly I was just on the NYCsubway...*sigh*


I "L.O.L"ed.......A LOT! :)

Bill Bryson has written his impressions of England as an American, and his impressions of the U.S. as a longtime British resident, and here he travels to the corners of Australia to chronicle his impressions as a wide-eyed outsider. Bryson is the kind of writer who has no ego. He makes fun of himself as quickly as he does everyone and everything else he finds absurd in this vast, sun-baked country-continent. His sense of humor varies from gentle to wicked, and he educates even as he jokes, sharing his wonder that there are such rare animals as monotremes, a species which gives birth through the same hole (the "cloaca") it uses for defecating. Coming upon an echidna, a monotreme, in the wild, he is, as he puts it, "thrilled right down to my cloaca."

Pick up any Bryson book and you will find yourself laughing soon, and learning more than you thought you'd be interested in on any given subject. He makes facts and figures, usually about how fast our environment is being thoughtlessly ravaged by humans, so easy to swallow you don't even notice you have learned something. Bryson is one of a kind.

George Waters
[...]

Its a great book. It covers most of Australian cities. A must read if planning on travelling to Australia.

I really enjoy Bill Bryson already, and this book did not disappoint me. He's very descriptive and humorous - you feel like you're travelling along beside him.

Not as funny as A WALK THROUGH THE WOODS, but very entertaining. I really like how he combines his personal journey with history of Australia. He tries to get inside the culture, but freely admits to being an outsider. I would especially recommend this book if you are planning on going to Australia in the near future. It will help you to connect with the country in a big way.

I am not usually a fan of Bryson's writing. Too silly, but this book is great. I recommend it.

I read this book only because of how much I liked "A Short History of Nearly Everything," not because I ever plan to visit Australia. And I was absolutely correct in doing so. Hugely informative, fascinating, and often laugh-out-loud funny. Don't miss reading this book. (I listened to some of the audio version of the book -- narrated by Bryson himself. I liked it even more than the hard copy version.)

I loved this book and it turned me into a Bill Bryson fan. I honestly laughed out loud when I was reading this one. I'm not the type of person who gets to read all the time, but I'm glad I made the time for this one. I gave my friend a copy who will be visiting the sunburned country in a few weeks, and I know it will make the long flight go by so quickly.

This is a hysterically entertainingg book. I laughed out loud more than once while reading it. It is also very informative.One note-Bryson's humor can tend to be sarcastic, and he does not hold anything sacred.

I would strongly recommend this book to anyone planning a trip to Australia and to anyone who has spent time there as we have. Highly accurate and extremely funny. Bryson is a very readable author. This is the 5th book of his for me and maybe his best.

I read "Walk in the Woods" years ago and think of it quite often. This one is just as good.

I have always been facinated by Australia. This book fed that fire and taught me more than I expected. This is an easy to read and entertaining book. I expect even those who haven't really even thought about the country would find themselves suprised by how much they enjoy this book.

It is basically a travel diary - covering a lot of area of a very large continent. Bryson finds the people and things that make Australia what it is. He even includes some poinent social commentary about the indegenous people.

I enjoyed this book very much, and highly suggest you take a look.

My husband and I fought over this book while actually traveling through Australia Nov 2006. We laughed at his funny experiences and loved the history woven into the stories. We went to many of the same places that Bryson visited and had the same impressions. We just loved this book! It is especially wonderful to read it while you are there experiencing the magic of this amazing country. We went all over Eastern Australia and the Outback and then went to NZ. Sorry to say, NZ was pretty boring after Australia! Now we are reading Neither Here or There (even funnier) and A Short History of Nearly Everything. E Lamberson

This book was a great way to see parts of Australia that one would probably not be able to visit on a tour. I love the way that Bill Bryson writes!

I read Bill Bryson's "A Walk in the Woods" and laughed hysterically at many parts of the book, and through the rest was either duly entertained or pleasantly educated (for the "educated" aspect, Bill interlaces the book with fascinating factual tangents).

I started into "In a Sunburned Country" with similar expectations, and especially since I have always longed and planned to visit Australia. To state that I was disappointed is a severe understatement. After reading this book I now have little to no desire to visit the "land down under;" my only hope is that I will completely forget what I read in Bryson's book so that I may one day look forward to and enjoy visiting Australia. (Senility be merciful and consume me hastily!)

My best estimate is that Bryson was commissioned to write a ~350 page book about Australia. During and / or after his trip, his creative sense must have taken a vacation of its own. I have rarely struggled so much to get through a book as I did with this one. Bryson even stooped so low as to use an urban legend as a "story" relayed second-hand from one of the Australians he "met." Such a stunt makes me question if any of his accounts are real in any of his books.

The only saving grace to this book was the educational tangents. These, at least, provided for some interesting reading.

After comparing notes with another person who ventured to read another of Bryson's books ("I'm A Stranger Here Myself") after she read "A Walk in the Woods," it would appear that "In a Sunburned Country" is not the only snore-fest that Bryson has churned out. Perhaps he isn't a "one hit wonder," but I for one am not going to waste my time or money finding out.

So, if you are looking for the same caliber of writing that Bryson provided in "A Walk in the Woods," look to another author or prepare to be greatly disappointed.

I read Bill Bryson's "A Walk in the Woods" and laughed hysterically at many parts of the book, and through the rest was either duly entertained or pleasantly educated (for the "educated" aspect, Bill interlaces the book with fascinating factual tangents).

I started into "In a Sunburned Country" with similar expectations, and especially since I have always longed and planned to visit Australia. To state that I was disappointed is a severe understatement. After reading this book I now have little to no desire to visit the "land down under;" my only hope is that I will completely forget what I read in Bryson's book so that I may one day look forward to it and enjoy it. Senility be merciful and consume me hastily!

My best estimate is that Bryson was commissioned to write a ~350 page book about Australia. During and / or after his trip, his creative sense must have taken a vacation of its own. I have rarely struggled so much to get through a book as I did with this one. Bryson even stooped so low as to use an urban legend as a "story" relayed second-hand from one of the Australians he "met." Such a stunt makes me question if any of his accounts are real in any of his books.

The only saving grace to this book was the educational tangents. These, at least, provided for some interesting reading.

After comparing notes with another person who ventured to read another of Bryson's books ("I'm A Stranger Here Myself") after she read "A Walk in the Woods," it would appear that "In a Sunburned Country" is not the only snore-fest that Bryson has churned out. Perhaps he isn't a "one hit wonder," but I for one am not going to waste my time or money finding out.

So, if you are looking for the same caliber of writing that Bryson provided in "A Walk in the Woods," look to another author or prepare to be greatly disappointed.

Must reading for anyone planning a trip to Australia, or who
just likes a teriffic descrption of this far-off land by a master
storyteller who writes with self-depricating humor.

Bill Bryson's adventures, as usual, are full of lovely descriptions, surprises, and laughs. I am in the process of reading all of his books - if you like this make sure you get more.

I have to admit it, I'm a huge Bill Bryson fan. I've read and enjoyed all his books, some more some less but even his "weaker" books were well worth reading.

I've read this book in its UK form as "Down Under" and have to say it is my favorite of Bryson's books! It is funny, thought provoking, intelligent, and interesting all the way through. Bryson has a way of telling historical fact and making it interesting and here it shines.

A little tale of how I discovered this book: I was traveling through New Zealand and Australia for about a year. During my travels, backpackers (as low budget travelers are known) usually trade books between them. You pick up a book, you read it, you trade it for a different one from another backpacker. And so it goes. However, there was one particular book that many backpackers had in their possession and did not care to trade for any cost, it was indeed "Down Under" which I had to purchase for myself. Considering all the hype and praise fellow backpackers were giving it, I had no choice. It was a fantastic read full of relevant information. Afterwards, I too did not wish to trade it and it's sitting proudly on my bookshelf today, with red sand stains from the Australian Outback - a reminder to where the book was at!

In short, get this book, read it, enjoy it.

I checked this out of the library and read it on the way to Australia to visit my daughter during her study abroad semester in Brisbane. She read it while we sailed the Whitsundays and dove on the Great Barrier Reef - well, not when we we actually in the water. Before whe started reading it, in conversations I regularly sited Bryson having commented on many of our topics, by saying something, "Just like in the book," or, "Bryson talks about that in the book." A little like Seinfeld having done so many topics, that we live parts of them in our daily lives. Anyway, we left the book on a plane. So, I'll buy a copy for the library and one for me - money well spent. It was a great introduction and punctuated much of the trip. A bus driver in Brisbane was actually whistling "Que Sera Sera," which,I think, was mentioned in the book. I'll find out when I read it again. I'd read Bryson's Sort History of Nearly Everything a couple of years ago. It's also a good read.

You get your money's worth here--there are a ton of CDs in this audio book. Unfortunately, I found Bryson's prose (which I enjoyed a lot when reading silently, as I have done with his other books) to be greatly irritating when spoken aloud. To me, he sounds kind of 'affected' in parts, and sometimes there is a sort of "moist" sound when he pronounces words. Hard to describe until you hear the CD, but trust me on this one. I think a lot of the positive reviews on here are for the book, and not the CD. I would stick with the written word on this one.

I took this book with me on a recent trip to Central America and absolutely loved it. While there is less narrative flow than, say, A Walk in the Woods, reading Bryson's thoughts on Sydney harbor, Australian-rules football, former Prime Minister Harold Holt (peace be upon him), forever walking through Canberra, and his near run-in's with a seemingly endless list of nasty (and apparently deadly) native animals was engaging and thoroughly enjoyable. He does this all the while encountering some pretty terrific and endearing folks, drinking many Victorian Bitters, and relaying an impressive and affectionate recounting of Australian history. There really is a lot to like here. So much so that upon finishing the book while still in Central America, and realizing that I committed the unpardonable sin of only bringing one book with me to read (you try finding a decent bookstore in Central America), I turned to the first chapter and started all over again. And it was equally engrossing, witty, and informative if not more-so. I can think of no higher compliment for a book and I recommend it whole-heartedly.

I took this book with me on a recent trip to Central America and absolutely loved it. While there is less narrative flow than, say, A Walk in the Woods, reading Bryson's thoughts on Sydney harbor, Australian-rules football, former Prime Minister Harold Holt (peace be upon him), forever walking through Canberra, and his near run-in's with a seemingly endless list of nasty (and apparently deadly) native animals was engaging and thoroughly enjoyable. He does this all the while encountering some pretty terrific and endearing folks, drinking many Victorian Bitters, and relaying an impressive and affectionate recounting of Australian history. There really is a lot to like here. So much so that upon finishing the book while still in Central America, and realizing that I committed the unpardonable sin of only bringing one book with me to read (you try finding a decent bookstore in Central America), I turned to the first chapter and started all over again. And it was equally engrossing, witty, and informative if not more-so. I probably don't read as much as I would like, but I can think of no higher compliment for a book and I recommend it whole-heartedly.

This book is simply fantastic. Recommended to me by a friend, I got introduced to Mr. Bryson's writing four years ago. This was the first of his novels I read and it is, after reading them all, my favorite. His writing style is easy to read, and the books, packed with well-researched facts, are informative without being boring. Several years after reading this novel, I set off Down Under armed with a map, walking shoes, and In A Sunburned Country, dog-eared and highlighted. It was a great guide, and re-reading some of his reflections about the places that I was now standing before was such a treat.
I sincerely promise that if you have a sense of humor, adventure, and curiosity about the world, you'll love this book.

Bill Bryson is best known for writing very humorous travel books, and "In a Sunburned Country" is indeed a funny account of his travels in Australia. Those who love Bill Bryson's books for their humor won't be disappointed.

But unlike most people, I like Bill Bryson best when he's NOT trying to be funny, and my appreciation of this book is mostly due to the great amount of very interesting information presented.

Bill Bryson amazes you with loads of information about the geology, the animal life, the plants and insects, the history, the statistics, the folklore, etc., etc. The many dangers: poisonous snakes, poisonous insects, poisonous jellyfish, crocodiles, sharks, and rip currents - they're all out to get you. The inhospitable deserts, the beautiful beaches, the huge distances; Bill Bryson gives you a feeling of what it's all like.

The book goes into detail about many aspects of Australian life that are fairly unknown, including the discovery (and re-discovery) of Australia, the settlement by British prisoners, the early expeditions to explore the interior, the gold rushes, the outlaws, and the devastation caused by rabbits and other imported animals and plants. Bill Bryson talks about the many unusual animal species found only in Australia, including giant earthworms that grow up to 1 meter (and can be stretched to 4 meters) and the platypus, a cross between a reptile and a mammal. He talks about Australians and the Australian society, and the situation regarding the native people, the aboriginals.

Bill Bryson doesn't cover all of Australia from the geographical point of view, and the parts he does cover are somewhat random. But that doesn't matter because he captures the spirit of the whole country based on the parts he does visit and the general information he includes.

A very positive aspect is that Bill Bryson makes it clear that he loves Australia. The feeling is infectious, and it makes you want to pack your bags and head "down under" for a long leisurely trip so you can do your own exploring.

If I were to mention two things I was less happy about, it would be the occasional excessive attempts to be funny and the lack of contact with Australians. One of the best parts of the book is about his traveling together with an Australian couple for 3-4 days, but other than this passage Bill Bryson is mostly playing the typical tourist, with little or no contact with Australians. And despite a fairly long discussion about the aboriginal situation he does not ever get into contact with any aboriginals. Why not?

A final note regarding the unabridged audio version of the book, read by Bill Bryson himself: Most authors are poor readers, but Mr. Bryson does a very good job here, almost on a par with a professional reader. Recommended.

Rennie Petersen

PS. "In a Sunburned Country" has also been published under the title "Down Under". It is exactly the same book.

Bill Bryson is best known for writing very humorous travel books, and "In a Sunburned Country" is indeed a funny account of his travels in Australia. Those who love Bill Bryson's books for their humor won't be disappointed.

But unlike most people, I like Bill Bryson best when he's NOT trying to be funny, and my appreciation of this book is mostly due to the great amount of very interesting information presented.

Bill Bryson amazes you with loads of information about the geology, the animal life, the plants and insects, the history, the statistics, the folklore, etc., etc. The many dangers: poisonous snakes, poisonous insects, poisonous jellyfish, crocodiles, sharks, and rip currents - they're all out to get you. The inhospitable deserts, the beautiful beaches, the huge distances; Bill Bryson gives you a feeling of what it's all like.

The book goes into detail about many aspects of Australian life that are fairly unknown, including the discovery (and re-discovery) of Australia, the settlement by British prisoners, the early expeditions to explore the interior, the gold rushes, the outlaws, and the devastation caused by rabbits and other imported animals and plants. Bill Bryson talks about the many unusual animal species found only in Australia, including giant earthworms that grow up to 1 meter (and can be stretched to 4 meters) and the platypus, a cross between a reptile and a mammal. He talks about Australians and the Australian society, and the situation regarding the native people, the aboriginals.

Bill Bryson doesn't cover all of Australia from the geographical point of view, and the parts he does cover are somewhat random. But that doesn't matter because he captures the spirit of the whole country based on the parts he does visit and the general information he includes.

A very positive aspect is that Bill Bryson makes it clear that he loves Australia. The feeling is infectious, and it makes you want to pack your bags and head "down under" for a long leisurely trip so you can do your own exploring.

If I were to mention two things I was less happy about, it would be the occasional excessive attempts to be funny and the lack of contact with Australians. One of the best parts of the book is about his traveling together with an Australian couple for 3-4 days, but other than this passage Bill Bryson is mostly playing the typical tourist, with little or no contact with Australians. And despite a fairly long discussion about the aboriginal situation he does not ever get into contact with any aboriginals. Why not?

A final note regarding the unabridged audio version of the book, read by Bill Bryson himself: Most authors are poor readers, but Mr. Bryson does a very good job here, almost on a par with a professional reader. Recommended.

Rennie Petersen

I read Bryson as I toured Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria. His stories are at once informative, witty, engaging and memorable. At points I had excuse myself for laughing so loud while reading. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a light read before, during or after a visit to Australia. Bryson was inexplicably crude in a few spots, but this did not detract from the overall interest and enjoyment I took away from the book.

You MUST read this book before your travels to OZ. It could even help you plan your itinerary. Bill Bryson's writing and wry humor illuminate this vast continent for us visitors. Bill's interesting history, geography, side-splitting anecdotes and an unabashed love for this country make this book a great introduction to OZ.

Things have changed a bit since this book was first published (Australia is in the news more, and used extensively in the U.S. in marketing campaigns.), but the basics still apply and give one a real appreciation for this fascinating country.