In a Sunburned Country

By: Bill Bryson

Narrated by: Bill Bryson

Every time Bill Bryson walks out the door, memorable travel literature threatens to break out. This time in Australia.

His previous excursion along the Appalachian Trail resulted in the sublime national bestseller A Walk in the Woods. In A Sunburned Country is his report on what he found in an entirely different place: Australia, the country that doubles as a continent, and a place with the friendliest inhabitants, the hottest, driest weather, and the most peculiar and lethal wildlife to be found on the planet. The result is a deliciously funny, fact-filled, and adventurous performance by a writer who combines humor, wonder, and unflagging curiousity.

Despite the fact that Australia harbors more things that can kill you in extremely nasty ways than anywhere else, including sharks, crocodiles, snakes, even riptides and deserts, Bill Bryson adores the place, and he takes his readers on a rollicking ride far beyond that beaten tourist path. Wherever he goes he finds Australians who are cheerful, extroverted, and unfailingly obliging, and these beaming products of land with clean, safe cities, cold beer, and constant sunshine fill the pages of this wonderful book.

Australia is an immense and fortunate land, and it has found in Bill Bryson its perfect guide.©2000 Bill Bryson; (P)2000 Random House, Inc., Bantam Doubleday Dell Audio Publishing, A Division of Random House Inc.

Critic reviews

"In the late afternoon, I stopped at a roadhouse for gas and coffee. I studied my book of maps . . . Then, having nothing better to do, I leafed through the index and amused myself, in a very low-key way, by looking for ridiculous names, of which Australia has a respectable plenitude. I am thus able to report that the following are all real places: Wee Waa, Poowons, Borrumbuttock, Suggan Buggan, Boomahnoomoonah, Waaia, Mullumbimby Ewylamartup, Jiggalong, and the supremely satisfying Tittybong."

Laugh out loud funny

This is my first book by Bryson but it won't be my last. His wit and satire made this one of the most enjoyable books I have read in a long time. In addition to its humor, the book provides an excellent glimpse of Australia... its history, its people, its cities, and its unique and beautiful sights. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn about Australia and have a good time to boot. (Memorable quote from the book: "Most people, when sleeping, look like they need a blanket. I look like I need medical attention.")

Excellent

It's always great when you're laughing throughout a book and still learning an incredible amount about something.

I highly recommend this book.

Very funny

I have never read a "travel" book before so I was not sure what to expect. I simply wanted some information about Australia. What I got instead was one of the funniest stories I have listened to in a long time. I did also learn a great deal about Australia in the process. Bill Bryson is a great author and he reads his work like a pro. The section where he describes how the game of cricket is played is worth the price of the book alone.

Simply wonderful

Bill Bryson is always great, but this book is a particular favorite, and as a reader Bryson is marvellous -- low-key, endearing, and very funny. It's like spending hour after delightful hour in the company of a dear friend with an inexhaustible supply of fascinating and amusing anecdotes. I've never been to Australia -- yet -- but I love it dearly as a result of this book. In fact, when I read Nevil Shute's "A Town Like Alice" not long after completing this book, I got so homesick for Australia that I read the Bryson book all over again. I really can't recommend it highly enough.

Never been to Australia. But now I have.

Bill Bryson takes you off to a land far far away. And you can easily imagine what it's like there. Love the humor and all the stories and historical facts. Love that Bill Bryson narrated it, couldn't imagine anyone else doing it.
On a few occasions, it did feel like a chore to keep going, but I'm very happy I did.