The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid: A Memoir,   ISBN:9780767919371

Customer Rating: 

I read this book after receiving some devastating personal news. I grew up at a later time than Mr. Bryson, and in a different part of the country, but I found myself laughing hysterically and relating very well to his accounts of growing up in America. I loved his bits of factual information providing references of where he was and what was going on around him. I consider this book ingeniously funny, and I smile just looking at the cover. It was a life saver for me.

Customer Rating: 

The 1950s were a different time in America. TV was new on the scene, and so was the threat of nuclear annialation. All this is put in hilarious perspective by Mr. Bryson.

One thing does concern me. Did Bryson get exposed to nuclear fallout from the testing in Nevada:

"The Sedan shot resulted in a radioactive cloud that separated into two plumes, rising to 3 km (10,000 ft.) and 4.9 km (16,000 ft.) The two plumes headed northeast and then east in roughly parallel paths towards the Atlantic Ocean. A large amount of nuclear fallout was dropped along the way, narrowly dispersed in a relatively small number of United States counties. Detected radioactivity was especially high in eight counties in Iowa and one county each in Nebraska, South Dakota and Illinois. Most heavily affected counties were Howard, Mitchell and Worth counties in Iowa.." from Wikipedia, Sedan (nuclear test)

Customer Rating: 

After reading his first bestselling books, I decided to read other Brysons' books as well. This was third book of Bryson, which I read. And once again Bryson has very interesting and funny story for readers. Interesting to read how world was seen with child's eyes in 50' and what happened in the world, when Bryson was small kid.

Customer Rating: 

Love Bryson's stuff! I really got fits of belly-shaking laughter when I read this book -- not only because it is (entertainingly?) true and I can identify with it (the paper route, the anecdote with the little girl he wanted to be his girlfriend)-- but because it enlightens. It not only offers insightful nuggets of wisdom into the American psyche, but also reveals, via his personal anecdotes, our common foibles. Elucidation through laughter. I always laugh WITH Bill Bryson. Read it if you want to get a feel for living and growing up in America.

Customer Rating: 

From a writer's point of view, Thunderbolt is a master's course in how to capture readers and keep them wanting more.

[http://ritastories.wordpress.com/2010/02/09/bill-bryson-and-the-thunderbolt-kid-hit-the-mark/]

While the story is not unique, the way it is told makes this a must read book.