One of Bryson's characteristics is the odd little vulgarity which creeps in, but that does not detract from the perceptiveness of the book as a whole. He accurately draws what I recall of the leafy area I myself lived in as a child (Mosman and Cremorne, Middle Harbour and down to Balmoral). Also interesting was his view of the outback and Western Australia, areas personally unknown to this reviewer.

I could not agree with Bryson's view that more should be done to (implied rather than written) make Aboriginals into mainstream members of society. That attempt was made for a century. It failed because their whole way of thinking is different: they have also, coming out of that, a Weltanschauung which is their own and purely their own. But it is true that, from 1967-69 in Sydney, I saw only two Aboriginals in the city and suburbs, one the girl in my 10-year-olds' class and the other one walking in central Sydney.

All in all, a book worth reading, though Bryson ran out of time to really explore towards the end due to a prior appointment in Syria, of all places. Hm, question of priorities...?


Australian antics from Bill Bryson   July 16, 2004
 2 out of 3 found this review helpful

This book is classic Bryson, it is witty, funny (not necessarily the same things),irreverent and I suspect, the author had his tongue firmly in his cheek whilst writing it.

It is also a very affectionate look at Australia, its inhabitants, culture and landscape but it is not uncritical, one only has to read what he writes about the treatment of the Aboriginal people to see this.

What comes across overwhelmingly though is the sheer amount of fun the writer had in Australia. For example, his new lyrics for Waltzing Matilda are very rude and very funny, its probably just as well that he only prints one verse of them.

If you know nothing about Australia then this book will leave you wanting to know more, if you are going there, then I suggest you read this it will give you a real flavour of what to expect when you get there.


Bucolic Bill Bags Oz   October 22, 2003
 1 out of 1 found this review helpful

Even when he is laughing near you, Bryson is rarely laughing at you.

For the people who live here, Bill delivers the ultimate: he helps the locals (Australians) to see the country through new eyes. His ability to unearth provocative new angles on old historical events is awesome, and he is a pithy observer of the now.

For those who don't know Bryson, and don't know Australia, the book may be a little obtuse. On the other hand, he is an experienced American / British travel journalist, so he may just persuade you to come and have a look at this remarkable country.

For those who know Australia, but don't live here, this book may be the motivation you need to get back on the plane for the long tube ride, to come and have and have another look...especially at those hard bits you didn't see before. Book the ticket, and buy the book to read en route.

And if you're just an armchair traveller, don't read this unless you feel comfortable laughing out loud. I took it to the swimming pool last weekend and got a lot of funny looks. Then I decided I didn't care, and laughed out very loud, in my bathers and my late-spring chubby white body, anyway.

Read this book. If you don't, buy one of Bryson's others. If you don't do either, be sad. You deserve it.