A review by casspro
The Lost Continent: Travels in Small Town America by Bill Bryson

2.0

I'm only six chapters into this travel book and I'm already seething with anger. Bryson is an asshole. He didn't come across this way in previous books I've read of his, but he just a raging, pompous ass in this writing. His view of small town Americans, whether in the South or Midwest or wherever, is stereotypical and insulting. His view of America is based on a childhood fantasy episode of "Leave it to Beaver" that doesn't exist. And when his ridiculous expectations aren't met, he spirals into an awful depression and whines about how backwards the rest of the country is and how much more sophisticated he is compared to the rest of the slack-jawed yokels of this country. His opinion of small town people is so exaggerated and ludicrous that it diminishes any good that might shine through his bog of bullshit. I'm so disappointed. I was hoping for something enlightening or at the very least entertaining, but alas. Like the arrogant wine sommelier at a kegger, Bryson ruins everyone else's good time.