Light, witty listening - usually. This was my first experience with Bill Bryson, though I have a couple more of his books on my list and/or shelf. Especially relevant for American emigrants and expats that get to see our country from the outside, the way Bryson peers at it in these essays. Listening to an American accented reader use British English vocabulary while explaining American idiosyncrasies was a quirky reminder of the point of view. More than 20 years old at my reading, a few essays were out of date, but several were surprisingly on-the-nose.