Tim Blair

What...not enough bile in politics these days, Tim? You have to resort to insulting travel writers now?

My apologies for forcing you to read this site several times every day, Niall.

Go get 'im, Tim ! I've never figured out why Australians made his book about them such a 'best-seller.' (Must be SMH readers!) He loves Australia so much that he's not only patronising but thinks his affection gives him licence to say whatever he wants. As a transplanted Yank, I found much of his book downright insulting to my adopted country. His slag off of cricket isn't even funny -- just over the top dumb.

I've got that book somewhere. A few weird errors in it, as I recall.

Well, someone has to keep you honest.....it's not working though, I notice ;)

I was wondering who this Niall dork was, until I went to its site. Self explanatory! Watch out Tim, it seems to be trying to take over your site. Talk about opinionated lefties!

"I have a problem writing my kind of book about Third World countries." Yeahhhhh, rrrrrighhhhhhtt. Didn't stop him from being utterly snide and condescending toward underclass in the American south in general, and certain Georgians in particular--many of whom live in third world conditions--in _A Walk in the Woods_. I suspected he's a Yankee jackass with European pretentions when I read his book. Now I know its true.

Bryson has a couple of books on language,such as "The Mother Tongue," that are informative and a lot of fun to read. Don't let his political views deter you from reading those.

My favorite Civil War general is William T. Sherman, but even I found Bryson's attitude towards southerners a bit much.

It must be our fangs and the habit we have of dining on small children every dark of the moon that upsets foreigners (or as we here south of the Mason-Dixon line like to say, "brunch entrees") like Bryson.

Bryson has a couple of books on language,such as "The Mother Tongue," that are informative and a lot of fun to read.

And filled with facts of doubtful accuracy. I can't remember which ones now, but there were at least two folk etymologies passed off as fact in The Mother Tongue.

I like Bryson's writing (although he puts me to sleep when he's on TV), but he shouldn't be taken to have any special Great Insights. He's the sort of guy who believes that if he can't figure something out, no ordinary mortal could.

Upset someone's making more money than you Timmy?

I prefer 'panty-waste' to 'pantywaist' when describing people like Bryson.

So, Bryson is leaving America because of the education system? For Britain? Either he a) hasn't been reading samizdata on the state of British ed or b) he's rich enough to send his children to private school which makes him c) "a Yankee(elitist)jackass with European pretentions."

But would he give up his American citizenship?

I'd ask posters to be kind to Niall. He may be significantly challenged in some areas; but try always to remember, bad as it is to kick someone when he's down, it's far worse to kick someone who can't even get up in the first place.

I haven't read his crap, but he must be better than that miserable creep Theroux.

Norman: I hold you completely reasonable for chasing Niall from under the bridge.

That should say "responsible".

All Bryson's books are filled with factual errors, including the books on language. Many of them are things that are extraordinarily easily checked too. He and his editors are just extremely careless.

from Willie: "I suspected he's a Yankee jackass with European pretentions when I read his book. Now I know its true."

He's from Iowa.

Like Alex Bensky, I very much enjoyed reading "The Mother Tongue." Then I read "Made in America." Unlike "The Mother Tongue," I was already familiar with a significant number of the specific details that he refers to in "Made in America." Sadly, I found that Michael Jennings' statements about frequent errors, "Many of them are things that are extraordinarily easily checked too. He and his editors are just extremely careless" to be all too accurate. For example, he puts towns in incorrect states. That has made me worry that some (or much) of the fascinating information I gathered from "The Mother Tongue" may be inaccurate. Via Angie Schultz, I see that that is likely the case.

Like Alex Bensky, I very much enjoyed reading "The Mother Tongue." Then I read "Made in America." Unlike "The Mother Tongue," I was already familiar with a significant number of the specific details that he refers to in "Made in America." Sadly, I found that Michael Jennings' statements about frequent errors, "Many of them are things that are extraordinarily easily checked too. He and his editors are just extremely careless" to be all too accurate. For example, he puts towns in incorrect states. That has made me worry that some (or much) of the fascinating information I gathered from "The Mother Tongue" may be inaccurate. Via Angie Schultz, I see that that is likely the case.

Yes, "Mother Tongue" is full of mistakes too. This is a shame, as this had the potential to be a good book. On the other hand, "Troublesome Words", which was meant as a reference book along the lines of Fowler's "Modern English Usage", and which was published (in its first edition) before Bryson wrote any travel books, is much better. This may be because Penguin hired a good fact checker, or something like that. (It even explains that one shouldn't say "gild the lily" because (a) it is a dreadful cliche and (b) it is not what Shakespeare actually said. This is a minor bugbear of mine, and it is good to see someone actually get this right).