Bill Bryson

State: Iowa

Bill Bryson (born December 8, 1951, in Des Moines, Iowa) is a celebrated American–British author, renowned for his humorous and insightful nonfiction spanning travel, science, language, and memoir. After spending his formative years in Des Moines and attending Drake University, he traveled through Europe in the early 1970s, eventually settling in the UK. Bryson first gained fame with lighthearted travelogues like Notes from a Small Island and A Walk in the Woods, before transitioning into popular science. His acclaimed work A Short History of Nearly Everything earned both the Aventis and Descartes Prizes. With over 16 million books sold, he also served as Chancellor of Durham University and was made an honorary fellow of the Royal Society. His memoir The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid draws on his Midwestern upbringing and remains one of his most beloved personal works. Bryson retired from writing in 2020 but continues to be celebrated for making knowledge approachable and entertaining.

Genres: Adventure, Humor, Memoir, Nonfiction

Audiences: Adult, All Ages