Rating: 
Summary: irresistible
Review: I can truly say that I read every word of this delightful, well-presented informal history, and as a former Scot, was debunked of many myths and misconceptions I'd held about America, so much so that I'm noticing a new awareness, enthusiasm for and understanding of my chosen country after 32 years here. This book is so full of interesting detail, written in a way that no one group of people is the loser (i.e., we have all contributed), that it is impossible not to read it all the way through with enjoyment and to feel regret when one reaches the last page. This is how history should be taught to our children. Captivating in its scope and interest (the humanitarian, humorous and charming underlying voice of Bill Bryson throughout is an endearing presence), this great little book contains everything to enrich our awareness, and encourage reflection while providing a handy rationale (e.g., the reason for Levitt's building of tract homes to provide affordable housing -- equipped with appliances -- during the 50's). The chapter about the Wright brothers was so compassionate in its understanding of Orville and Wilbur that I was reduced to tears.
Rating: 
Summary: linguistics or history?
Review: I found "Made in America" to be an enjoyable read. More of the book is taken up with historical contexts than etymologies, but very interesting and informative nonetheless. As one who is routinely irked by the tendency of many non-American native speakers of English to denigrate the way Americans talk and write, I appreciated the validation of American "English" as a dynamic and creative langue in its' own right.
Rating:
Summary: Fascinating look at U.S. history
Review: I found this book more interesting not as a book about language, but as a book about American history. Bryson provides details about the history of all kinds of everyday items and traditions--things most of us take for granted, like shopping carts, highways or malls. He tells how they developed, spawned other industries, and gradually conspired to form everyday life in the '90s. He also reveals that history isn't exactly like we've been taught. The wild west of old wasn't much like our image of it. Patrick Henry likely didn't say what we credit him with saying. It's fascinating reading, even if it isn't Bryson's usual laugh-a-minute fare.
Rating: 
Summary: Urrgh - it's bogged down with word derivations :(
Review: I guess I'm going against the grain here, 'caus I'm being critical of the style of this book.
Being a fan of Bryson's travelogs, I eagerly began reading this work. OK in the initial chapters there were numerous sprinklings throughout of ...'this word derived from this Spanish term ... and was first used in 1782' and such like. Alas as the chapters wore on, (and they did) this fixation continued and increased with the result that the story was continually derailed and sidlined by constant (and wordy) passages about hundreds of American word origins - UURGH.
By around page 120, I adopted the approach of simply overlooking great chunks of text where the italics warned of another impending word fixation.
Between this stuff, was an intersting and obviously very well researched work about the development of the Americal nation. Couldn't the editors/publisher have taken a firmer hand here and purged this book of all this frilly and distracting 'word bog'? As I say, perhaps I'm in the minority here - but this style spoilt an otherwise good read.
Rating:
Summary: READER, ENJOY! BUT, READER, BEWARE!!
Review: I have just finished Bryson's "Made In America" and came away both thrlled yet annoyed. Bryson certainly writes in an enjoyable hand but I must question some of his conclusions. There are phrases and catchwords which other writers credit with different origins. So be it. Everyone is allowed one's own opinion. For instance,"bought the farm" I believe came from the trenches of WWI whereby soldiers were given an insurance policy by their governments and in the event of their death, their beneficiaries would have enough money to purchase said real estate. Also, the term "so long", as I have researched, was a New England nautical term from the 18th or 19th century; when a sailor on land recognized a sailor friend on ship heading out to sea, the former would hold a rope between his hands over his head to plaintively ask how long the latter's voyage would be. In response, the seaman would likewise hold a rope and indicate time by the distance between his outstretched hands. The book is completely enjoyable. But,I recommend that the Gentle Reader should have a grasp of American history before being entertained. Bryson, I believe, has made some careless errors, to wit: Curtiss began his aviation experimentation in Hammondsport,NEW YORK, not Hammondsport, Connecticut. There seems to be a problem with the quality of the book, probably not attributable to Bryson but, rather, to the publisher. I must have counted at least 30 typos in the text; obviously an error by the publisher's proofreaders in not studying the galleys closely! Still, I do highly recommend reading this book for its entertainment content. But, be careful if you plan to quote from it....
Rating:
Summary: Fab, Grouse, Awesome!
Review: I love language and all its peculiarities and variations. Scholarly works like David Crystal's Cambridge Encyclopedia of Language are great reference books. So is this, in a very different way. Not only is it a good "people's history" of some aspects of US history, it is one of those books you reach for when your 'favourite' language pedant starts waxing on about how terrible it is that noone speaks's proper any more, or "the kids of today..." As an Australian, and therefore being trilingual (British, American and Australian English) I love to be able to stop some fool in their tracks with the information that some 'vulgar Americanisms' are actually much older forms of English that were transported and survived, at the same time as English mutated in its homeland. The Grammar Pedants won't have it that English is a living language, that usage, spelling and grammar 'rules' change ... this book shows how it does and also demonstrates how some of the most common words we use to deal with life in our age were once US-invented neologisms or even slang. All this (and more) delivered in Bryson's wry and ironic (read witty) tone.
Rating: 
Summary: Self plagiarism
Review: I started this book yesterday. Today I tossed it across the room in disgust. Mr. Bryson's bias for things English and against things American once again rears it's ugly head. If he ever gets over this malady he would have something useful to say. Circumlocution, as Ambrose Bierce said, is a literary trick whereby the writer who has nothing to say breaks it gently to the reader. Mr. Bryson has added nothing of value with this book. Everything he had to say on the topic was in Mother Tongue. If you have any interest in this area stick with Mother Tongue, it's the much better choice.
Rating:
Summary: An English Language book for the rest of us!
Review: I'm not a student of the English language, though the history of words does interest me, therefore I've tried to read William Safire's books but with little success. I picked up this book only because of Bill Bryson. The book is not what you think, "An Informal History," describes the book exactly. Bryson fills the book with more historical antidotes than a formal study of the English language in the United States. Bryson takes you along for a history of the United States and how our language has changed from English into its current form today. The other half of the book contains chapters dealing with specific topics such as names, the movies and cooking. Each of the subjects deals with the words and phases that entered the language at the time or involving the subject. There are some reviews that question Bryson's accuracy on some of the items, and this book is not filled with Bryson's usual humor, but the writing is enjoyable with just the right amount of wit throughout. Make sure you check out the chapter dealing with Puritan morality!
Rating: 
Summary: America with mixed emotions
Review: It's hard to know how to take Bill. He's American yet her seems too have an odd prediliction for criticising and belittling America. He writes well, is very funny and interesting yet after reading any of his books about America you are left with a strange (sour?) taste in your mouth. I've always been suspicious of Americans who go to live somewhere else and then decide to criticise their home country. All that notwithstanding the intelligent reader will sift the dross from the gloss and find this book an enjoyable read.
Rating:
Summary: Research made entertaining
Review: Made In America is a delightful look at American history through language, or perhaps the American language through history. Bryson wanders all over the map (both literally and figuratively)with his tales of linguistic and social history. There are chapters on everything from Native American place names to the movies, from housing to advertising. Full of tidbits for any historical writer, and entertainment for any reader.
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