Thoughts on At Home: A Short History of Private Life
If you love residential design and history, this is the book for you. At Home: A Short History of Private Life (Anchor Books, 2011), by Bill Bryson, was hard for me to put down. Bryson uses the floor plan of a modest English Victorian residence designed by architect Edward Tull to guide the journey in his book.
Creatively writing about the house, room by room, Bryson takes the reader through an incredible journey that segues into unimaginable facts of life in previous centuries and returns again to the simple room being discussed (kitchen, scullery and larder, drawing room, dining room, bathroom, and more). Each chapter gives the reader background information, both shocking and exciting, and an appreciation for how home design has evolved. No longer will I take for granted the comforts of a home in 2014.
If you’re interested in buying the book, it’s available on Amazon.
*All opinions in this book review are my own. I did not receive compensation for this post.
Other Architecture Books & My Reviews
If you enjoyed reading this book review, feel free to read the one I wrote about The Architecture of William Lawrence Bottomley. The American Institute of Architects (AIA), one of the best online resources for architecture, also has a list of bestselling books—a wonderful resource for books about residential architecture.
About Bruce Wentworth
Wentworth was founded by Bruce Wentworth, AIA, a noted remodeling architect who has worked in the Washington, DC metropolitan area for over twenty years. He has built hundreds of his own designs, ranging from modest bungalows to large-scale luxury residences.
Read the rest of Bruce’s bio.
