Another recommendation for a book...
 

Bill Bryson's "Neither Here Nor There--Travels in Europe."
It is not a new book, it's about 10 years old. Like Bryson's other books, it is laugh-out-loud funny in many places, and just entertainingly informative in others.
Highly recommended as a light read.

And given one of today's threads, I love his take on national stereotypes, including French and Italian drivers. It turns out some of the "national characteristics" have been noted by travelers for several centuries. Not their driving, of course...

this sank quickly, which is fine, just wondering if anyone else has read it.

Elaine, along with my girlfriend, that book of Bryson's was my traveling companion in Italy a year ago. For books, I normally only bring a couple travel guides but, at the last minute, I decided to bring that one as well, and was glad I did as it is, as you note, laugh-out-loud funny in many places.

Elaine, I checked Amazon.com when you posted this, and the book is out of stock. However, I see he's written many other books. Could you recommend any others? Always in the market for a good read!

I've read, "Notes From a Small Island" which is hilariously about the UK.
He lived there for 20 years.
On my future reading list are his
"I'm a Stranger Here Myself" which is about his return to living in the US, and "A Walk in the Woods."
He also has a very recent book out about the vagaries of the English language, can't recall the title at the moment. He also wrote one about Australia a couple of years ago.

IMHO, anything by Bill Bryson is well worth reading. He's an amazing observer and a very funny man.

His stuff is terrific but I do think Neither Here Nor There is his best, at least for those of us who love European travel. Check it out of the library if it's no longer being sold at Amazon, B&N, etc. A very funny read.

I just read Neither Here Nor There for the third time. It still makes me fall off my chair laughing.
The Mother Tongue is the one about the English language - also a good book.
I think P.J. O'Rourke's book Holidays in Hell is a good rival for Neither Here Nor There.

Another vote for "Holidays in Hell." O'Rourke has a very wicked sense of humor.