Do you know in your heart of hearts that you are from another planet? or that the people who make you breakfast and take you on bizarre roadtrips are not your real parents? Did you have the power to destroy those who wronged you with a single glare? Well, you are not alone. Bill Bryson also knew and did these things, growing up in Des Moines in the 1950s. Bryson takes a hilarious journey through his childhood as well as teaching us a bit of United States history in this thoroughly entertaining memoir.