Made in America: Bill Bryson

According to the author this book is about America's contribution to the English language. But that is just the sub-text. The book really is one of the best history text books for anyone [and I guess there should be many in India] who wants to know a little bit about American history.

But I am getting ahead in the story. Let me begin by two confessions: 1. I have never been the US [that is saying something in this day and age!] 2. I had very little knowledge about American history till I read this book [Again that is saying something because since High School through to PhD, I have read only history. But then a gentleman called Thomas Babington Macaulay and his Indian followers had ensured that I knew more about Tudors and Stuarts than about the Boston Tea Party]

I am not going to summarise the book here since it is one of those books which has to be read and experienced. But just inform you that next time when you are in the US and you are not the type who would carry loads of rice and dal, cook yourself the same food everyday, stick to your community, save virtually more than you earn and look for Green Card from the time of your arrival; you must read this book. It will make you immesely knowledgeable about America and allow you to talk intelligently. The book starts at the beginning even before the Pilgrims [we are told that these were by far not the first settlers and by no means the best set of people]; talks about the several bunglings of Christopher Columbus, take you thorough the formation of the Union, the constitution, the civil war, and all that is American, language, sports, business, advertising and even sex.

The size of the book is intimidating, but once you start reading it you will find it engrossing: each page is like a new discovery.

And this is NOT the book which begins with the now famous Bryson line "I come from Des Moines, someone had to!" Yet I read the whole book but could not find the answer to a question that has been in my mind for 20 years now. In any international gathering an American [US] will state her/his name and the name of the city [even if it is Des Moines and little known outside the county: "Hi I am Bill Bryson from Des Moines"] This is completely contrary to the international custom. I have never heard an Indian saying "Hi I am Subho from Katihar" not a Japanese saying "I am Sugihara from Kyoto". Rarely a Brit would announce his/her city even if s/he is from London, Nor have a met a Rene from Niece. All of us have the natural habit of declaring our place of origin/domicile in an hierarchical order. Thus if I am in Bihar with the Biharis, I would say I am from Katihar; if I am in Delhi with people from other states, I would say I am from Bihar and if I am in London with people of many nationalities, I would say I am from India and then go on to explain my state and town. This, I believe is the general rule for all except Americans.

Mr Bryson does not mention why is this so. And I have not yet been able to develop a theory around it. If you have any theories please share them with me, else, I guess I would have to make that long overdue journey to the land of Mark Twain.

Ancient Knowledge and Modern Science

I have just finished reading Bill Bryson's A Short History of Nearly Everthing. Bryson is a prolific and very good travel writer but he deviates a bit in this book and writes about the travels and travails mother earth has undertaken to be where it is and also indicates where she is headed.
For me reading the book has been a humbling experience and a scary one too... from the size of the galaxy to the size of the bacteria that lives at 130 C, I have lost all perspective of size.
From the impact of a moon sized meteor crashing on the earth to the havoc that mutant strains of virus can cause, I have lost all perspective of fear.
From the fact that for the last 300 odd years "modern" science has just been trying to understand things to the fact that some of them have done more harm to us than the collective good scientists have done, I have lost much respect for "knowledge"
What struck me most about the book is right at the beginning.... "Something came out of nothing" That is how the universe was created and the best part of this is that I have read this theory somewhere in a more flowery language.. Can you guess where? If you can't here is a conversation that apparently took place between a guru and a shishya in an ashram more than 2000 years ago:

Student: How did this mighty banyan tree come about?
Teacher: Son, This mighty tree came from the seed
Student: How did the seed come about?
Teacher: Go fetch a seed and see what is inside it
Student: I see nothing inside the seed, teacher!
Teacher: That is correct my son, the mighty banyan tree came from "nothing"

This is from one of the Upanishadas and you will find the whole conversation translated into English in Romila Thapar's Penguin History of India....
Thank you Mr Bryson, your brilliant book has restored my faith in ancient Indian knowledge, in our myths [the large oversized mammals and other weird creatures that you describe from times past are all there in our mythology].
PS: Those interested in scary things, here are three instances from the book of how fragile we are:

1. The whole of 70 odd acres of Yellowstone National Park in the mouth of a volcano, if it bursts one day, and it is due to burst if you belive in probablity, more than half the population of the world will perish as collateral damage:)
2. When you go to sleep remember for the millons of bacteria living off your skin your head looks like a tasty doughnut.
3. Twice in the last 20 years two planetoids have passed the earth's orbit at a few lakh kilometres. This is apparently a miraculous escape, something close to a bullet passing through your shirt sleeves....