In an earlier book, "A Walk In The Woods", Bryson trudges on foot, along the Appalachian Trail. Here we find him exploring a good deal of Australia with a bit more savvy applied his mode of locomotion. He's still a walker, and covers most cities on foot, but the inbetween bits are more reasonably handled by the expected car, train, bus and plane.
Australia is a country of staggering proportions, in size obviously, but in oddity and ferocity I believe it outstrips the sheer numbers most of us are familiar with. The beauty of Bryson's account is that the man is very clever and extremely funny. The hidden gem to his writings, for me, is that he does the research that I'd hope that I would do if I were traveling where he has. He finds out the odd and the usual, relays it appropriately in small, entertaining and comprehensible chunks along the way.
Bryson has a knack for chosing the interesting options available and the bravery to follow up on these instincts. He researches the Aborigines and the issues the invading White folk have created. This might be the most important territory the book covers. If you are under the impression that the subjegation of man is reserved for the US and South Africa, you had better take a look at Australian history. Recent Australian history, in the 1970's they recorded lynchings, but not many, since it was so very commonplace. What a surprise.
He manages to cover the perimeter of the continent, and criss-crosses the interior, this is a spectacular feat, especially when you get a sampling of the abysmal failures of earlier adventurers in the past in Bryson's (mostly) cheery commentary.
Bryson is a human fellow, gets irritated with the weather, accomodations and such, just as you or I would, but the best part is, he's a clever commentator and wonderful proxy.