 The book received mostly positive reviews from critics.Carole Cadwalladr of "The Observer" wrote "What Bryson has achieved with this book is final confirmation that he is the Frank Capra of American letters", and later added "And it really is a wonderful life to be immersed in the American Midwest in the Fifties with Bill as your tour guide [...] Bryson has to pad his tale with other stuff.And it's the other stuff at which he excels."