If I were a king, I would be Bill Bryson's patron. I'd spend my days reading as he wrote, neglecting all other responsibilities.

In One Summer, Bryson pulls together all the summer's major events, their backstories, and their eventual conclusions in an incredibly readable way. I learned much about our nation, about the personalities from the day, and about the day's climate and culture. The story covers both the well-known (Charles Lindbergh, Babe Ruth, Al Capone), and the lesser-known. I learned how horrifyingly close America walked with Nazi ideals (the eugenics movement) before veering away. I learned about Lindbergh's triumph and downfall. I learned about mobs and speakeasies and Lou Gehrig and the Model A. I thoroughly loved this book and eagerly await Bryson's next.