There is so much to adore about Bill Bryson: his point of view, his endless wisdom, his humor. One of the things to, perhaps, appreciate most is his storytelling. Over the years he’s regaled readers with tales from Africa and Australia, Iowa and the UK, from the Appalachian Trail – and from his own living room. In his latest, One Summer: America, 1927, Bryson turns his gift of gab to one pivotal summer in the history of the United States.

Babe Ruth, Charles Lindbergh, Calvin Coolidge, Al Capone, Al Jolson and more – it’s all here in One Summer. And what’s more, you can listen to Bryson share his own words, in his own voice, via his Audie-nominated audiobook. Check out an excerpt below. You too may fall in love with Bill Bryson; don’t say you weren’t warned.