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'At Home' by Bill Bryson

Bill Bryson is an American living in Britain that has written a few works of non fiction.  Most have a history lesson feel to them but are extremely readable.  One of the more recent ones circa 2012 that came out dealt with the story of our homes.  As in how did the home with its many rooms that we live in came to be.

It is an anthropological journey from the hunter gatherer man to his present day status as a civilized, biped occupying large swaths of livable land mass to feed, clothe and shelter his brood.

It is a fascinating read that takes you through various digressions including various inventions that made fortunes for a few and many a remarkable brainiac that was forgotten by history.  In it he also remarks that history is often like that.  Truer words were never said.

He delves in to the story of illumination (the literal kind) from wax and tallow to discovery and use of kerosene to why certain kitchen implements are the way they are.  We tend to not pay too much attention to our so called mundane and obvious but when you peel the cover back a bit, in a manner of speaking there is so much history and intrigue that it can leave you shocked, mystified, awed all at the same time.

If you have nothing by the bedside (which in olden days was composed of beat down tree limbs and hay or whatever the nomadic man could find - thence the expression - to make your bed) then this tome certainly will help you get into it (the bed I mean) and keep you awake even when your eyes are trying to tell you otherwise.
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