Childhood

In large part, The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid: A Memoir is about childhood. Bryson writes about the events and feelings he had growing up in Des Moines during the 1950s. For the most part, Bill's childhood is a good one. Nothing bad really happens, although there are larger threats that he is aware of. He spends his days in a family that cares for him and in a place that is relatively safe. He gets to enjoy the simple pleasure of life. In many ways, Bill's childhood represents the all-American childhood of the baby boomers.

Throughout the book, Bill's use of the Thunderbolt Kid illustrates both a child's imagination and also his feelings of powerlessness in situations. Bill creates the story of the Thunderbolt Kid and incorporates the old football jersey and other items into this theory of how he had superpowers and was not...