Bill Thorness

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Bill Thorness

Goodreads Author


Born
in Williston, North Dakota, The United States
Website

Genre

Member Since
July 2012


Bill Thorness's most recent book is All Roads Lead to Rome: Searching for the End of My Father's War a memoir where the author crosses continents and history to retrace his father’s steps on the battlefields of World War II. All Roads Lead to Rome (December 2024, University of Nebraska Press) was named an Independent Book Awards 2025 finalist.

A Seattle-based author, editor and freelance writer, Bill currently focuses on travel, lifestyle and history.

Visit Bill's website billthorness.com and read his Substack newsletter Annotations.

Memoir:
All Roads Lead to Rome: Searching for the End of My Father's War

Join his Goodreads book group related to WWII, focused on the First Special Service Force, the subject of his memoir.

Cycling:
Bill's bicyclin
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Bill Thorness My books are about cycling and gardening, two things I love to do. So it's not very tough for me to say, well, I need to research a book or a blog pos…moreMy books are about cycling and gardening, two things I love to do. So it's not very tough for me to say, well, I need to research a book or a blog post, so I'm going outside to do something fun!(less)
Bill Thorness I'm working on a memoir and history about my father in World War II. He was with an elite commando unit that fought in the Italian campaigns, and he w…moreI'm working on a memoir and history about my father in World War II. He was with an elite commando unit that fought in the Italian campaigns, and he was injured in the big push to liberate Rome. This is a fascinating and challenging project for me because it's two new genres that I've only dabbled in. (less)
Average rating: 4.19 · 108 ratings · 21 reviews · 10 distinct worksSimilar authors
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Cycling the Pacific Coast: ...

4.65 avg rating — 26 ratings3 editions
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Biking Puget Sound: 50 Ride...

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3.67 avg rating — 21 ratings — published 2007 — 4 editions
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Edible Heirlooms: Heritage ...

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POWER: How J.D. Power III B...

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3.43 avg rating — 14 ratings — published 2013 — 3 editions
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Biking Puget Sound: 60 Ride...

really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 8 ratings — published 2014 — 4 editions
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All Roads Lead to Rome: Sea...

4.33 avg rating — 6 ratings2 editions
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Building green: energy effi...

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Named an Indie Book Award finalist!

I'm proud to report that my book All Roads Lead to Rome: Searching for the End of My Father's War has been named an Independent Book Awards 2025 Finalist.
It's gratifying to have recognition for a project that was ten years in the making.
Thanks very much to my publisher, Potomac Books at the University of Nebraska Press, and the editors and readers who helped me craft my story.
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Published on June 25, 2025 09:30 Tags: all-roads-lead-to-rome, independent-book-awards, memoir, thorness
So Far Gone
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So Far Gone by Jess Walter
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Wryly funny and deeply observant, this book challenged me to consider our cultural path. Long after I've finished it, The Laughter is still on my mind. ...more
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Aaron Sorkin
“I worship at the altar of obstacle and intention.”
Aaron Sorkin

25x33 First Special Service Force — 1 member — last activity Mar 21, 2021 06:42PM
A group discussing books about the FSSF, which was the first commando group in the U.S. Army. "The Force" lived storied campaigns in World War II in I ...more
220 Goodreads Librarians Group — 318349 members — last activity 0 minutes ago
Goodreads Librarians are volunteers who help ensure the accuracy of information about books and authors in the Goodreads' catalog. The Goodreads Libra ...more
8115 The History Book Club — 26048 members — last activity Mar 28, 2026 09:22AM
"Interested in history - then you have found the right group". The History Book Club is the largest history and nonfiction group on Goodread ...more
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