Joy (of having time) to read Novels

This is from Bill Bryson's "Neither Here Nor There: Travels in Europe". It's not part of his travelogue per say but he quoted this from Bertrand Russell in the opening page.
"William James describes a man who got the experience from laughing-gas; whenever he was under its influence, he knew the secret of the universe, but when he came to, he had forgotten it. At last, with immense effort, he wrote down the secret before the vision had faded. When completely recovered, he rushed to see what he had written. It was "A smell of petroleum prevails throughout."
By the way, Bryson's book on travelling through Europe is really good too. Crazily funny and witty with sprinklings of what another countries percularities are. I have decided to migrate to Liechtenstein because of it. And i deliberated on whether that is the correct spelling.