There are 2 parts to this book. Part 1 is awesome! It is a great story of 2 men hiking part of the Appalachian Trail and the ups and downs they had doing it. It's funny, witty and well written. Part 2 however lags a bit. The author drives part of the trail and walk parts of it in day trips, not nearly as exciting as part 1. The only thing in my opinion that save part 2 is the history and facts the author talks about. Especially about Pennsylvania and the Delaware Water Gap. Overall I gave it 4 stars. It could have been so much better if he hiked the whole thing, but overall was still a very good read.

Heard A WALK IN THE WOODS, written and read by Bill Bryson

It is the true tale of the author's attempt to walk the 2,100 Appalachian
Trail, which stretches from Georgia to Maine . . . although he ultimately
was not successful in completing the entire AT (as it is called), it wasn't
for lack of trying.

You'll find yourself actually laughing out loud at much of his
account . . . also, you'll shake your head in disbelief about his
having to deal with his walking companion: an out-of-shape
Stephen Katz who thinks nothing of discarding provisions in
order to lighten his backpack.

In addition, Bryson makes history come alive as he describes
the evolution of the trail . . . he further makes you appreciate
the need to maintain such areas and in doing so, takes
the National Park Service to task for not doing enough.

Much of the writing is brilliant, such as this passage describing what
it feels like when you've finally reached one of your goals:
* When, after ages and ages, you finally reach the tell-tale world
of truly high ground, where the chilled air smells of pine sap and
the vegetation is gnarled and tough and wind-bent, and push through
to the mountain's open pinnacle, you are, alas, past caring. You sprawl
face down on a sloping pavement of granite, pressed to the rock by the
weight of your pack, and lie there for some minutes, reflecting in a
distant, out-of-body way that you have never before looked this closely
at lichen, not in fact looked this closely at anything in the natural world
since you were four years old and had your first magnifying glass. Finally,
with a weary puff, you roll over, unhook yourself from your pack, struggle
to your feet and realize--this is the barest fraction of what you will traverse
before you've finished.

Bryson's use of dialogue was equally impressive, as evidenced by this
hilarious account of what happened when Bryson and Katz had their first
encounter with a bear:
* "Have you get anything sharp at all?"

He thought for a moment. "Nail clippers."

I made a despairing face. "Anything a little more vicious than that?
Because, you see, there is definitely something out here."

"It's probably just a skunk."

"Then it's one big skunk. Its eyes are three feet off the ground."

"A deer then."

I nervously threw a stick at the animal, and it didn't move, whatever
it was. A deer would have bolted. This thing just blinked once and
kept staring.

I reported this to Katz.

"Probably a buck. They're not so timid. Try shouting at it."

I cautiously shouted at it: "Hey! You there! Scat!" The creature blinked
again, singularly unmoved. "You shout," I said.

"Oh, you brute, go away, do!" Katz shouted in merciless imitation. "Please
withdraw at once, you horrid creature."

"F*ck you," I said and lugged my tent right over to his. I didn't know what
this would achieve exactly, but it brought me a tiny measure of comfort
to be nearer to him.

"What are you doing?"

"I'm moving my tent."

"Oh, good plan. That'll really confuse it."

Reading A WALK IN THE WOODS will motivate any past, present
or future hiker to check out the AT . . . as for me, I think I'll take a
pass . . . yet I will commend you, if you give it a try, and I'll look
forward to reading about your efforts as I bask in the comforts of home.

A laugh-out loud tale of Bill Bryson as he hikes the Appalachian Trail. This was one of my first adult-type books my mom let me read. A hiker myself, I have read this book three times and it never fails to amuse me. The experiences listed are realistic for hiking on the AT, and Bryson's unique writing style as, in all of his books, never lets the reader down.

This is not a how-to hike the Appalachian Trail book. This not a serious hikers diary of thru hiking the whole AT either. I'm not even sure it's nonfiction. It was historically informative in spots and funny in spots.
Ecology info was shocking. Yes humans are destroying the world. That's an undisputable fact. I know you don't want to hear it. Neither do I, which is why I had to stop subscribing to National Geographic, Audubon, Outside...
I still give to National Wildlife and Nature Conservancy but I don't dare read the mags. Too depressing. So I understand not wanting to hear about the bad things: but you can't condemn the book for that.
The first four chapters are good. After that its spotty. As for the actual hike I'm not sure I believe it all happened.

I've done a fair amount of backpacking since 1967 (most all Yosemite, parts of Pacific Crest Trail-oregon, Trinity Alps Wilderness, Marble Mts.etc..
So I took Stephen Katz right away as Bryson's IMAGINARY travelling companion, and a lot of the situations and people as made up. No one tosses equipment or food. I've never seen it anyway. You don't live off of snickers bars and all the garbage they supposedly took with them. Of course maybe the east coast hiker is different.

Hiking can be explained only so much. It can be intoxicating at times, taxing to the extreme (i remember half way down Benton pass in Yosemite breaking down in tears of frustration, my knees wobbling in pain unable to take any more down hill but scared to stop for fear they'd seize up on me), exciting (running to get off of bare granite hills during a fabulously beautiful & booming electric storm), hot always hot, water always cold as ice BUT walking is walking. There's not much excitment nor is there much wildlife (just imagine all the wildlife in the West before 1800).
Bryson describes the first days wonderfully on pages 35 and 36. After that it's weak and unreal. Not near as good as his other works.

Two memorable paragraphs

"I was especially riveted by an amateur photograph in Herrero's book, taken late at night by a camper with a flash at a campground out West. The photograph caught four black bears as they puzzled over a suspended food bag. The bears were clearly startled but not remotely alarmed by the flash. It was not the size or demeanor of the bears that troubled me - they looked almost comically unaggressive, like four guys who had gotten a Frisbee caught up a tree - but their numbers. Up to that moment it had not occurred to me that bears might prowl in parties. What on earth would I do if four bears came into my camp? Why, I would die, of course. I would blow my sphincter out my backside like one of those unrolling paper streamers you get at children's parties."

"When, after ages and ages, you finally reach the tell-tale world of truly high ground, where the chilled air smells of pine sap and the vegetation is gnarled and tough and wind-bent, and push through to the mountain's open pinnacle, you are, alas, past caring. You sprawl face down on a sloping pavement of granite, pressed to the rock by the weight of your pack, and lie there for some minutes, reflecting in a distant, out-of-body way that you have never before looked this closely at lichen, not in fact looked this closely at anything in the natural world since you were four years old and had your first magnifying glass. Finally, with a weary puff, you roll over, unhook yourself from your pack, struggle to your feet and realise-- this is the barest fraction of what you will traverse before you've finished."

Other Bill Bryon books I've read: I'm a Stranger Here Myself: GREAT! In a Sunburned Country GOOD, A Short History of Nearly Everything: GOOD

Ever read TIM CAHILL? He's good, he's funny, he's the real deal (hiker) and surprisingly he looks like he could be Brysons younger brother (weird). Anyway I highly recommend all Cahills travel books (except for 'Pass the Butterworms' and maybe 'Road Fever'). 'Dolphins' and 'Lost in my own Backyard' I haven't read yet.

It's been several years since I read this book, but it still annoys me. Bryson neatly avoids the truth: he can't hack it. He quits. He gives up. But along the way he's sure to make fun of other hikers. He's going to get it done in his jeans, he tells us as he drags along his friend that he mocks incessantly. He sure showed us.

Despite all the references to people dying on the trail, reading this book made me want to hike the Appalachian Trail. This book is a hilarious travelogue of hiking in the Eastern United States. It also includes interesting information about the history of the trail. Recommended for light entertaining reading.

Don't read this book while you're trying to eat. Or where people might look at you funny if you start to laugh out loud. Because this is a very funny book. Bryson has an understated humor that will only make you chuckle at first, and just when you think it's safe to take another bite, you'll read a bit more, and start laughing out loud! He has a keen eye for description of both his surroundings and his company and conveys both wonderfully well.

This book hits a bit of a sour note, though, the numerous times that Bryson castigates the National Park Service for general incompetence. I won't presume to say that he's entirely wrong in his criticisms, but I do think that he takes it a bit too far, and that an organization with tries to do so much good with so few resources deserves a bit more respect.

Bill Bryson could probably produce a best seller if he did a detailed analysis of paint-drying and grass-growing, so it was certainly no surprise that this was a good read. While it doesn't contain the constant hyperbolic hilarity of some of his other works, it is highly entertaining as well as being historically and geographically educational. Although Bryson's creative genius is evident throughout, the second half of the book is somewhat more methodical than the first. A warning for parents: The language in some passages is PG-13 - at best. In the end, it's an enjoyable adventure that teaches many lessons about HUMAN nature as well as nature in general.

I can't say much about this book which hasn't already been shouted in praise. Bill Bryson is an incredible writer - he writes in an interesting tone, using layman's terms, but the book never feels childish; moreover, there is true sincerity when he writes, and it's clear that his feelings about the AT are genuine; for example, there is palpable anguish when he discusses some of the horrible things which have happened or will happen to the AT and the forests it crosses.

The book is several things. First and foremost, it's a story about his and his hiking partner's (Katz) attempt at thru-hiking the AT; there are moments of sadness, gloriousness, utter frustration and, most of all, laugh-out-loud humor, and this is the main appeal of the book. Second, it has a fair account of history of the AT - there is history of the AT itself, the states it crosses, the people behind it, and some of the more popular cities and towns along the way - but it's never enough to become boring or to dissuade from reading (not that Bryson's writing style would allow that, in any case). Third, the book is about the people of the AT; there are several mentions of famous hikers, record-breakers, and interesting characters all-together, as well as words of praise for certain people who provided helping hands along the way - there are also accounts of some of the more unpleasant aspects of humanity which you might encounter.

What the book lacked the most was a detailed account of the preparations and costs of the voyage. As a prospective thru-hiker, this is information I was hoping to collect, but there was little of it. Not to imply that there weren't any lessons to be learned - Bryson did touch on these subjects in some detail, but they are the least represented in the book. I understand it is meant as an interesting story, but I would have liked some more detailed information - but that's just me.

The book is a fast read - I'm not a fast reader by any means, and I found, with much sadness, that after only the 3rd sitting (~1-3 hours each) I was 3/4ths the way through the book, despite it being ~400 pages. This is probably because of Bryson's elegant fluidity and use of common language, as well as the can't-put-it-down factor which keeps you interested and reading chapters at a time.

I can't recommend this book enough. Regardless of whether you're a recreational hiker, certified mountain man, ambitious future-thru-hiker, or merely looking for a fun, interesting and humorous story, you'll enjoy this book immensely.

This is quite a humurous book, I was often laughing out loud at the dialogue between Katz and Bryson. Couldn't have been a better unmatched pair to hike parts of the AT. Informative and provided some information about the hx of the trail and the places it goes through. I would have given it five stars, but he chose to plug some rants in the book that we could have done without. Things like how he feels about the environment, mining, hunting and so forth that took away from the book, but only a little. If you enjoy outdoors and all the hilarity in even the worse conditions then this book is for you.

This book for the most part had me in stitches. It was when Bill Bryson traveled the Appalachian Trail alone for a bit that the book got kind of slow going. Other than that, it is hysterical. A great read when you need to laugh hard at life.

This book is an instant classic. For those of us who consider "roughing it" not having room service, Bryson and his hilarious pal Katz have balls, my friends. And they have blisters. And bears. And bravery. Bryson hikes like a trooper, writes like an angel, and can be so funny so suddenly that you find it hard to breathe you're laughing so hard.

A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson is at times quietly humorous, at others belly laugh funny and at others contemplative. He tackles the walking of the Appalachian Trail in the spirit of the quest and manages to avoid the "letter of the law" trap that so many fall into when undertaking a daunting goal such as running the Boston Marathon under four hours or it doesn't count, or reading the Bible from cover to cover, including all the history at the front about how the King James version came to be. He doesn't cover the entire trail in one season and in fact doesn't cover every foot of the trail at all. He is content to cover some portions in day trips when it is more conducive to do so and the experience will be more appreciated. Some parts he doesn't cover at all if intelligence and wisdom dictate that it is better to forego a portion because of safety or time constraints.

He shares with the reader various thoughts and insights, historical information, hiking experiences and encounters with other hikers that gives a view into human nature, both good and bad, and the responsibility some people show and the irresponsibility of others. He gives examples that show the concern even strangers and people who have just met have for one another and their willingness to share and look out for each other.

One important requirement to appreciate A Walk in the Woods is that when reading this book the reader must do so in the same spirit in which it was written. There is useful information about backpacking, camping, monitoring the weather, what to take with you, but it is by no means a definitive "how to" text on trekking. This trek is one of feeling, sentiment and essence. This story is not one of instruction, but of discovery.

This is the story of a man who wants to get back to the feeling of the American wilderness and appreciate our country's more rustic nature. And it just so happens, that he has invited us along for the experience. Are you up for the trip? I traveled the trail with him through the pages, along the paths, over the mountains, through the valleys, in the heat, the rain and the snow. The vistas and landscapes were breathtaking. It was a wonderful adventure that didn't end with the last page.

Beyond the book itself, it inspires to other goals, aspirations and the ongoing learning and experiencing of American history, culture and nature. It motivates not to be content with our accomplishments because we got it done, but to be happy about what we have experienced, and felt, and ask ourselves, "What's next? Have you thought about the Pacific Crest Trail, from Mexico to Canada? Or perhaps the Continental Divide Trail?

Bill Bryson invites us to set the goal and enjoy the walk. He'll take the lead for us on the Appalachian Trail and show us its wonders. He's just about to leave. Are you coming along?

I really enjoyed this book but was disappointed that Bryson and Katz skipped parts of the trail, then never finished the whole thing. I'm not saying I wouldn't have quit sooner! I give them a lot of credit for completing as much as they did under less than favorable conditions. I was feeling hopeful and became engrossed in their journey only to find when I turned a page, they had jumped into a taxi and skipped a good portion! Otherwise, the trail descriptions, the relationship between these two friends, the humor, the people they met along the way were well written and I felt I was on the journey with them, laughing all the way.
Even the statistics and history were interesting to me although I can see where they cut into the story line and may have been skimmed over by someone who wanted to get on with the adventure. The book opened my eyes to how endangered many of the plants and animals are, right in our own backyards.
Overall a good read although I was left wanting to spend more time on the trail with these two very funny people.

the first half of this book is just wonderful, in the second half he seems to lose his determination and a bit of the thread. I'd recommend it, but I can't quite give it five stars. I don't mind that he gave up. I just wish the story ended with the same punch with which it began.

Knowing the premise of this book beforehand, I was pleasantly surprised by the humor and sheer quality of the writing. An excellent read for outdoor enthusiasts and weekend warriors alike.

Without a doubt Bill Bryson is a good writer. I've read other books of his and enjoyed them very much. "A Walk In The Woods" is hilarious and informative in many respects. However anyone who has done any degree of hiking and/or backpacking will find much to poo poo about this book.
In the vein of Dave Barry his anecdotes are great but as a factual account of his "adventure" there is a lot to question.
It is obvious the author's intent is to make a good yarn and this he achieves. To take the account as indicative of actual hiking experience is a leap of faith.

There is much historical data and descriptive material but "Steve" is a figment of the authors imagination, fortunately, for no one should ever be put through the rigors Steve, in his corpulent condition and lack of conditioning, is forced to endure.

A fun book to be taken with several grains of salt.

This light hearted and entertaining book is done in Bill Bryson's usual style. He easily mixes humorous anecdotes, social commentary and historical background with a healthy dose of his often acerbic wit. Having walked some of the trail myself, much of what he writes rings true although I for one assiduously avoid the type of bad weather Bryson frequently encountered. This is not a great literary work nor would one expect it to be. That said, it is a very enjoyable tale of Bryson and his childhood friend Katz undertaking an adventure that goes against the temperament of both (they'd rather be in well fed and in cozy environs). For those more or less casual hikers wistfully considering walking the whole of the Appalachian Trail, it is an amusingly cautionary tale. I recommend it to any one who likes Bryson, travelogues or stories set in the outdoors.

This is my first Bill Bryson and will undoubtably be my final. I am being generous in giving it the 3 stars. Take out all the historical drivel and the ranting against the government and this book could easily be published as a short story in some outdoor magazine. In fact thats where it belongs. The title suggest a "rediscovering" of America. Exactly what was rediscovered is not ever disclosed. I suggest passing on this book and read "Walk Across America" or "Travels With Charley" instead. Both are delighful reading.

This is one funny book. I read it in early 1999 and have since picked up the tapes to listen to in the car to enjoy all over again. It is not a hiking guide although it might just inspire you to set off on a significant trip. It is just plain funny. I rank the first third of the book well over 5 stars for his entertaining description of the preparation and beginning of the trip. The middle dragged a bit for me, but perhaps I was just tired with them of the grueling hike. It finishes with almost the flair with which it began. This is a great read -- well worth the time.

My husband loved this book. Said it was funny and overall great. He recommends highly.

Like all of Bryson's creative non-fiction works, this book is full of well-researched fact, but peppered with enough hilarity to keep you wondering what genre of book you're reading. You will laugh out loud at several unexpected moments and, depending on your mood, may roll uncontrollably at one or more scenes. I read this on a plane and was that annoying passenger who is laughing to herself almost to the point of tears.

Aside from the hilarity, this is a great piece to learn about the history and current life of the Appalachian Trail--something that could have been snoringly boring, but that Bryson makes entertaining and inspiring. Almost made me want to pack up and try a bit of the trail myself.

I've read maybe a half-dozen books in my life cover to cover; this is one of them. A very fun read, especially for anyone in love with walking, hiking, or the outdoors.

Who among us has not been inspired by some handicapped marathon runner/the theme music to Rocky/some historical epic to feel that we're missing out on life since we are not in the midst of some magnificent physical undertaking?

This is the book for anyone who have ever tapped into that vein of sentiment sufficiently to actually do something. Bryson flies down to Georgia, and starts his own Great Trek.

And this absolutely hysterical account ensues.

I read the book while "waiting" (doctor's office etc), and I've never enjoyed the experience so much.

Bryson's gift is that you can easily put yoursel in his shoes; his comedy is of the "ordinary man puts himself in extraordinary situation" genre.

This would not be the book that I was suggest for someone who was actually preparing to walk the AT. However, it would be perfect for someone who was contemplating undertaking the endeavor.

Its funny, well written, and a good tale well told.

I ordered this book in anticipation of reading valuable insights of someone who enjoyed the AT. I've done quite a bit of hiking all over the country and was thinking of trekking the AT since I'm now retired and able to have the time. But this little piece seemed to be written by someone who continually dribbles on with anything on his mind and only occasionally mentioned something regarding adventure on the famed footpath.

He starts off with a theme on the dangers of being attacked by wildlife ad nauseum. Then starts into vulgarity at being scared $hitless and continues in this vein that makes me want to cringe with embarrassment for actually reading it.

I like to read a lot and I've read plenty of mostly good and sometimes bad books. But this was the first time I felt the strong urge to write a review to possibly prevent another reader from making the same mistake I did in buying this trash.

This is a humorous book but periodically for many pages he author goes off into a rant about acid rain or global warming or some other ecelogical problem. Most of the adventure is pure fiction as anyone who has ever been a backpacker can readily see but still the book was entertaining if one overlooks the political comment and treats it as fiction.

First, let me say this ... I never purchased this book but I found this book in one of the shelters along the way. A shelter is one of the many three-sided cabins that are dotted along the Appalachian Trail for hikers to rest or sleep in. Typically, in distance, they're all about a day apart. Also, every shelter has a log about all the other hikers that come through the place and they leave notes, messages, trail reports and the like. The last hiker before me had left Bryson's book and some very candid things to say. I picked up the book and decided to see what all the guff was about.

The book opens with a brief history of the Appalachian Trail and Bryson tells details about the region that you would not believe had it not been coming from him. Several times I repeated the information only to be met with scorn and doubt. For instance, the Appalachian Trail is one of the oldest mountain ranges on the planet. Did you know that? And the summit of Mt. Washington has recorded some of the coldest temperatures on Earth. How about that? Mt. Washington is in New Hampshire, too; and not Antarctica.

Bryson weaves an interesting tale about his foibles and attempt into the world of hiking with his stalwart friend and companion that accompanies him, Katz. But Steve Katz, comes across as his alter-ego and doesn't really ring true through much of the story, but in reflection, I think this is Bryson meant and it was intentional.

Mid-way he gets off the trail, maybe in the Shenandoah's as I remember, and decides to day-hike and see the tourist locations dotted along the trail, but this quickly turns into a fiasco and Bryson starts telling you about things that are not even remotely close to the trail. He acknowledges this, gives up and goes home. The rest of the book reverts back into regurgitated facts culminated from either old National Geographic magazines or some out-of-print book about the Eastern Seaboard in general. I personally didn't have a problem with this stuff as it was all news to me and Bryson is an adept writer who can keep your imagination reigned in.

The last chapter is a fictitious journey of his return, with his buddy Katz, for a half-hearted attempt to finish and get through to Mt. Katahdin and through the swampyness of snow-melting Maine. This too quickly spirals out of control, the hiking not the writing, and they both find themselves disagreeably riding away in the back of a pick up truck towards the cold machine of civilization where wives, bills and hot coffee awaits. The ending is poignant and also triumphant for just being there rather than missing the experience all together.

I enjoyed the book and didn't have too many complaints. A lot of readers and hikers always seem upset that he wrote a book about the trail but didn't finish hiking the trail, and they make the claim that because he didn't finish - the book can't be valid. While that's the most foolish thing I ever heard of ... it didn't stop me from reading the book or interfere with my enjoyment of it.

As a footnote: I hiked the trail Winter of '06 when the trail was devoid of the usual mass of hikers and covered with snow. I got off the trail in Harper's Ferry (1100 miles along) and came home after the reality of gambling with my life set in and catching walking Pneumonia. Let's just say the wife wasn't too happy, but I enjoyed my hike immensely.

I love Bill Bryson's writing. I'm about 90% of the way thorugh this book of his about walking the appalacian trail. When I was in Australia I read his book abotu Australia, In A Sunburned Country and loved it. It's been a long time since I've laughed outloud as many times reading a book as I did sunburned country. I liked it so much I immediately bought several of his other books and read them. A walk in the woods is second in my opinion behind sunburned country. Most of it is very funny and informative especially when he's hiking with his long lost buddy, it does slowdown a bit just before the end. He leaves the trail and breaks the whole flow of the book.

The audio is worth the purchase of the CD in addition to the book. Very funny.

As one who lived at the base of the Appalachian Trail in Pennsylvania, I was delighted to receive this book as a gift for Christmas. And then when I read that Bryson "comes off as equal parts Garrison Keillor, ...and Dave Barry," I was even more anxious to read the book. But what a disappointment. I laughed aloud maybe half a dozen times throughout the whole book, and found myself down-right bored for much of it. I was appalled that Bryson undertook to write a book about walking the Trail when he accomplished less than 40%.

Who would want to read a book on running by someone who tried to run a marathon but didn`t have the dedication to stick with training and finish one? Who would read a book on physics by someone who didn`t have the motivation to finish graduate school and become an expert in the subject? We read books by people who have excelled in their field and can offer insight and perspective that we might not be able to get on our own. Unfortunately Bryson is not an expert on the AT in that he didn`t even finish half of the trail, thus cannot offer the perspective that only comes from experiencing the physical and psychological change that comes from this challenging experience.

So, this leaves the book to the realm of comedy. Yes it does start off funny as we see how unprepared Bryson and his friend are. However, this is where the humor stops as Bryson points a critical eye at everything except himself. Every hiker, town and geographical region (except his beloved New England) are ruthlessly criticised - even the ruggedness of the trail and the volunteers that maintain it and clean up after slobs like Bryson. This would be okay if Bryson pointed an equal share of criticism at himself (the key to Dave Barry`s humor), but instead he gives the impression that he is superior to the entire South, the TRUE thruhikers, other AT dropouts, the state of PA, etc.

You will find neither humor or perspective in this book, only wasted hours.

This book is definitely near the top of my favorites list. When you're not shrieking with laughter you are impressed by the little known facts about Americas wilderness. I would recommend this book to anyone who needs a laugh or wants an interesting way to learn about the Appalachian Trail.

I found "A Walk in the Woods" my first encounter with Bill Bryson's books, a very enjoyable and educational read. I picked this particular book to start my acquaintance with him, because I like hiking and often explore the parts of the Appalachian Trail (from New York to New Hampshire) myself.

Bryson writes with great sense of humor about his decision to walk the Appalachian Trail, the preparations, the choice of his walking companion (a hilarious figure of his old friend Steve Katz), the hike itself, with all its joys and troubles. The Trail is the dominating presence here, and although there is a lot of personality and jokes, the thoroughly researched information about the history of the Trail, the flora and fauna, the geographical, geological and meteorological conditions, is what I found most interesting. Especially, because it was written in a captivating manner. I loved the atmosphere Bryson created in this book.

Bryson's brisk style made me read his book from cover to cover almost without any stopping and I regretted only that it ended so quickly. The subject could easily have made the book nothing else than a guide, and only thanks to the sparkling, original prose it was so much more...

I appreciated the author's honesty when he admitted that he and Steve had many difficulties while walking the trail and fond the initial task of walking the whole length of the trail impossible to accomplish. Since the skipped parts of the route were the ones I know best, I felt that there was no harm done and I was just encouraged to walk more of its Northern and Southern parts.

Very Funny and Informative. Bill Bryson will educate you while making you laugh. Definitely good enough to re-read.

Typical Bryson- witty, insightful, well researched, and tangential (in a good way). This is a good read and worth your coin. You will find yourself laughing out loud from his observations and perspectives. Who knew the Corps of Engineers and the National Park Service could be so funny (but not in a good way)!

So far I've read A Brief History of Nearly Everything, this, and The Thunderbolt Kid. I would rank them in that order for favorites also.

I see many people tag this book as about hiking and backpacking. I'm not sure I think that's the best tag. The book is much more about the human condition and what makes people tick. I've read many adventure books and am an outdoors enthusiast, and I definitely do not find this to fit into that genre at all (after all he skips most of the trail).

A Walk in the Woods is one of the best books I have ever read. The story line (two men walking the Appalachian Trail, as well as the history and fragility of the Trail) could make this book droll and boring, but Bryson keeps the story upbeat and laugh-out-loud hilarious. This book has a perfect combination of story and fact, and every page I learned something new. This book is an excellent choice for anyone aged 13 and over.

You would think that a story of walking the Appalachian Trail would be pretty boring ... 'we walked up the hill then back down the other side' ... but Bill Bryson's version is anything but. Yes, he was on the trail, but his story-telling is of the land, the people, the history, and everything in between. A great book for anyone, highly recommended, now that I think about it, I ought to read it again ...

Bill Bryson, with a wit and writing style formed during his years in England, is simply the greatest travel writer around. Light-hearted and fun to read, this is a fantastic tale of an out-of-shape guy who attempts to hike the trail with a long lost "friend" who happens to be a recovering alcoholic. Bryson does a great job of explaining the difficulties associated with such a task while entertaining his audience with his descriptions of everything that can kill or maim you on the Appalachian Trail. Mixed throughout is a little history and science that provides a little extra meaning to the story.

Yes, yes, you will laugh uproariously when you read this book! I've read it twice, and still can't believe how hilarious (and informative) it is.

Oh, Bill, I just love you!

Wonderful walking memoir..In my next life, something I would love to do in part...so this was the next best thing..Such a book can run a risk of being tedious..long winded..Not this book, a rapid read, entertaining and informative all the way..He's not Patrick Mcmanus as a writer, but then he doesn't write ficton..

Dying is easy, comedy is hard as the saying goes. Humorous writing is probably even harder than comedy, and even a really funny story usually flattens out in print. That said, this is pretty good stuff, and was occassionally Thurber-like in it's understated hyperbole- (if there is such a thing). Humor, like beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but I personally found the book pretty dang funny.

It is, as the title might make you guess, the story of Bryson and his walk over large chunks of the AT. He corrals an old bud from the old days, a friend who toured Europe some 20 odd years ago with him and who has been in a bit of a downward spiral ever since. To me his companion made the book, adding an everyman quality, a comic relief, and a very sympathetic character with a lot of emotional depth all at once. Kind of picture a less obnoxious John Candy from Planes, Trains and Automobiles.

Not exactly a ton happens on the trail- it's not the north woods, or the Amazon, or some rebel infested region of the Phillipines, so the drama is more timid and is less about the perils of wild beasts and killers and more about the perils of poor hygiene. Be that as it may, it is the woods, and it is remote, and it's nice to get away from it all, if only vicariously.

I hope it's clear that I liked the book pretty well, although I'd not put it down as a classic or anything. It's more than worth the few hours it takes to read it, though, and I'm pretty sure you're going to find it entertaining at the least.

Perhaps it was a fit of angst dealing with his own personal version of a mid-life crisis that led Bill Bryson to tackle the challenge of hiking the 2,100 mile Appalachian Trail! It was certainly a solid understanding of his own personality and clear recognition of his own physical and mental limitations that prompted him to invite his friend, Stephen Katz, an overweight and out of shape recovering alcoholic with an inordinate fondness for snack foods and cream soda to accompany him on this daunting challenge. The demands of the AT ultimately proved too much for Bryson and Katz who sensibly (and with an almost relieved sense of philosophical acceptance) decided to abandon the notion of a complete through hike. But the resulting story, drawn from Bryson's daily journal of the summer's efforts, is an overwhelming success and pure joy in the reading.



"A Walk in the Woods" is an extraordinary, entertaining travelogue on both the AT - the Appalachian Trail - and the people and places of small town America that dot the trail's path along the eastern seaboard from Georgia to Maine. At the same time, it is much, much more. Bryson is scathing in his political commentary and almost enraged criticism of the ongoing state of mismanagement and the sadly misguided policies of both the Parks and Forest Services of the US government. "A Walk in the Woods" is also a deeply moving introspective examination on the nature of friendship, family, perseverance, joy and despondency. As he and Katz amble along rock strewn trails dappled with sunlight broken by the leafy forest canopy, Bryson frequently, effortlessly and almost without our even noticing the change, wanders metaphorically off the main trail and onto a side path of lightweight but nonetheless informative and educational sidebars of nature writing on an amazingly wide variety of topics. Glaciation, bears, bugs, ecology, continental drift, hypothermia, hypoxia and weather are only a few examples of the topics which he elucidates for the lay reader with his clear, concise prose.



Then there is the humour! It is perhaps an understatement to say that, in this regard, Bryson has a rare gift. He has treated his readers to laughs originating in every imaginable corner of the vast world of humour - wry sardonic wit; biting satire; slapstick; self effacement; sarcasm and insults; fear; and even extended comedy sketches worthy of stage or television. His description of the astonishingly stupid and entirely self-absorbed fellow hiker Mary Ellen who has the annoying habit of constantly clearing her sinuses with a grating honk is definitely laugh-out-loud material.



Pure entertainment and enjoyment from first page to last. I believe Bill Bryson would consider it a compliment if I suggested that "A Walk in the Woods" is the first book I've ever read with a smile on my face during every single moment of the reading. Highly recommended - even if you've never spent a single night under nylon in the woods.



Paul Weiss

Perhaps it was a fit of angst dealing with his own personal version of a mid-life crisis that led Bill Bryson to tackle the challenge of hiking the 2,100 mile Appalachian Trail! It was certainly a solid understanding of his own personality and clear recognition of his own physical and mental limitations that prompted him to invite his friend, Stephen Katz, an overweight and out of shape recovering alcoholic with an inordinate fondness for snack foods and cream soda to accompany him on this daunting challenge. The demands of the AT ultimately proved too much for Bryson and Katz who sensibly (and with an almost relieved sense of philosophical acceptance) decided to abandon the notion of a complete through hike. But the resulting story, drawn from Bryson's daily journal of the summer's efforts, is an overwhelming success and pure joy in the reading.

"A Walk in the Woods" is an extraordinary, entertaining travelogue on both the AT - the Appalachian Trail - and the people and places of small town America that dot the trail's path along the eastern seaboard from Georgia to Maine. At the same time, it is much, much more. Bryson is scathing in his political commentary and almost enraged criticism of the ongoing state of mismanagement and the sadly misguided policies of both the Parks and Forest Services of the US government. "A Walk in the Woods" is also a deeply moving introspective examination on the nature of friendship, family, perseverance, joy and despondency. As he and Katz amble along rock strewn trails dappled with sunlight broken by the leafy forest canopy, Bryson frequently, effortlessly and almost without our even noticing the change, wanders metaphorically off the main trail and onto a side path of lightweight but nonetheless informative and educational sidebars of nature writing on an amazingly wide variety of topics. Glaciation, bears, bugs, ecology, continental drift, hypothermia, hypoxia and weather are only a few examples of the topics which he elucidates for the lay reader with his clear, concise prose.

Then there is the humour! It is perhaps an understatement to say that, in this regard, Bryson has a rare gift. He has treated his readers to laughs originating in every imaginable corner of the vast world of humour - wry sardonic wit; biting satire; slapstick; self effacement; sarcasm and insults; fear; and even extended comedy sketches worthy of stage or television. His description of the astonishingly stupid and entirely self-absorbed fellow hiker Mary Ellen who has the annoying habit of constantly clearing her sinuses with a grating honk is definitely laugh-out-loud material.

Pure entertainment and enjoyment from first page to last. I believe Bill Bryson would consider it a compliment if I suggested that "A Walk in the Woods" is the first book I've ever read with a smile on my face during every single moment of the reading. Highly recommended - even if you've never spent a single night under nylon in the woods.

Paul Weiss

An enjoyable read. It was quite amusing how he chose his hiking partner, whose main qualifications seemed to be that he had a pulse, was an acquaintance of Bryson, had nothing else to do at the time, and most importantly, was the only person willing to go. That he was a bona fide neurotic was a bonus.

It's hard to imagine two guys less prepared for a long hike. As someone for whom being fit is a normal part of life, it's just amazing, even hilarious, to see how people prepare for highly vigorous physical activities. Bryson's method consisted of asking no one for advice, and taking 2 long walks. His partner did even less. Then when they're out on the trail, obviously having a very difficult time, Bryson bitterly resents the fit people racing by him, having no problems lifting their packs overhead when crossing the river. Nothing about "maybe I should have actually prepared for the hike" or anything like that. I had to chuckle and remind myself that intelligence and writing ability are no guarantee of having the slightest clue about physical activities.

To their credit, they did walk a significant length of the trail - not like these high-rollers who pop in, walk a few miles on the trail, and hog the whole campsite because, ew, you other people smell!

I enjoyed Bryson's observations about the regions he was walking through, and the historical background of the trail and its environs. It was somewhat disappointing that they didn't finish the trail, but that's the way life goes sometimes, and despite a complete lack of preparation, by the end he clearly had learned a lot about hiking and the trail.

I was so incredibly saddened to finish the last page of this book and realize that there was no more....Both Bob and I laughed so hard, we cried...he isn't done, yet, and it's hard for me not to highlight the parts that I've read and he hasn't. It was informative and entertaining and insightful. Excellent read!! I highly recommend it whether you're a hiker or not.

I don't remember when I've read a book that I enjoyed more - especially non-fiction. It is laugh out loud funny, and informative with excellent descriptions of the AT. I absolutely recommend this book.

I am giving this book 4 stars instead of 5 only because I found the beginning part of the book (before they actually start hiking) to be slow and boring. Once they started the Trail, though, it was anything but boring. Not only were there constant laughs to be had and great stories of their adventures on the trail, but I am really thankful to Mr. Bryson for including so much of the environmental information that he did. It was really eye opening and incredibly sad what we are doing to our natural resources, and I think Mr. Bryson has found a brilliant way to use humor to share this information in a way that is not only accessible but enjoyable. Bravo, Bill!

This has to be one of my favorite books, and I think I've read it about ten times now. For anyone that is looking to hike anywhere near the Appalachian Trail or even try to tackle the trail itself, this book will give you a look at the experiences of a pair of the most unlikely hikers ever to bless the trail. The discussions about life on the trail are great examples of some of the best and some of the worst that you can encounter while out there, and the tales even have an uplifting effect when you've been trapped inside for too long. On a side note, even the book he mentions by the "exquisitely named V. Collins Chew" is real and makes one think about how out interactions with the wild can go and what to do to preven them from going that way. All in all, it makes a fast read as well as tells a great story that you should take the time to check out if you haven't already.

Bill Bryson is the man.
Great book.
End of story.

:)

I'm about 2/3 of the way through this amazing book and have to let everyone know that you need to read this one. I have been reading it during my train commute, grinning from ear to ear, and cackling out loud every few minutes.

The book alternates between a hilarous telling of a lengthy hike along the Appalachian Trail by the author and his out-of-shape buddy Stephen, and a well-researched description of the AT's construction, history, & ecology. The stories of their hiking-gear research, the author's deathly fear of bears, and their run-ins with neurotic fellow hiker Mary Ellen had me in tears.

This book ties with "Catch 22" as the funniest I've ever read, just ahead of Palahniuk's "Lullaby".