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.

This is actually a review of two books, one old and one new. Both are nonfiction, and both are intended for grown-ups. There's nothing in them that kids will find objectionable, but they may find them boring. I found them to be funny, poignant at times, and thought-provoking.

The first is called A Walk in the Woods, by Bill Bryson, published in 1997. The second is called Scout's Honor, by Peter Applebome, published in 2003. Bryson is a writer and journalist who decided to walk the Appalachian Trail at around age 50, and Walk is the story of his adventures on the AT. Applebome is a writer and a journalist who decided to become a Boy Scout dad at around age 50, and Honor is the story of his adventures with his son's Boy Scout troop and with Scouting in general.

I read Walk several years ago, and just discovered Honor last week. Reading Honor reminded me of Walk, so much so that I couldn't review the former without talking about the latter.

Bryson and a friend decided, almost on a lark, to hike the AT which they had heard so much about, but Bryson was so inexperienced a hiker that he couldn't tell a Nalgene from a North Face. In fact, his introduction to backpacking and hiking occurred in a sporting goods store. He and his friend started at the southern end of the AT, in Georgia, on a snowy autumn day, and ended, with a few breaks, at the northern end in Maine several years later.

Bryson's writing is self-deprecating and intentionally funny. He plays for laughs, and he gets them. By poking fun at himself, he gives himself license to give all the other characters on the trail the same treatment he gives himself in his writing. The book is funny throughout. But just as Mark Twain and Will Rogers gave us lots of food for thought in the middle of their humor, so Bryson writes a series of thoughtful essays between the lines of his funny stories: lessons about people's character and behavior, about greed and status, about environmental awareness and social responsibility, and about what Thoreau called "the need for wilderness" or something like that. (Yes, Thoreau talked about it before John Muir did.)

When you finish Bryson's book, you will be as satisfied with the conclusion as he was with the end of the hike. You may also come away with a renewed appreciation for wild places and with an awareness of the personality flaws that make you similar to the characters Bryson writes about. It's definitely a book I would read again.

Applebome, like Bryson, knew nothing about hiking, camping and backpacking, until he moved his family from Atlanta to Chappaqua, New York, and his son wanted to join the Boy Scouts. He was reluctant to get into the hiking and the canoeing, the knot-tying and the sleeping outside on the hard ground surrounded by rain, snow, wind and critters. He had hoped that his son would express an interest in Little League baseball instead, but, wishing to score some Good Dad points with his son, he went along with him to the Boy Scout meetings and outings.

Even before he started, Applebome had anti-Boy-Scout leanings -- but as he became more involved with his son's troop, that changed. Interweaved with the funny and poignant story of his own adventures with his son's troop, Applebome tells a balanced, thoughtful, well-researched and honest story about the history of Scouting and its founders, its awkward attempts to adapt to social change, and the recent controversies surrounding it. The book isn't all narrative -- it includes a lot of reporting, exposition and editorializing -- but it's definitely worth reading.

Applebome comes the end of his book grateful for having been able to share the experience with his son, the troop leaders, and the other Scouts and their dads. He himself grows considerably through his experiences, and he faces a huge crisis of conscience when the Boy Scouts win the Supreme Court judgement in their favor with respect to gays in Scouting. The crisis of conscience occurs because he feels that the corporate organization that is the Boy Scouts of America is dead wrong on at least one of the "three G" issues (gays, God, and girls) and not faithful to the wishes of Scouting's founders, and yet he sees that the local organizations of Scouting, the councils and troops, are a powerful force for good in their communities and are getting a raw deal by both BSA headquarters and the left-wing liberals who get all over Scouting's case because of the three Gs.

Being a reporter and a problem-solver at heart, he takes a long, hard look at what Scouting could be (and should be), compares it to what it is, and makes several really good recommendations for fixing Scouting. One of the most interesting things he says is that the Scout Oath and the Scout Law, the moral foundations for Scouting (in the U.S.A.), are rock-solid and it woud be a very good thing if all boys (and men!) lived by those tenets. He also says (either himself, or quoting someone) that the Boy Scout Handbook, any edition, is just the kind of "advice to boys" that people have been longing to give to boys today.

Unfortunately, Scouting is increasingly irrelevant in a society which competes so heavily (and so much more effectively) for boys' attention with sports, video games, and so on. Applebome laments this turn of events, and yet he asserts, with his primary evidence being the members of his own son, that Scouting appeals to a certain group of boys who really don't care if other people think it's uncool, and that Scouting (practiced the way it should be) really is a Good Thing in the boys' lives and is a major influence in turning them into the kind of men this world needs. (Those are my words, not his. He said it differently.)

Scout's Honor is written to and for three groups of people: former Boy Scouts who are now adults; current and former Boy Scouts; and current and former Boy Scout leaders. It's high-energy food for thought for all three groups.

A Walk in the Woods is written for everyone, and will be especially enjoyed by those who love or hate hiking, backpacking, camping, wilderness and the fools they find there. Although it contains more mental junk food than food for thought, it will open your mind and is definitely worth reading.

Bill Bryson is hillarious. The first few chapters contained bits and pieces that had me laughing out loud, which is not something I come across often in literature.

The book details a hike that Bryson and his friend (an out-of-shape character's character!) took on the Appalachian Trail. Both "older" gentleman aren't exactly in the best of shape... neither is a very experienced outdoorsman. Yet they both appreciate the signifigance of the trail, and are able to hike a good bit of it without mishap.

The way that Bryson writes is just invigorating. He's just so funny, and describes people in the most beautiful way. He's also managed to get quite a bit of back-story on the Appalachian Trail into this text, so the book is not only entertaining, but also somewhat educational. It made me want to jump on a plane and start hiking the trail!

After reading this book, I'm definitely going to search for more of Bryson's work. He's a good author, and this is a good story.

Simply put - what a delightful read! I laughed so hard at times I needed to go "potty". What a great light-hearted book! This goes on my "keeper" pile for a future re-read for sure!

Bill Bryson's travel writing is filled with humor, introspection and fascinating information. In this work, Bryson takes us through the trials, tribulations an joys of hiking the Appalachian Trail. On the way, we learn of the origins of the trail, of the flora and fauna along it, of the tragedies that have occurred in it, but most of all, we are left with a deep and profound respect, and even awe, for nature's wonders. Adding to the flavor of the tale is Bryson's companion, an old friend who resumes his friendship with Bryson to join him on the trail, and is a foil to Bryson's personality, a sort of Sancho Panza to Bryson' Don Quixote.

Bryson is a skilled craftsman with words, and gives vivid, memorable accounts of his ramble through the trail, all the while interjecting his own persona, his witty observations relating to the woods, environmental issues, the lore of the trail, without diminishing the powerful presence of the nature and environment in which he moves. As a very average Joe, in many respects, it becomes easy for the rest of us to identify with Bryson, with his fears and failures on the trail, with his frustrations and his triumphs. We are left with all the emotions and experience of the trail but without the bumps and bruises.

I am a big fan of Bill Bryson, and this is one of my top two or three favorite books by him, which is saying quite a bit. In this outing he takes us with him as he and a friend hike sections of the Appalachian Trail. I don't say "takes us with him" lightly, as with his descriptive style and expert narrative, you really feel as though you're slogging through the eastern US right along with him- and laughing every step of the way. When I finished this book, I actually felt as though I had walked the trail (in spirit, at least) and gained a greater respect for it and the folks who take care of it.

The hilarity starts before the hike, as Bryson goes into a sporting goods and buys all of the requisite items for the hike. It is here that we first get an idea of a) how funny this is going to be and b) how expensive it is to hike and camp. As he arrives at the airport in Georgia to start the trail at its southern terminus, you're actually psyched- you really feel like you're with Bryson and Katz on their journey. Along the way, they meet many other people, many of whom Bryson pokes fun at, as he tends to do. Instead of hiking the entire trail from Maine to Georgia, they take it in sections over a period of time, which actually makes for more interesting reading.

Especially interesting is Bryson's philosophical musings on the whole hiking experience and how it has changed his life. He brings up a good point: after months of doing nothing but walking along a trail in the woods, what do you DO with yourself? It makes you think about larger issues, like nature, the earth, life... which is most likely his point all along.

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.

Bryson's dry humor and clear descriptions make for a thoroughly fun, one-sit read, even if it takes you all night. This is not a how-to or a yuck-yuck. It's well-written non-fiction that gives occasional political commentary without overkill.

Mostly, the work pulls you in and walks you down the trail with a 40-pound pack on your back. Through deep snow and under hot sun. Along deep woodland paths and up sweaty rock climbs.

You'll giggle as self deprecating Bryson pokes at himself and his hiking partner while both deal with small hiking discomforts. Landscapes and people are evoked with as much talent as author James Herriot.

You'll forget you're reading and imagine you're there.

Well worth a few hours for the actual or armchair hiker/camper who likes a good read.

The audio book is read by the author, and Bryson does a superb job.

This was an outstanding read...I really enjoyed it from start to finish. It has just a pleasant mix of amusement with serious facts strewn about in between and really was a motivation to get out there!

What do you get when two over-weight, middle-aged men tackle the Appalachian Trail and one lives to write about it? Well, actually both lived, but only one wrote. You get a thoroughly enjoyable read that allows you to laugh out loud! As one who loves to hike, but also knows her limits, (I did a modicum of the Appalachian Trail and had an instant respect for all that could go wrong), I empathised with Bryson and his companion. You wouldn't get me out there in a tent in the dark with bears. Uh uh. I especially enjoyed his experience in the outfitting store as he made his selections of hiking equipment. To say that one can get sticker shock is an understatement. But to go with shoddy equipment is asking for trouble. I was told that good hikers build their wardrobe from the ground up. If your boots are cheap, you're dead right out of the gate.

I've read all but three of Bryson's books, and of his travel narratives ('The Lost Continent,' 'Notes from a Small Island,' 'Neither Here Nor There,' and 'Down Under') this is probably his best one. In 'A Walk in the Woods' the author assumes the role of the lay woodsman, fitting because that's what many of us are or have the potential to be: up for a spot of hiking and camping, but in no way experts on nature or surviving in the great outdoors.

Bryson teams up with his old college friend and travel companion Steven Katz (who Bryson fans will remember from 'Neither Here Nor There') and the two of them - without so much as a leg stretch - attempt to hike the Appalachian Trail through 14 states and 2100 miles. As the reader quickly discovers, they are woefully unprepared. As usual, Bryson freely expresses his opinion on a host of topics ranging from human encroachment of the trail to the less than stellar record of its upkeep, and good for him. Someone has to. But he also gives praise where it's due. And he is funny (as always) not to mention rather good with words. The dynamic between him and his travel companion alone makes this book worth reading. Five stars.

Troy Parfitt, author of Notes from the Other China - Adventures in Asia

I've read all of Bryson's books and you take the good with the bad. Yes, he's condescending, liberal to the extreme, preachy, an elitist who won't admit it, and hardly humble, but he's a fun guy to read, with good stories, good descriptions and generally, a quick wit.
I agree with all the positive and negative reviewers. While Bryson surely has a right to preach, it does seem rather arrogant in this book. But that's that pedantic lefties do, and Bryson is surely one.

I've been a Bryson fan since a British friend gave me a copy of "The Lost Continent: Travels in Small-Town America" years ago -- what, I wonder, was his point??

"A Walk in the Woods" is more entertaining if you've read "Notes from a Small Island" (1997). In that book, Bryson takes a walking trip around Britain, his home of nearly 20 years, before returning to live in the States. When you walk around Britain, you can take the train on the hard bits and have a pub meal and bed every night if you like.

The irony, then, of Bryson comparing the Appalachian Trail to that experience!

"A Walk in the Woods" is a laughing-out-loud book but as usual with Bryson, his writing is well researched and the informative parts are presented in an offbeat and personal way -- without detracting from their clarity. His reconnection with American social and environmental history is well presented

This book is an object lesson on how NOT to undertake a project like the AT -- yet it almost makes you believe you could do it! Or at least that you owe it to yourself to try.

I have just recently started hiking and camping myself only really having any experience in the woods for no more than a few years. I found this book to read out like a fantasy of mine. Hiking in the middle of nowhere, No modern tools or advantages available to you. But it brought some realism to the dream. I felt I was there enjoying and suffering right with them. I want to thank Bill Bryson for writing this book and living the adventure.
If you enjoy the outdoors but cannot bare to take on the AT. Then get this book take a small hike to the top of of a cliff where the view is abundant, Lay out in some shade with a cool summer breeze and began your journey on the AT with Bill Bryson.

This book has obviously appealed to many readers. Some seem to be attracted by the humour, others by the subject matter and many by the writing skills of the author himself. There are some interesting factoids buried in this book, and some descriptive passages were terrific.

This is the first of Mr Bryson's books that I have not enjoyed. The antics of Messrs Bryson and Katz, two middle-aged, ego-centric and totally underprepared hikers, irritated me enormously.

I am glad that this is not the first of Mr Bryson's books I have read. If it was, it would almost certainly be the last.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith

A excellent read for any person just might have the thought buried deep in the back of their mind..walking that long long trail..bring tissue and laugh until you cry.

This book book taught me a lot about friendship, American history, and most of all "rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail" I learned about the Appalachian Trail--which I really didn't know about at all. I know I will explore the AT more in the near future. I will tell my son about this book and highly suggest to him that he read it. I will also read more by the author Bill Bryson--I enjoyed his sense of humor. :)

Bill will have you laughing out loud as he recounts his adventures on the Appalachian Trail. If you like long-distance hiking or great travel books, check this one out. It's a real pleasure to read and covers the history of the AT to boot.

Bill's use of humor to describe his experiences on his hike of the AT was quite refreshing. I especially found his description of some of the major sites and our impact on the environment quite eye popping.

I have now recommended this book to at least two friends. Kudos to Bill!

After reading this book I learned it was completely what I had imagined it to be. I thought the book would be about one guys hiking on the AT and what he learned from it along with the conservation, what he noticed along the trail, and how he enjoys it. Wrong! I would love to meet this author because I do not consider him a backpacker in the remote least bit. He complains about the trail, is not in shape, enjoys smoking, his buddy throws everything away in the woods, and his lack of detail of his hike is the most disturbing part. There are 225 pages. He dedicates a paragraph to the hiking of Clingman's Dome in the Great Smokey Mountains National Park. Yet he has an entire chapter dedicated to the food and dining at Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Everything he encounters (whether its snow, some sleet, temperature) he believes that no one else has been there before and continues to explain how dangerous it is. Personally buddy (author) I have hiked the trail to Clingman's Dome in winter with 13" snow, and hiked in Grizzly bear terrority several times something he has never done. He barely spends nights outdoors, and just hikes a couple miles, walks into a town and gets a hotel room. Everyone he encounters on the trail is either too fit, too annoying, or just simply not him. I think he is personally a slacker and I cannot even began to understand WHY he hikes the trail. What does he get out of it? He complains about it, gets trapped in weather that he is not prepared for, etc. After reading this book it just goes to show that he is simply an amauter who wants that "outdoor rugged" personality but still has a redneck side to him. Overall the book is okay written, I just have such a problem with the author and his friend I can't believe this book gets such great reviews. Yes there is some humor in there but the rest of the book is lacking everything. Again, I just wish I could meet the author and try and figure him out. His book clearly didn't show me an appreciation or love for the outdoors to the point that I had even slightly expected.

-Reid

In reading some of the reviews, everyone seems to be saying the same thing...This book is about Bill Bryson's attempt to walk the Appalachian trail from beginning to end. I do agree with that. But to me, it is so much more. This book is loaded with so much great information on camping, the environment, government bureaucracy, people, friendship, US History, botany, zoology and of course the Appalachian trail itself. Add to this Bryson's humoristic talent and you have a recipe for a must read. I would read this at night and feel compelled to share excerpts with my husband, whether he was interested or not. I loved this book so much, I have already ordered another one of Bryson's books and I can't wait to read it!

A wondrous journey, filled with side splitting humor and a love for the outdoors. Highly recommended for anyone who has ever dreamed of walking the Appalachian Trail. Who better to be your hiking partner and guide than a commedian.

Bill Bryson is fast becoming one of my favorite authors. It is rare to find a writer who so effortlessly makes any situation make you laugh out loud without feeling trite. This book makes you want to throw everything in a framepack and hit the trail. It is an exciting, funny and poignant walk through America's Eastern woods that has a universal appeal. Even if you spend your evenings watching TV and hate the thought of even getting a mosquito bite, this book will still captivate and entertain. At the very least, it makes an excellent read for a trip.

Bryson does a nice job of intermixing his comic style with the realistic preparations and efforts involved in attempting to walk the Appalachian Trail.

An enjoyable read even if you have no aspirations to attempt the 2,100 hike, but for Nature lovers and hikers it will be even better.

With nice descriptions of what he experiences in his walk, do not be surprised if you finish this book and tell yourself, "Hey, I could do that!"

Excellent. Well documented and organized. A must read for anyone thinking about doioing the trail, but even good reading for even a virtual walk int the woods.

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

After reading "Notes from a Big Country" which is probably the funniest book I've ever read in my life (being a European with a close connection to the US), I've been looking for more books by Bryson. So this time I decided to try "A Walk in the Woods". I guess the more of your own experiences reflect in the book the funnier and more interesting you'll find it. I've never done any long distance hiking, let alone the Appalachian trail, so other than learning some interesting background information on the history of the trail, some sad facts about our environment and the stupidity of humanity, I only found this book mildly amusing and in some parts even boring. Sorry!

Bill Bryson combines humor and adventure, this book will leave you feeling like the appalachian trial is magnificant and horrible to climb- his experiences are easily read and charming.

I bought this as a gift to a friend because I loved it so much. Great reading.

Book is hilarious and well written account of hiking on the Appalachian Trail. Book is an easy read. The reader is able to experience hiking the Appalachian Trail and experience the pains of camping with a humorous perspective.

Hiking is a lot better an experience than descriptions of it would suggest. Its physical challenges are presented in small, cumulative doses and over long periods of time; there isn't the adrenaline rush that other sports offer; and even the most beautiful scenery can grow monotonous between destinations. Yet it is fantastic, as both novices and experts can attest. A Walk in the Woods is the same way: the joy of reading this tale of a couple of average blokes attempting the Appalachian Trail (AT) belies how boring a book about hiking sounds.

In fact, this story is every bit as good as its title is pedestrian (ha, ha). The repartee between Bryson and his hiking partner are hilarious, as are the exploits of these soft, middle-aged galoots in a wildness they totally underestimate. They meet interesting characters along their Georgia to Maine hike, face both physical and mental challenges, grow alternately fond and sick of one another, and undergo unpredictable and confidence-building transformations.

Bryson excels at detailing interesting bits of trivia about the AT, some more tangential than others. These serve as nice interludes to the narrative, and educate you when you're least expecting it. He gives an excellent history of the trail and its creators, and then complains about its present day mismanagement at the hands of the National Park Service and Forest Service. He enthuses about the spirit of the hikers and the mostly interesting people one can meet while on the AT, and then complains about how popular and crowded it's gotten. He recounts historic natural disasters and narrates tragedies which befell hikers, climbers, and other outdoorsmen. He describes this country's historic flora and fauna, and then complains about how man has eradicated most of the same in his greed and wanton consumerism. [You know, for an affable guy, Byrson does a lot of complaining. Good thing it's infused with his sarcasm and dry wit, and intercalated with amusing observations.]

This is possibly the funniest book I have ever read. Tears-running-down the-face, jaws-and-belly-aching, having-to-put-it-down-to-catch-your-breath laughing. Bryson's wit and powers of observation are unsurpassed, and the obvious British influence in his writing--dry, wry, matter-of-fact--make him that much funnier. Plus, there is the significant bonus of some really good information about hiking the Appalachian Trail. A "must read."

I prefer fiction as a rule and don't normally purchase this type of book. I bought it because my college-age daughter mentioned that she wanted to walk the Appalachian trail. I was looking for a book that would either allay my fears or talk her out of it. While this book will give you an eye-opening, comprehensive discussion of all the dangers you can face on the trail, which is what I was initially looking for, it is so much more. It makes you want to see the beauty of a wilderness that is disappearing daily. It's an "Odd Couple" friendship story of two very different men. And it was so funny and entertaining, that I couldn't put it down. Whatever my daughter decides (and my fears won't influence her in the least), I'm really glad I bought this book and will look for more Bill Bryson.

Bill Bryson is absolutely a wonderful story teller. This book is funny, informative and gives a great history regarding Appalachian Trail and many towns along the way. He does go overboard on describing some things or events, but it's not bad. It's definitely worth your time, especially if you are like me, a weekend warrior hiker and day dream about ever hiking the Pacific Crest trail.

My husband read this book and said it was the funniest book he ever read. I read it and I agree. I have sent copies to my mom and brother who lives in New Hampshire. They both said the same thing hilarious. My mom read it twice. I think I will read it again. Buy it and read it right away.

This book did not become a bestseller by accident. It is one of the most enjoyable and well-researched books I could name. You needn't give a rip about the Appalachian Trail to have fun reading A Walk in the Woods, but chances are you'll have grown an interest in this amazing recreational facility by the time you finish.

Since I read A Walk in the Woods a few months ago, I've bought more Bill Bryson books. His combination of subtle comedy, extremely thorough research and great writing talent is hard to beat.

My dad recommended this book to me and I must say I was skeptical at first. However, after reading only a few pages, I was finding it very difficult to put down. It's not only a terrific account of 2 men hiking the Appalachian Trail, it's one of the funniest books, if not the funniest, I've ever read. I was reading it on an airplane and could barely keep from laughing out loud. I highly recommend this book!

A slow read, simply because you stop and think about the evil Forest Service, Centralia, hypothermia and American chestnut trees. Maybe more serious than other Bryson works.

This is an EXCELLENT book for the hiker or vicarios hiker-- I am both, and thoroughly enjoyed Bryson's accountting of his hike up the Appalachian Trail with his former college buddy Stephen Katz. The trek was undertaken as Bryson neared his 50th birthday, and is a crash course on anything and everything that can go right and wrong on a hike. I couldn't put the book down once i started reading it, and have bought and given away several subsequent copies to frinds of like interests. "A Walk in the Woods encompasses the love of being out in Nature, the finite details of selecting proper hiking and camping equipment, various foibles and spats between fellow hikers, weather predicaments, environmental soapbox speeches, history, geography, and LOTS of funny scenaria!

This was my first introduction to Bill Bryson's writing. Afterwards I bought everything else he wrote, but this is my favorite. Though I enjoyed ALL the book jackets. Really fun. Whoever designs his book covers has a great sense of humor.

All of Bill Bryson's writing is funny, but this is his best. I think his traveling companion, the crazy Katz, made the book. He played the Gracie Allen role to Bryson's George Burns style of dry commentary.

This book is hilarious. Even though I read the book the day my house sold to pay off a landfill-sized pile of debt I laughed until my stomach ached from gasping for air. Bill Bryson could make me laugh out loud even as I sat reading on a bare hardwood floor in an empty room as movers hauled away my life, piece by piece. (The movers thought I was nuts.) What a talent, what a gift--to be able to make someone laugh during a personal disaster. I love this book, especially the sarcasm.

This was my first introduction to Bill Bryson's writing. Afterwards I ran out and bought everything else he wrote, but this is my favorite. Though I must say I enjoyed ALL the book jackets. Whoever designs his book covers has a great sense of humor.

All of Bill Bryson's writing is funny, but this is his best. I think Katz, his traveling companion, made the book. Katz played the Gracie Allen role to Bryson's George Burns dry commentary.

This book is hilarious. So funny that even though I read it the day my house sold to pay off a landfill- sized debt I laughed as tears streamed down my face and my stomach ached from my gasping for air in between laughes. There I sat on a bare hardwood floor in an empty room as movers hauled away my life, piece by piece, yet Bill Bryson could make me laugh out loud. (The movers thought I was nuts.) What a talent, what a gift--to be able to make someone laugh during a personal disaster. I love this book, especially the sarcasm.

This was the first book I read by Bill Bryson. I loved it so much that I have read others by the same author. The one reason why I loved this book so much was because I loved his sense of humor. When I began reading the book I already knew that he did not successfully complete the AT, but that did not at all effect my enjoyment of the book.

I am an avid hiker throughout the country. I have a great knowledgebase of how to hike and backpack and I have been in some of the areas hiking and visiting that Bill Bryson described in this book. I have been in the Smokies, Shenandoah, The White Mountains, and Hanover, NH. I thought he described these places so nicely. I felt as if I was revisiting these places again. I thought his description of Gatlinburg, TN was hilarious because when I drove through that town I was making some of the same wisecracks to my friends about what a joke of a place it was.

The story is real nice but what adds to the story is the scientific descriptions of areas. This I felt added to the book rather than detracted from it.

The one thing I disagreed with Bill on this book was his description of black bears early on in the book. He seemed very afraid of them and to me it was fear mongering that leads to them getting a bad rep. I have encountered them a number of times in my hiking experiences and have never had a problem. In fact they are my favorite animals to observe and watch. Even with this disagreement it does not affect my rating for this book because I still thought it was terrific.

First, let me say that I have the audio version, read by Bill Bryson himself. I don't usually do audio books but this is one that I would recommend. Bryson has a wounderful storytelling voice that perfectly matches his storytelling ability. The story takes place on the famous Appalachian Trail in the eastern US. The book is about hiking, about the Appalachian Trail, about friendships and, about our sorry performance as a society in taking care of the natural gifts we have. You will come away laughing, disgusted and ready to pack your backpack and hit the trail! I have listened to this 5 CD series several times and never tire of it!

This is a memoir of sorts of Bryson's journey on the Appalachian trail in the late 1990s. He and a long lost somewhat crazy buddy from high school hook up and make plans to tackle this 2100 mile behemoth going from North Georgia to Katahdin Mountain in Maine. Though quite out of shape, they embark upon the hike and have good times enjoying nature including encounters with a moose and some unknown creatures that may or may not have been bears.

Throughout the book Bryson provides humorous tellings of their adventures in his characteristic droll style. One such example was when they had to hike their way through a swamp jumping from log to log and not very successfully staying vertical. After thier struggle of 30 minutes to cross a small space, feeling somewhat triumphant, tired, wet, and dirty, a couple hippie looking guys came along hoisted the backpacks over their heads and adroitly crossed the same piece of swamp in a couple of minutes while staying clean much to Bryson and Katz's dismay. Another such incident was on their first day back on the trail after a hiatus when Katz fell behind. When he finally caught back up to Bryson, huffing and puffing and feeling fairly out of sorts, his pack was considerably lighter due to his throwing things off the side of the trail such as food, a water bottle, and sundry other equipment/materials. Bryson says "Stephen I really wish you wouldn't do such things." I'm perhaps not portraying it as funny as it was but in the book it was fairly hilarious.

At various points in the book, Bryson takes an aside to go into detail on the history of the Appalachian Trail both past and present, notable characters along the trail, as well as detailed descriptions of nature and the terrain. One interesting part is when he visits the ghost town of Centralia in Pennsylvania. It was abandoned about 23 years ago due to a coal mine burning in the ground underneath the town. He said that everywhere you could see smoke coming up out of the ground and realized he was standing right above a roaring fire so felt the urgent need to move on.

I've personally done a bit of hiking (a decent amount in the Smoky Mountains part of the AT) and found Bryson's account to be both accurate and enjoyable. Each multi day backpacking trip I've taken has brought memories, beautiful scenery, pictures, and war stories to tell. Even one who is not in the best shape can get out in nature, get some good exercise, and enjoy themself through hiking whether on day trips or overnight backpacking trips. I recommend the book for anyone who wants to get an idea what it's like to hike the Appalachian Trail or just wants some nice, fun reading material.

I had heard of Bill Bryson, but had never read any of his books. I picked this up at a discount store, and thus began MY adventure. From the moment I started, I was enthralled. In between Bill's recollection of his adventure is littered all kinds of interesting stories and histories of the places visited and the wildlife that lives (or lived) there, and best of all is the humor (my favorite part is his account of reading the book about bear attacks). I was a bit disappointed, as someone already pointed out, he did not hike the entire trail, but I was never the less intrigued by every bit of what he did see.

Though I do disagree with some of his science and politics, it doesn't hurt the book one bit. I was glad, I guess you could say, that he does point out that often times conservationists and the Park Service do more harm than good for these National Parks and nature in general.

The only reason I gave it 4 stars was the F word and a few other bits of dialogue could have been done without. I realized that it was mostly, if not always, part of a conversation, but still.

Take a trip on the Appalachian Trail with this hilarious character. You won't be able to keep from laughing while you read this adventure.

I had heard of Bill Bryson, but had never read any of his books. I picked this up at a discount store, and thus began MY adventure. From the moment I started, I was enthralled. In between Bill's recollection of his adventure is littered all kinds of interesting stories and histories of the places visited and the wildlife that lives (or lived) there, and best of all is the humor (my favorite part is his account of reading the book about bear attacks). I was a bit disappointed, as someone already pointed out, he did not hike the entire trail, but I was never the less intrigued by every bit of what he did see.

Though I do disagree with some of his science and politics, it doesn't hurt the book one bit. I was glad, I guess you could say, that he does point out that often times conservationists and the Park Service do more harm than good for these National Parks and nature in general.

The only reason I gave it 4 stars was the F word and a few other bits of dialogue could have been done without. I realized that it was mostly, if not always, part of a conversation, but still.

Solid enjoyable craft.

Bryson is an able anecdotalist, and the book soars when he describes some extraordinary characters; if he exaggerates a little here and there (and maybe he didn't), that's OK. But it's not as if he populates the whole Appalachian Trail with increasingly obvious fabrications - when there aren't any incidents to report he wisely falls back on interesting historical, biological, environmental, political, social ... whatever ... research. Each chapter is a deliberately self-contained bite, and the way I enjoyed (and I'd recommend) reading the book. I would be surprised if he wasn't, or hadn't been, a columnist, with a honed ability to keep to a word limit that matches attention spans. I was impressed that I enjoyed the whole book, which, when you get down to it, is a pretty rare thing. His style is very readable, and his sense of humour permeates the narrative.

If you're looking for a how-to book or a review by someone who really did the AT, this is not your book. If you want a good read - not to be taken too seriously - just a good, funny read, I can't think of much better. Anymore than CSI-Miami is about Miami, this isn't about hiking. It's about human nature and being middle aged and having old friends and trying something new. I laughed until I cried in parts. Even now as I remember Katz's first day on the trail, I still chuckle out loud. It's really hard to read this book and not end up smiling. That's worth a heck of a lot to me. If you're in the mood to be entertained (not necessarily lectured or educated) - just entertained, please don't miss this one. It really is a lot of fun.

This is a very entertaining and fun to read story until the half way point. If you want to read a book about hiking the appalachian trail, find one written by someone who didn't quit halfway through.