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Search - A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail
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Book Description:
Back in America after twenty years in Britain, Bill Bryson decided to reacquaint himself with his native country by walking the 2,100-mile Appalachian Trail, which stretches from Georgia to Maine. The AT offers an astonishing landscape of silent forests and sparkling lakes--and to a writer with the comic genius of Bill Bryson, it also provides endless opportunities to witness the majestic silliness of his fellow human beings.Members who requested this book also requested:
For a start there's the gloriously out-of-shape Stephen Katz, a buddy from Iowa along for the walk. Despite Katz's overwhelming desire to find cozy restaurants, he and Bryson eventually settle into their stride, and while on the trail they meet a bizarre assortment of hilarious characters. But A Walk in the Woods is more than just a laugh-out-loud hike. Bryson's acute eye is a wise witness to this beautiful but fragile trail, and as he tells its fascinating history, he makes a moving plea for the conservation of America's last great wilderness. An adventure, a comedy, and a celebration, A Walk in the Woods is destined to become a modern classic of travel literature.
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Genres:Other Versions of this Book: Audio CD, Audio Cassette, Audio Cassette (Unabridged), Hardcover, Hardcover
Top Member Reviews
9 member(s) found this review helpful.
We read this book aloud to each other on a long car trip, and what a great choice it was! It lent itself well to being shared, and was incredibly funny. Mr Bryson provides a delicious account his personal trip on the Appalachian Trail, adding information about the history of the Appalachian Trail, some of the flora and fauna, and some information about the National Parks Service, of which he most definitely has an opinion. Don't let the information bits put you off reading the book; you need the breaks from laughing.
6 member(s) found this review helpful.
Let me begin with how disappointed I am with this book. I didn't read it all. As a matter of fact, I got as far as the trip through the Great Smoky Mountains. At that point I was so angry with Mr. Bryson that I put the book down and swore to never read another word written by him. It was terrible the way he made fun of the small towns and people. The last straw was his comments on the Great Smoky Mountains, Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge TN. I am from that area and I am deeply offended!!!!!! On a scale of 1 to 10 I give this book a -10
4 member(s) found this review helpful.
Great book and writer! Bryson is very humorous and knows how to make his facts interesting and thus the book is very readable.
3 member(s) found this review helpful.
Not only did he give you a taste for the trail but he gave you a history of the land he was walking through which I enjoyed.
2 member(s) found this review helpful.
I enjoyed reading this book. It was full of of information and facts that I would not have read about on my own. Bryson spends the time to tell of the history of the AT. I am sure he may have even inspired some people to think about maybe walking the trail someday :) I read this book because it was recommended as a humorous book. Though, I did find myself laughing out loud ever, I did smile quite a bit..esp the parts that really showed Katz' personality. Some people might be offended by the way he talks about things he doesn't like. People from PA, don't expect a glowing review, lol. Though, he makes up for this with his facts and history parts that he includes throughout the book. I am glad that I read this one.
2 member(s) found this review helpful.
I just finished reading this book a few weeks ago after returning from a trip to the Smokies. I loved this book because it made me feel like I was back in the mountains. It was very funny and very informative about what life can be like on the Appalachian Trail. It made me want to at least hike part of the trail myself :)
2 member(s) found this review helpful.
This is a hilarious account of the author's attempt to hike the Appalachian Trail with his less-than-in-shape buddy. It's even funnier because it really happened, and maybe even better because neither of these guys are super hikers. Is that why I could identify with them?
Moira M. from MADISON, ME wrote on 3/23/2007...
2 member(s) found this review helpful.
A sometimes hilarious, always entertaining read about one man's journey on the Appalachian Trail. Bill Bryson, an Iowa native, returns to America after living in Britain for 20 years working for the Times and the Independent. He decides to get back in touch with his native country by hiking the 2100 mile Appalachian Trail. His journey gives glimpses into the silliness of other human beings. He invites his friend Stephen Katz, also from Iowa, along for the walk. Katz accepts, although is horribly out of shape, and this leads to some hilarity. While settling into their hiking stride, they meet a whole cast of other interesting people...definitely a terrific read for anyone who enjoys the outdoors or is planning on hiking the AT themselves.
2 member(s) found this review helpful.
An irreverent tale of trying to thru-hike the trail when you're out of shape, not a hiker, and paired with a recovering (sorta) alcoholic overweight junk-food loving buddy from out west. Makes you think seriously about thru-hiking if you're over 40.
Douglas C. from CHRISTIANSBRG, VA wrote on 3/3/2007...
2 member(s) found this review helpful.
Very entertaining!
Rate These Member Reviews
Lynn S. (A wonderful book about two males friends sharing an adventure or at least part of one. Bryson has a great sense of humor in his writing.
Tim O. (Bryson and his hiking buddy Katz take on a healthy chunk of the Appalachian Trail and survive to tell the tale! A funny, insightful story about the human drama of experiencing the "AT," a seemingly endless trail of over 2,000 miles of the toughest trail anybody could ever love...and hate...and love...and loath. A very fun read but dang, no bears! :(
Kate S. wrote on 5/3/2008...I am quite a fan of Bill Bryson's work but this book is my all time favorite. His writing is quite comical.
Brenda B. (Funny, good book. Definitely worth reading!
Bruson hike 870 miles of the 2000 plus miles of Applachian Trail and tells us all out it. A native's look at the last American wilderness. Laugh out loud funny at times; poignant at others. Brysondoes an admirable job of describing the Trail while making a muted plea for better conservation methods. He gently implores us to save this land.'I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book.
A great read that will bring the adventurer out in anyone. Bryson passes along a highly entertaining account of his time on the grandaddy of endurance trails in America.
Charming, sometimes hilarious, sometimes profane account, with sobering meditations on the preciousness of our national natural resources.
Kerry B. (Bill Bryson and Stephen Katz, Bryson's intentionally long forgotten college friend, attempt to hike the full 2,100 mile long Appalachian Trail. A good read.
These 40-somethings are prototypical "non-hikers" in every way. They are overweight, nonathletic, and unreservedly men who love the comforts of civilization. Yet full of gumption and attitude, priggish Bryson and the notably uncouth and awkward Katz attempt to tackle the killer "AT" with predictable but very funny results. They are the backwoods odd couple.
Note Bryson does direct his cutting humor at both the forest service and poor uneducated backwoods southerners in a manner many consider mean spirited (Kirkus review calls it, "a far yodel from political sensitivity.") Still, cautious Bryson tightens his belt and plunges forward down the AT, even though the movie "Deliverance" is never far from his thoughts. So too should the reader plunge forward with this entertaining book.
The first half of this book is among the funniest and best travel writing I've ever read. The second half of the book seems like Bryson phoned it in -- paralleling the journey itself.