Rating: 
Summary: The journey IS the destination...
Review: I had purchased this book some weeks ago, but hadn't picked it up yet. Today I read the entire book in one afternoon and evening. I've ready some of Bryson's other books (and enjoyed them), but I found this book to be especially insightful.Several reviewers have complained about his descriptions of Gatlinburg and the people of the South, but I found him to be spot-on and to the point. I'm originally from the South, have been to Gatlinburg and, damn it, he's right. I've never understood people's desires to make everything "politically correct". I am also in agreement with his writings on the Park Service and the utterly insane desire to keep everything within a mile of the trail "pristine". Sure, his descriptions of what he thinks is ideal would be European, but so what? Having something that way isn't necessarily a bad thing. Finally, at least one person wrote a negative review complaining that Bryson really didn't walk the entire trail. Gee, I'm sorry this disappointed you, but I found it refreshingly honest and eye-opening. Bryson obviously respects the people that DO manage to walk the entire 2100 miles, but give me a break. Bryson's not your ordinary travel writer; he talks frequently about how the journey affects HIM, not what you should do yourself. If you want another kind of writer, then read another book. I thought this book was well worth the price paid and a thoroughly enjoyable read. Highly recommended.
Rating: 
Summary: NOT a walk in the woods!
Review: Bryson is not a hiker, he doesn't walk the AT (quits twice, and then "car hikes"), and he hasn't anything relevant to say about the woods (skip the superficial environmental "filler" material inserted throughout the book). The premise of the story is the author's return to the US after an extended time in Great Britain. By the end of the book I got the impression he'd rather be back there, and that I'd just as soon see him go. The first part of the book (which I read excerpts from in Outside Mag.) is funny - Bryson' companion is out of shape, inept and goofy, and Bryson seems to patiently and amusedly endure him. The rest of the story reveals however that Bryson actually sees everyone else on the trail (except himself) as inept, goofy, dimwitted, and/or slightly deranged (e.g. the girl who tags after them in Georgia, the man and his son in the GS Mtns., the religious hikers in Me., etc.) As the book progresses, his observations get less amusing and more biting and arrogant (see e.g. his gleeful retelling of a cutting comment to a hiker who spoke too enthusistically about his own backpacking gear). Worse, the book reveals that Bryson is the inept one; he's just totally unaware and downright condescending about it. He can't complete much of the trail, and decides to visit other parts by car. Even then, he can't handle it. See his harrowing account of a near-brush w/ hypothermia on a day hike in the moutains of NH - (he doesn't even know the symptoms, and gets chilly because his wife "forgot" to pack his "waterproofs" for him). See also his solution to a heavy backpack: enter the Maine wilderness carrying nothing to eat but candybars and slim jims. What Bryson tries to pass off as dry "British" wit, is actually just sarcastic prissyness. Bryson seems to want to be believed as a seasoned outdoorsman. Ultimately, however he makes it clear that he doesn't care much for the sore feet, sweat, dirt, bugs, weather, bad food and overall difficulty of the outdoor life in America. At one point he actually cricizes the AT for being too concerned with retaining its "wilderness" character. Bryson says he prefers hiking trails between "lovely hamlets" where townspeople bring picnic lunches to thru-hikers. Huh? Where does one find such "lovely hamelts"? In England of course.
Rating: 
Summary: Audio review
Review: I listened to the audio tape (abridged version) read by the author. It was recommended as something that was very funny. However, while humerous in some spots, I though the book was wordy, the author whiney, and overall dull. While it passed the time away while I was driving, I could not imagine sitting at home and listening to it.
Rating: 
Summary: A Walk Worth Taking
Review: Bill Bryson is a great writer, and of the three books of his that I've read, this is my favorite! It's a memoir of his experiences hiking on the Appalachian Trail. The book is hilarious, thoughtful, and a little bit poignant all at the same time. I wanted to strap on my hiking boots and head out the door. Highly recommended! Great one to do on tape or cd too.
Rating: 
Summary: Funny in places but missing something
Review: While the book was funny and entertaining in places, Bryson does not walk the Appalachian trail as a thru-hiker. In fact, he does not even hike much of the trail at all and ditches the trail around the Great Smokey Mountains and justifies it by making condescending remarks about that area of the country. It seemed that because he was "car hiking" (hiking the trail by driving to certain segments, hiking, then going to his motel), he lacks the material that a dedicated hiker would and so he fills space with tirades on environmental issues. The first couple of chapters when he is really hiking with his buddy are great but the rest of the book is a let down.
Rating:
Summary: funny, informative, and engaging
Review: Bill Bryson captured my attention by making me laugh. There were many moments in the first few chapters were I found myself laughing outloud while fellow train passengers or coffee shop customers strained their necks to see first who was making such a racket and then what, exactly, I was reading. I was happy to oblige them by flashing the cover because I think pretty much anyone would enjoy this book.
Bill Bryson is funny because he doesn't take himself too seriously. He knows he doesn't know much about camping in general and the Appalachian Trail specifically. He knows he's overweight and out of shape and his partner on this adventure is even more so. Unfortunately, he initially doesn't know enough to take the trail too seriously either...he's mentally prepared for the extremes of bears and snakebite, but not the tedium of 16 hours of daily hiking with no stunning view to keep himself going. But, his awakening experiences lead to more humor as he and Katz quickly succumb to, but then triumph over the difficulty and repetition of life on the AT. Their conversations are hilarious. The bizarre people they meet are fully entertaining. Simultaneously I wished I was along for the trip, but also glad I was comfortably seated without a sixty pound pack weighing me down. As the story of Bryson's adventures continue, he masterfully interweaves environmental and historical lessons about the trail itself and the many towns and regions he visits along the way. As Bryson walks, we learn bits of American history that are fascinating, but have managed to be overlooked by many others. Bryson's observations are engaging and contagious. At many points I found myself putting the book down and drifting off into my own memories of hiking through the mountains on a crip autumn day or of shivering in a rainsoaked sleeping bag in a pile of mud. His writing made me get outside, go for a walk at the woods, and just stare at the trees. And then I actually went and bought a book on tree identification so I could learn even more! This book made me laugh, inspired me to reconnect with the outdoors, and gave me a whole lot of respect for those who attempt to hike the AT.
Rating:
Summary: This is fall down, roll around, trouble breathing hilarious!
Review: Not being biast, but if you have trouble laughing out loud with this book, I suggest...well...nothing will work. There is nothing more entertaining than a person's experiences and take on life, especially when he has much to say. No one is claiming that Mr. Bryson's statements are truisms for life, but he definetly sees things in a way few others do (or at least, few others have written). If you want excitement, adventure, comedy and hours of enjoyment, I highly recommend "A Walk in the Woods." If you desire none of that, then the TV Guide will suit you just fine.
Rating:
Summary: A Good Book: Funny and Interesting
Review: I thoroughly enjoyed this book, although I did not expect to. Almost every non-fiction/travel/adventure book I've read that was supposed to be good, wasn't. For example, I didn't like The Perfect Storm because it was boring and read like a textbook. Fortunately, A Walk in the Woods doesn't. The main attraction to this book is the humor: Billy Bryson is a pretty funny guy. He can make everyday situations hilarious and catches humorous things most people would miss. I love it when he makes fun of people. He does it so well! Bryson also does a good job of mixing history with his hiking story without getting too boring. Actually, the facts weren't boring at all: it's just that the story was so funny and entertaining you wanted to get back to it. Overall, I really enjoyed A Walk in the Woods. I hope to read more of Bill Bryson's work in the future.
Rating:
Summary: Great book, with a lot of humor!
Review: This is a book that should be required reading for anyone that wants to hike the AT. He makes you feel like you're going along with him and experiencing everything he does. Most of all, I really liked the humorous tales mixed with a lot of AT facts (and general nature notes) that I never knew and found to be very interesting. This is a really enjoyable book, even if you only want to hike from your reading chair. I liked it enough, that I have put his other books on my "want list". Hey Bill - let's have more adventures of your travels!
Rating:
Summary: Funny book!
Review: Two middle aged guys go for a long walk. Dosen't sound very interesting, but it is. Bryson is a brilliant writer. He combines excellent research with cranky observations about the wilderness. His portrayal of his high school friend Stephen Katz is hysterical.
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