Rating: 
Summary: Book worth its weight in gold
Review: I entered into a bookstore by habit. I have been reading profound theories on quantum physics and decided on some light reading after having been bedridden for 2 months now due to a very high-risk pregnancy. I chanced upon this book because it was the only one with a green cover and the green color is often associated with "coolness, serenity, and no stress". Upon returning to my sick bed, I started reading the book and just kept on laughing till my tummy started having contractions ! This book cant be put down once started. More so, because I had hiked some miles of the Appalachian Trail but wont dare hike the entire length ! I might die of heart attack. A neophyte hiker can easily relate to Bill's experiences, but whether you're a pro or not, you have to read this book - it transports you to the fresh scents of the forest, the real danger of being in the wild, the ordeals of cooking a meal without condiments and ladles, the comfort of your well-coordinated bathroom, and the final reward of self-fulfillment. From my bed, it brought me to the top of the mountain, and for someone trying to save a life in my womb, it was worth its weight in gold. I will read this book over and over again for the rest of my life. Of course, Im forcing the hubby and my 10-year old daughter to read it too since they're adventure freaks themselves. Thank you so much Bill, for this precious gift ! It brought so much sunshine to my bedroom and inspired me to endure this pregnancy knowing that after 6 months, I'd be back hiking in the woods again and money cant buy the thrill ever.
Rating:
Summary: A walk in the park with a walk in the woods
Review: Is it possible Mr. Kiefer didn't know Bill Bryson is a humourist? To buy A Walk in the Woods to learn about the AT is like buying Marathon Man to learn about dentistry: you've missed the point. The book offers insights on friendships, on aging, on goals and on self-examination. And it's funny. Besides, if you're fat and 50 like me, it's the best way to exercise.
Rating:
Summary: Bryson reading Bryson - BEAUTIFUL!
Review: This guy could read the NEWSPAPER and it would be funny - perfect timing, he's hilarious. And here he's reading his own great material, for a delightful, side-splitting romp. No one could do droll Bryson like Bryson (even his accent is funny). My husband and I took this tape on a car trip, and were actually sorry to have the trip end - sat (after 6 hours of driving) in the car in our garage to hear the end of a particularly good bit. We're not hikers, but after this account ... well ... let's just say we're tempted.
Rating: 
Summary: Defending Bill Bryson
Review: I disagree with Mr. Keifer. I feel that Bryson has an extreme appreciation for the woods and the Appalachian Trail, and that he thoroughly states that in this book. The tail of Bryson and Katz is hilarious and makes for enjoyable reading. I had to read this book for a college class and was surprised by its facts and history of the AT. Bryson tells of the ongoing destruction of the AT and speaks of it condescendingly. I think the most important thing he got out of his hike was that our land is precious and valuable and he now has a greater appreciation for it. I loved this book and highly reccommend it. I have bought it for several friends and family members who have also enjoyed it and will read more ooks by Bryson in the future.
Rating: 
Summary: Rediscovering America? Huh???
Review: If you want to read a non-bias book about the AT - read Peter Jenkins "Walk Across America". If you want to read a crabby man's ramblings then "A Walk in the Woods" is the book for you. I can't even figure where he gets the idea he is rediscovering America. When Bryson isn't giving you all kinds of information that can be found at the forest rangers office or a National Geographic, he is crabbing and complaining about the trail. There are no colorful descriptions of all the beauty you are surrounded with. There is only complaints and unfair and even prejudiced accounts of Southerners. If you have ever been on the AT or anywhere in Northern Georgia, Tennessee and the Carolina's you will know that there are beautiful areas and wonderful people. In fact, Mr. Bryson, most of that area is filled with transplanted Yankees these days. I was extremely insulted by the tone of his book and his tone doesn't change (but then only slightly) until he was on the New England section of the trial. How this book has stayed on the best seller list is a mystery to me. Maybe there are a lot of old coots who like reading about other old coots.
If you are planning on hiking the AT - DO NOT judge your trip by this book - you might give up before you ever start. Boo hiss to you Mr. Bryson - keep your prejudice meananderings up North where they belong.
Rating:
Summary: A Walk Through America
Review: The most delightful book I've read in a long time. Well written, funny and interesting. Bryson turns many a phrase while taking his turn trying to make it up the Appalachian Trail. His ultimately faithful sidekick, Katz,is unforgettable. And I learned so much about the heartbreaking demise of the American chestnut, the anthracite industry in Pennsylvania, the history of Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, the propensities of the dreaded (by Bryson)black bear. If I weren't already in love with America, its rocks, hills and trees before I read this book, I would be now! Bryson's pervading message that we need to conserve what we have before it's lost is a valuable one. And it felt so good to laugh so hard!
Rating:
Summary: warning: toothpicks needed for your eyes
Review: This book is a marvelous harmony of humor and history. Somehow Bryson happens to make the marriage of these two blissful and fun-loving. I literally laughed out loud on almost every page and at one time found myself trying hopelessly to explain my glee to a bewildered onlooker who was wondering why in the world I was smirking and giggling, uncontrollably at times. Bryson's experiences can be felt first-hand through his short-and-to-the-point way of relating to the reader. He has this uncanny ability to draw the reader into thinking that one is hiking alongside him, seeing the things that he sees, and actually feeling tired at the end of a chapter as though it is the reader who has done all the walking. It is a satisfying and gratifying experience and I highly recommend attaining for oneself some good toothpicks to hold up your eyelids when you realize that this book cannot be put down, even for a moment. I, for one, would re-read this book but perhaps after I rest a little. After all, I just finished hiking the Appalachian Trail.
Rating:
Summary: I can't stop reading this book
Review: My first exposure to "a Walk in the Woods" was via the audio version. Bryson did a fantastic job reading his story. Since then, I have re-read the book three times. The big appeal to me is that Bryson paints a picture of a couch potato who gets up and does something he has always wanted to do. Something cool. Also his command of the language is enviable.
Rating: 
Summary: A Mostly Enjoyable Travelogue, On Foot
Review: As a long-time hiker who prefers to trek for suicidally long distances, I really enjoyed this book by Bill Bryson. His books are not very dense and do not consist of heavy, research-oriented reading. Instead, he offers pleasant and enjoyable observations on the people he meets and places he sees during his travels. This particular travelogue just happens to be on foot. Unfortunately, Bryson has some real weaknesses, as his writing style can be annoyingly sappy and sentimental on occasion, and his observations on regular people who disagree with him are often unnecessarily cruel. Though Bryson and his hysterically cranky and out-of-shape partner Katz failed to hike the entire 2100 miles of the Appalachian Trail (they actually conquered about 850 miles), they truly learned about the long-distance hiking experience. Unlike some other reviewers, I don't really see this failure to complete the trail as a weakness for the book. Bryson includes astute and hilarious observations of obnoxious partiers on the trail, people who are dreadfully under-prepared for a grueling long distance hike (except for himself), and outfitters who charge ridiculous prices for useless items. Especially interesting are some of his darker observations on rampant development and loss of wildlife habitat along the trail. I was most interested in his observations on my particular region, central and eastern Pennsylvania, in which the AT travels through some areas of unbelievable environmental devastation, amid a landscape irreparably damaged by coal mines and heavy industry. Also note his side-trip to Centralia, PA, a near-ghost town that has been sitting on top of a burning coal mine for the last 40 years. A final bonus of this book is Bryson's commentary on some of the hardy and valiant souls who have completed (or "thru-hiked") the entire 2100 miles of the AT. Favorites include a 400-pound man who completed the trek and managed to lose (only) 75 pounds; a blind man who did the whole thing with his seeing-eye dog and fell down an estimated 5000 times; and the marathon runner who ran the entire distance carrying only a water bottle, which was replenished by strategically-placed friends along the way. This last guy spent the last few hundred miles crying uncontrollably. That trail can really do things to people.
Rating:
Summary: Outstanding book
Review: Interesting, funny, well-written. I'm ready to throw on a backpack and follow his lead.
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