Rating: 
Summary: I don't hike alot, but did after I read this book
Review: I love this book on tape so much I had to listen to it twice. I've hiked about three times in the past several years, but after listening to this book, I immediately went hiking, for the day and still laughed about the characters in Bryson's book. I'm going to the Maui Writer's Conference in August, which Bill Bryson will be speaking at and I can't wait to meet him, hopefully he'll endorse my book.
Rating:
Summary: A favorite
Review: I really enjoy reading Bill Bryson (and listening to his audio books in the car). But, alas and anon, I am from New England, and if you aren't from around here, you aren't going to get all his jokes. Its that dry sense of humor thing. Plus, the man lived in England... where the humor and whisky only get drier. The book is a tad slow in the 3rd quarter but overall I really liked this one. If there is a little bit of naturalist in you and you can laugh at yourself, you'll have a heck of a time laughing at Bill and his bud as they take on the mountain trails. Bill reminds me a bit of Peter Mayle, whose books I also heartily recommend.
Rating:
Summary: GREAT book
Review: This is a GREAT book--even for non-hikers. My family is currently fighting over the book--we're all enjoying it--"did you get to the part abou..." It's funny, and very insightful, and (from the hiking I've done) right on target.Mostly, though, this guy is a wonderful writer. '
Rating: 
Summary: I don't understand it's popularity
Review: I like books about people who are adventurous so when I saw this book I knew I would buy it. I thought I would enjoy learning about the Appalachian Trail and hear some of the exploits of someone who had the courage to walk it. What I got was a very preachy book sometimes 3-4 pages at a time about the environment from someone who didn't even finish the entire Appalachian Trail. I do support the environment and some of this would be fine after a while it just gets tedious. In the books favor there are some interesting stories and I did learn a little about the Appalachian Trail but not enough to recommend this book. Several similar books I would recommend are "Walk Across America" about a man and his dog experiencing America. "Granny D" about a 90 year old woman walking across America. This one is preachy in spots but the wonderful stories make up for it. Finally the old standby "Travels with Charley" Steinbeck's book about his motor trip across America with his poodle Charley.
Rating:
Summary: Show me the way
Review: Before reading this book I had never even heard of the Appalachian trail. Having read it (twice) I feel I have walked it. Firstly being from England the actual journey (2200 miles through 14 states)seems incredible. Not only fraught with danger from animals, viruses, heat, exhaustion, Bryson takes his unfit friend, who cannot believe he has left the X files to do this ! Despite the magnitude of the task the book is written light heartedly from when he buys all the camping gear to when he and Steven his companion fall out. He tells of his anger at the deforestation on the trail and how progress means that much of the trail will be gone in a generations time. The story also focuses on the people and the towns he meets along the way. I have now added the AT on my list of things to do in life, and continue my quest to speak to people who have walked some or all of it, such was the influence and the power of this book.
Rating: 
Summary: A Walk With Friends
Review: I picked up "A Walk In The Woods" simply because I'd heard it was funny and I was looking for a light summer read. I was not disappointed. The book takes the reader on a journey with author Bill Bryson and several hilarious companions along over 800 miles of the Appalachian Trail (AT). I was quickly drawn into the book and felt almost an immediate kinship with the author. His adventures are not dangerous or exciting by any standard but his descriptions of them are witty and thoughtful. The book is very funny on regular occassions but at times can be quite serious for long passages. Bryson's hiking tales are interspersed with frequent segments about the history about the AT, environmental concerns and forestry management, all of which were quite informative. Having never hiked further than a few miles, I found myself learning a great deal. However, "A Walk In the Woods" should not be considered a "How To" book by any means. If anything, Bryson's adventures provide perfect examples of how not to prepare for the trail. Just the same, you may well find that this book motivates you to give hiking a try. I must also offer my hearty endorsement of any passage in the book which includes Bryson's regular hiking companion, Steven Katz. Katz's vulnerable cynicism and fearless determination in the face of personal ineptitude provide most of the book's funniest moments. I'll miss Bryson but I'll really miss Katz. My summer was more fun because they were part of it.
Rating:
Summary: Lighten up.
Review: This book is a riot, and you'll learn something as you laugh. Bryson tells the comic tale of his endeavor to hike the AT with his unlikely partner, Katz. The trail is a framework for expositions about conservation, nature and history. It's all interesting. Other reviewers have called these interludes "preachy," and to that I'd say "lighten up... you're missing the point." This book is not an impassioned Plea to Save the Earth. It isn't a Guide for the Serious Hiker. It's a lighthearted, informative work and as such, hits the mark exactly. Good fun.
Rating:
Summary: Five Stars for Bryson
Review: A hillarious book, well-written and remarkably interesting. A laugh-out-loud story of two misfit hikers treking through America's great outdoors, A Walk In the Woods is gloriously entertaining. If you like to hike or know anyone who does, this is the perfect read!
Rating:
Summary: great read!
Review: Really enjoyed this book! Humorous (laughed so hard about the bear story!!), informational/educational, and all in all a delight! Recommend heartily!
Rating: 
Summary: Not to Expectations
Review: An amusing book about two non-hikers walking the Appalachian Trail. This book contains many good sections dealing with the history of the Trail, its geology, ecology, famous hikers and folklore. These are the high points, and its quite good. The author makes one realize the beauty we have missed from the effects of acid rain, the decimation of the Elm and Chestnut trees to disease and the loss of the virgin forest in general. The problem with the story is that it dwells the majority of the time on the inane and tedious conversation of two hikers. Another disappointment with this book is that they sampled the Appalachian Trail and did not actually hike the whole trail. I thought I was going to read about the tenacity and mental toughness it would take to tackle the whole Trail. All in all, it was a worthwhile read for some of the knowledge gained, but it must be gleaned from the passages in between the conversational sections.
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