Rating: 
Summary: SO SO
Review: This book is more like a really long article for the weekend magazine of your local newpaper. The author, as I recall spent too much time on tired jokes, it was kind of glib. Like he wasn't being too serious. Too bad. At points it is an interesting story, and his sidekick is a great, recognizable character. It just never goes very far.
Rating:
Summary: A Reverent Look at Nature
Review: I have read a few of Bryson's books. His humour is often irreverent, so I was surprised with the reverence he showed towards the great outdoors. He still manages to inject offbeat humour into his adventures ... I laughed out loud! His own adventures are interwoven with the history and interesting facts about the trail.
Rating:
Summary: A journey not to be trivialized
Review: I have rated this book 3 starts mainly for one reason. The author wanders into some lengthy detail that seemed unnecessary. While I loved the general level of detail be prepared for long side tracks on the history of trees in areas.Listening to the authors account of traveling onthe trail makes me respect thru hikers even more. Finally a book that tells it like it is. Hiking that amount of distance is not a piece of cake, there are serious things to worry about. I love that he even lets his friend (really out of shape one at that) join him on his quest. And even lets him rejoin... I enjoyed his accounts of the other hikers, what foods people crave, and the dangers of wandering off the path. A good read (especially if you are reading and can skip the side tracks) and one that should be read by all that are going to hike the AT.
Rating: 
Summary: A walk in the woods- rediscovering America on the Appalachia
Review: "A walk in the Woods" was thoroughly enjoyable reading. There was an interesting mix of adventure, science,history, politics, and character descriptions. If the day should come that I may have the opportunity to walk the Applachian trail, I would enjoy doing so with Bryson and Katz.
Rating:
Summary: Good, funny, but......
Review: seemed rushed in places and fell apart in the end. At times I laughed out loud (to the inquiring looks from my wife...) and other times I quickly turned the page to see if the story picked back up later. Still, I encourage anyone who has done any backpacking or in comtemplating walking "the trail" to consider reading this book.
Rating:
Summary: Refreshingly Funny, Surprisingly Informative
Review: A little over a year ago, I passed this book up on Amazon because I was looking for a book about the AT and how to prepare for it (there are plenty out there if any are interested). At Christmastime, my mother gave me this book as a gift and there it lain on the shelf until a week ago. The book approaches the trail from the point of view of a complete novice and treats us with cynicism throughout. The main characters, Bryson and Katz, are a modern day Lewis and Martin act. Bryson is trying to reestablish with his home country after being abroad for 20 years and Katz is a recovering alcoholic. The minor characters that they meet throughout are eerily familiar to those who have hiked, camped, or been victim to small-town life. Within the comedy, you are sure to find many informative items about the trail and life around it. Bryson frequently goes off on tangents, complaining about deforestation, Government programs and the increasing endangerment of plants and animals around the trail. This book is a great change of pace and despite what other readers have said, is an uplifting tale. If they had manged to read it all, they would have discovered that it is a tale of perseverence, friendship, and knowing your limits.
Rating: 
Summary: Lots of laughs in numerous places, but R-Rating.
Review: If this book were a movie, it would have an R-Rating. Many "four letter" words and some haltingly ugly "humor". This book does have some helpful information on a few detestable diseases that a hiker might be infected with. Encephalitis, Lyme Disease, and Hantavirus. This book has some excellent information on the history of The Appalachian Trial (AT). This book has some helpful information on trail sense and hiking preparedness. A reader who is a Christian might be very offended by several parts of this book. Also, a reader who loves the South, especially Georgia and Tennessee, might be insulted by several parts of this book. Still, a very good book, and an entertaining book in many places. Lots of laughs in numerous places. Trail tip from this reviewer: When hiking, I often carry a tiny plastic container of glass cleaner with a little bit of rubbing ALCOHOL added to it. Note: Rubbing alcohol and ammonia are very toxic if swallowed. I use glass cleaner that has AMMONIA in it. You see, ammonia and rubbing alcohol are both disinfectants. When I find a tick on me, I lecture and promptly toss the tick, then I apply this mixture to my fingers, etc. Applied to places where the tick came into the most sustained contact with my body. This may decrease the danger of the ghastly diseases that ticks can and do sometimes carry.
Rating: 
Summary: Misleading Discovery Along the AT
Review: The Appalachian Trail has a mystique...a soul journey on an American wilderness trail. Mr. Bryson's "walk" on small pieces of the trail misleads the reader. His sarcasm and criticism of the AT's purpose leads the reader to believe that the experience just is not worth it. From joke filled fears of bear encounters and murder in the dark shadows of the southern portion of the trail to biting accounts of his side trips through rural and poor towns near its path, Byron creates his own trail mythology. And, his message is, don't walk it. If scarcasm and ripping apart the essence of the wilderness hike is your thing, read it. If reflection on the beauty and personal journey on a preserved piece of American wilderness is, don't.
Rating: 
Summary: The King Lives !
Review: As far as I'm concerned this is simply the best holiday reading book that I've ever read. Forget about a little chuckle. This is absolute laugh out loud stuff. Bryson is brilliant and when he teams up with his old friend (enemy) Stephen Katz he's even better than brilliant. This was the first Bryson book that I bought. I've now read every book he's put out. I think that's the best recommendation that I can make.
Rating:
Summary: damn funny
Review: I think some readers are being a little harsh in their criticisms. Sure, Bryson is pretty aware of the fact that he's not the buff, athletic hiker that many are who attempt the trail -- he's just an average Joe sixpack who wants to have a little adventure. What makes the book memorable though are the descriptions and Bryson's humor. I'm still laughing about the scene at the beginning in the Dartmouth Co-op (notorious for its top prices and fancy equipment)where he is overwhelmed at what he does not know about camping equipment. I can't imagine who wouldn't laugh out loud at many of the hilarious mishaps and bizarre characters found within. I find Bryson very entertaining. For someone who's hiked parts of the trail, I think it's even more interesting, but not a prerequisite.
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