Rating: 
Summary: SIMPLY GREAT
Review: I have always dreamed of walking the AT. This is the book for anyone that has an interest in hiking, even if not "through hiking" the AT. But it is so much more. You learn about the environment and the Park Service without pain. I listened to the book on tape and almost had a few accidents as I had to pull over from laughing so hard at times. The writing is great and the book moves. I want to listen to it again, but I know I will want to leave my job, family and comfortable life and hit the trails. This is one of the best books I ever read (listened to).
Rating: 
Summary: Downhill
Review: I chose this book because of the colorful paperback jacket cover. I like trees and bears! So, give the jacket-cover artist 5-stars; he/she sold the book for me. I had some belly laughs and some real boring times reading this book. It seemed to start out on a high note and build my interest whereby I had to rush back to the book and read a few more pages, but then, the last one-third of the book seemed to be downhill all the way (no pun intended). I felt the author just made the day trips on the trail to gain text so he could finish off the book. Once the twosome split up; the fun was over it seemed. However, I did enjoy the Midwestern humor and being a native Iowan, I could read between the lines sometimes and enjoyed some hidden humor too. But I am not totally discouraged and have just ordered another one of the author's books today! So, I hope Bill Bryson continues to write more books.
Rating:
Summary: More than a hiking narative.
Review: This is much more than a travelogue of two neophyte hikers on the Appalachian Trail, and readers looking for a blow by blow account of the travails of Bill Bryson and his companion, Stephen Katz, will be disappointed. Hiking provides only a backdrop to a heartfelt discourse on the social condition of America, local history, the environment, and the complexities of friendship. The pretext for the book was Bryson's return to the United States after twenty years in Britain, and his interest in "rediscovering America" after such a lengthy absence.The vast majority of the reviews of the book cite its hilarity (one reviewer called it "choke-on-your-coffee funny"), and indeed there are very many funny parts. However, the deeper I got into the book, I detected a strong shift in the author's sentiment from satire to deep introspection. His observations became more acute, more angry, and more individualized as his long hike constantly brings to his mind the fragile environment of the Trail, the insanity of bureacrats entrusted with the AT, and his own personal limitations. This was my first encounter with Bill Bryson, and while I found him entertaining, a beautiful writer, and an astute observer, some readers will be put off my his sharp satiric wit. It is certain that he will offend somebody. A friend of mine, who also read the book, was very much upset by the fact that Bryson and Katz didn't hike all 2,200 miles of the Trail, and that somehow their "failure" should prevent the telling of the story. This is utter nonsense and just throws more manure onto the present dung heap that has accumulated from the participants involved in peak bagging, wilderness races, and experiential therapy groups. Bryson and Katz at least tried to hike the entire AT, and they returned from their hike as changed men who learned many lessons about the wilderness and friendship. Towards the end of the book, the two men are talking about the hike. When Katz remarks that "we did it," Bryson reminds him that they didn't even see Mount Katahdin, much less climb it. Katz says, "Another mountain. How many do you need to see, Bryson?" I agree with Katz (and ultimately Bryson). They hiked the Appalachian Trail.
Rating:
Summary: Hysterical memoir of an AT thru-hike!
Review: Bill Bryson has written a wonderfully funny account of his Appalacian Trail thru-hike. Read it for the humor and his peculiar mix of American and British sensibilities, but don't expect a "how-to" guide - Mr. Bryson is a much better writer than hiker.
Rating:
Summary: Some people can write about anything
Review: If this is a best seller, and it seems to be, I don't know why. Sure it had its moments, but I thought I was going to read a book about a person who walked the whole Appalacian trail and his adventures and insights. Instead it was about an out-of-shape writer, and his more out-of-shape friend suffering for no apparent reason, except perhaps to use as material for a book to bring in some money. It's no wonder they are so out of shape, with a diet of noodles and snickers, who wouldn't be! The first half of the book was amusing, and somewhat funny, thanks to the antics of the side-kick, Stephen Katz. But once they left the trail, returned home, and Bryson comes out for a series of day hikes, I wanted the book to end as badly as Bryson wanted the trail to end. I mean, the only animals they saw were two pairs of eyes, never identified, and a moose, which was worth mentioning, but so much talk about what they could have seen! Also, there is much historical and statistical data, but oddly enough, no bibliography, just a suggested reading list. The statistics are sometimes interesting and often too much, just fill to make the contents of a book to sell. I also can't understand how Bryson's family tolerated his absence, as his approach seemed very childish. But such walks seem to bring in the bacon for the author.
Rating:
Summary: Funny, but educational
Review: A WALK IN THE WOODS by Bill Bryson This is a delightful book. It is a humorous account of a hike two men took along much of the Appalachian Trail in the eastern United States. The author's overweight buddy, Stephen Katz, "brought to mind Orson Welles after a very bad night." Bryson is not much fitter and the two must have made quite a pair. The self-deprecating humor is reminiscent of Garrison Keillor although there are many facts of interest as well. For instance, did you know that there are between 500,000 and 700,000 black bears living in North America? Bryson did quite a job of research. The book is not simply a diary of a long hike. Adding to its effectiveness are a number of arguments for the conservation of America's natural resources. These messages are only enhanced by his humor. In other words, this book is both a good laugh and educational, too.
Rating: 
Summary: A trifle amusing perhaps, but take it with a grain of salt..
Review: I couldn't finish this book. As an avid backpacker (with a somewhere over a thousand miles under my belt by now...) I was looking forward to reading a humourous account of an AT thru-hike. But after the second chapter, when Bryson's dsicussion of black bear behavior was just flat *wrong*, I couldn't read anymore. Sorry folks, there's such a thing as creative liscense, but Bryson stretched the truth a bit too thin in order to make his jokes for me. If you enjoy his work, and don't enjoy the outdoors, perhaps you'll enjoy his book. If you do enjoy the outdoors, I'd recommend skipping it.
Rating:
Summary: READ IT
Review: I don't remember why I picked up this book, but I'm glad I did. I am not interested in hiking in the least, but I read this book in about 2 days -- I couldn't put it down! Bill Bryson is a wonderful writer. He really gets the humor of ordinary day to day events and is able to communicate it brillantly through his writing. The book is very funny but he also focuses on his love of nature and the dangers of not taking care of the planet and what we will lose because of it. He is only the second author who inspired me to go out and buy all of their other books before even finishing the first (the other was Helene Hanff). I can't wait to read all of them - especially his books on England and Europe since I am planning a trip there soon. One last thing.. I lent this book to my mother and it caused several scenes of her almost choking from laughter. GET IT!
Rating: 
Summary: Rip-roaring fun until the hike stalls...
Review: I would concur with a lot of readers in saying that what starts out as a gut-busting book starts to fade in the end. Once hiking partner Katz leaves the story, it dulls to common prose. I read the last part of the book anticipating Katz' return, and leafed through to see if his name pops up again, but Katz has hung up the boots for good. I did finish the book but don't be afraid to stop once Katz leaves the trail. You won't be missing much. Nevertheless the first half is highly HIGHLY recommended. That first half earns 5 stars, 2 for the bum ending.
Rating:
Summary: What a hoot!
Review: Loved the book--couldn't put it down. A very quick read, with lots of great narrative and description of the AT. His scenes with Katz had me laughing so hard I cried. I could just picture those two--especially Katz pitching camping items! The author does tend to go on quite a bit about environmental issues, but from his description, I guess it's about time someone did.
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