Rating: 
Summary: Kind of funny
Review: Bill Bryson's book made me snigger out soft,its a tale of two overweight , out of shape, wannabe hikers who plod through approx 30% of the AT.Its littered with cruel,mean and kind of funny comments on fellowhikers,rangers and a lot of others whom he encounters on his hike ,and includes his buddy Katz and himself.There is also a lot of statistics wedged in, on the Appalachian Trail .If you are not a dedicated hiker,who may find the frivolity of the book and the ineptness of the author and his buddy who gave it up well before they attained their summit upsetting, the book is a good read .At the end of it this is something I'd like to say to Bryson, (in his own words )about the rediscovering America bit "You really are shitting us aren't you?"
Rating: 
Summary: contrived journey, mean-spirited reportage.
Review: As an AT thru-hiker, I have about a thousand problems with this book -- the least of which is that Bryson didn't hike the trail. (He hiked the first 300 or so miles, decided it was too tough, and then drove around the rest, occasionally getting back on to do bits and pieces here and there.)
Rating: 
Summary: Bryson Is Amazing
Review: The way Bryson writes is amazing, he can describe every detail, and still make you smirk. This is the first book of his I've read, and the only book ever that I can't stop reading.
Rating:
Summary: Snappy travelogue shedding new light on well-known landmark.
Review: Bill Bryson writes the way I would like to write, and the way I suspect many would like to write. This is one of the funniest books I've read, period. The timing of punchlines and its honesty are a couple of the reasons. Another is Bryson's sense for just how far to push a potentially politically incorrect subject. He doesn't go overboard, and yet he's not afraid to tell it like he sees it. One of the examples that come to mind is his treatment of equipment nerds, or those folks who just can't talk enough about their gear. This may rub some the wrong way, but for most of us who don't give a hoot about what you wear for longjohns or the latest in some brand-name waterproofing, Bryson's candor is refreshing. I suspect he'll piss off some southerners too, as he takes a swipe at the culture south of the Mason-Dixon line. This may be the book's singular failing that I can see so far (I haven't finished the last 30 pages). Bryson has a smug Northeastern academic and European disdain for hillbillies that's a little too sweeping. He notes that southern author James Dickie (of Deliverance fame) did too. Bryson isn't the first, he probably won't be the last. As far as revealing the oft-forgotten joys of walking in the wilderness, Bryson does so superbly. Perhaps his singular and novel angle and the great selling point of the book, is that he comes at the whole Appalachian Trail experience with a wary and jaundice eye. He's not John Muir, but in fact quite the opposite. Yes he took some day hikes around England's Cotswalds, but all in all, at the outset of his journey, he makes no bones about the fact that he's a soft and sissy stay-at-home who's read too much about bear attacks and all the other maladies and misfortunes ready to befall the unwary hiker. On paper, there is no good argument for why he and his sidekick Stephen Katz should attempt even an afternoon's walk on the ol' AT. I could go on and on, but you should read it for yourself. I hope this book propels Mr. Bryson into fame for at least 15 minutes. He deserves it. Andrew Brengle, 11/6/98
Rating: 
Summary: Funny, entertaining and educational
Review: Bryson finds humor in unexpected places and catches the reader unawares. This adds to the enjoyment. He also has important things to say about our environment and how we humans have not been kind to it in many ways. After reading the book I wouldn't want to set out for a long hike on the trail unless I were ready for some pretty strenuous and uncomfortable times. Nevertheless his adventures and his anecdotes about his companion and others he meets on the trail make great reading.
Rating:
Summary: You will laugh out loud.
Review: Whether you are a "real" hiker or not, you will laugh out loud. It is a true story of Mr. Bryson's adventures told with his dry humor and hilarious wit. Just as a real writer writes, a real hiker hikes. So regardless of his expertise he told his story and made it very entertaining. Recommended only if you want to laugh out loud.
Rating:
Summary: I thought it was an excellent book.
Review: This was a very funny book. His descriptions were vivid, his use of words was excellent. He did make some generalizations but these are funny if you are either A. A northerner or B. If they aren't taken too seriously. It was an excellent book and I highly recomend it to everyone.
Rating:
Summary: Humor in its purest form
Review: Have you ever tried to find a good book between flights on a cross-country trip? If you hadn't had luck before, try this one. A light hearted look at hiking that can be either a humorous story or a fresh-look at what wilderness hiking can be. It may me chuckle on this three-hour flight. Excellent book!
Rating:
Summary: This was a very entertaining book on tape.
Review: This was a very entertaining book on tape. I actually looked forward to driving somewhere just so I could listen to it! As a hiker wannabe, I found A Walk in the Woods to be informative. I appreciated the author's humor and colorful use of the English language. I don't know if I would've enjoyed READING the book as much as I did LISTENING to it, but still I gainned a lot!
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Reading
Review: I read "A Walk in the Woods" in about 3 days, as it was thoroughly enjoyable reading. His descriptions make me want to go back hiking but not particularly the Appalachian trail. I will recommend the book to all my friends, I love the description as well as his humor. I am sorry that I have finished it.
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