A Walk in the Woods : Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail (Cassette)

Rating:
Summary: Bryson does it again!
Review: I have read Bryson books for years. I love his point of view! This is his best book yet! The Trail was such a great subject for him to base his book on. All I did was laugh, except for the bear and murder sections. I want to walk the trail now! Even when he was having a terrible time, the book was still funny. It was also wonderful that he was accompanied by his childhood friend Steven Katz. I hope that the go on more adventures togeather!

Rating:
Summary: Best to borrow this book rather than buy it
Review: After reading an excerpt from "A Walk in the Woods" in Outside magazine, I was really excited to read the whole book. But like one reviewer put it, I'm thankful I got it from the library instead of buying it. Bryson is funny when he's just writing about himself and Katz. He has a self-effacing way of describing situations which is entertaining. But I got tired of his critical way of describing the people he meets and the places he visits. He needlessly stereotypes people from small southern towns, and becomes relentlessly politically correct in his commentary. The final straw, for me, was a completely unnecessary slam at people who prefer to consider the possibility that God created this world and prefer to believe that we did not necessarily evolve from one-celled creatures. This sort of commentary is not exactly necessary to move the plot forward and it is bound to offend some readers, regardless of where they stand on evolution vs. creationisn. But I got the impression that Bryson didn't care if offended his readers and that bothered me. I did read the last few pages and, unlike some reviewers, I do believe that Bryson deserves credit for hiking as much of the trail as he did, but overall I was disappointed in this book.

Rating:
Summary: Refreshing
Review: Bill Bryson's book is witty, refreshing, insightful. I'd never even heard of the AT, but now I feel a connection and affection for it because of the wonderful stories in his book. "Walk in the Woods" is about a lot of things: fitness, conservation, friendship, growing up, learning to laugh at oneself, and learning to deal gracefully with dreams and goals that aren't met.

Rating:
Summary: Not a technical, how to style book.
Review: Bryson has captured the "spirit" of the journey rather than spill forth tons of technical expertise. This should be required reading for all that contemplate the trail.

Rating:
Summary: Hilarious
Review: I laughed out load more times than I can count. I even laughed uncontrollably until I cried at one point in the book. I could picture all the people and places as easily as if I were there with him. This is a great book!

Rating:
Summary: I laughed my ass off for hours....
Review: My mother could always tell when I was reading this book, because she would hear me laughing aloud. I was so inspired by his hiking, that I decided to get out my pack and go packing myself for three weeks. I brought along with me three of Bill Brysons other books which were just as good.

Rating:
Summary: Bryson has me laughing, again.
Review: Whilst not as funny as some of his previous travel books I still found myself chuckling and laughing out loud , something I seen to do less nowadays when reading. Bryson has a way of picking out those small details that remind you of similar incidents you yourself have encountered. His description of the people he meets along the trail are especially poignant.

Rating:
Summary: Funny but cruel and judgemental. Inaccurate in parts.
Review: What a shame that a wry sense of humor took a back seat to a need to be superior to others. The need to demean the South as in the Hiawassee comments was truly in poor taste. The description is also inaccurate. Mr. Bryson did not describe this beautiful and friendly area as I have found it. Having been to Hiawassee at the time he describes, I wondered how much of the rest of the book was accurate and if Stephen Katz and other characters ever existed beyond his own mind. P.S.: I'm from the sixth borough (South Florida) via South Boston. Don't even consider a need on my part to defend the Confederacy, only literary integrity.

Rating:
Summary: SEX! SEX! and more SEX!
Review: Just to get your attention. Anyway, good story by Mr. Bryson. One msut admire a man who is willing to take on such a task just to write a book. Quite educational. It does lag near the middle and some of his rants about being environmental seem hypocritical due to the fact that he and Katz left a good deal of trash along the AT! Funny book though. Definitely reccomend it.

Rating:
Summary: A delightful romp along the Appalachian trail
Review: Bill Bryson has again written a funny, erudite, informative book about one of his travel experiences. His previous works haven taken us to "civilizations" in Europe and small-town America; this book takes us through the anticipation, execution and aftermath of a personal odyssey by a 40-something, less-than-athletic writer who faces nature, companionship and bureaucracy along the way. In the course of the book, we learn the history of the trail and the geography of the areas it traverses, as well as learning about "trail legends", his fellow-hikers, and the "locals". He also raises thought-provoking points about the current and future status of the trail in this day of developers and budget cut-backs.