Rating: 
Summary: Short on Walking, Big on Talking
Review: A fine book by a talented, albiet too often smug author. There is no doubt that Bill Bryson is a talented writer. There is also no doubt that Bryson had and went on to describe a very "real", very American wilderness experience. He is certainly to be complimented for his talent, for his wit, for his desire to experience the out of doors, and for his unique ability to combine "British" humor with a truly "American" outdoor experience.If Bryson is to be criticized at all, it is for his "smugness". Too many are "beneath" Bryson. As he tops New Hampshire's Mt. Washington, the many he finds enjoying the day there do not measure up to Bryson because Bryson had hiked a trail to the top. Meanwhile, it wasn't very long after Bryson began his hike along the trail that he gave up ever accomplishing a "through hike". In fact, he hiked less than half the trail, much of this in small bits and pieces. What would those who had hiked the entire trail have thought of his failed efforts? I wonder. Chill out Bill. We each enjoy the wilderness in our own way and no one needs to explain why he might prefer to drive to the top of Mt. Washington and enjoy the view with his family from there. This is a funny, well written, informative, read and I certainly recommend it but Bryson, at age 47, still has some maturing to do. In spite of this, I recommend the book highly. Buy it!
Rating: 
Summary: Read Bill Bryson
Review: Did I read the same book as some of the other reviewers? Bill Bryson is far more than a "competent" writer. He is an extremely good one. Bryson finished 40% of the AT (not "a tiny portion"). Some of it he hated, some he loved. His writing is terrific. The characters are terrific. The humour is terrific. Katz is funny and well drawn. There is the tension of extreme weather and getting lost. The history of several venues along the trail are well drawn out. Some are not flattering, nor should they be. Bryson is outspoken about what he likes and dislikes. He damns the damming of America, its cheesy tourist traps, the degradation of the temperate Eastern forest, and the lack of funds the U.S. spends on wild places -- good for him. He doesn't give the impression he hates progress, or highways, some of which he actually likes. He dislikes yuppie hikers and pretension -- again, good for him. At the end, Bryson makes clear his ambivalence about the whole process of a long slog through the trees, punctuated by moments which are truly exalted. Having covered a lot of the same ground as he did, I understand exactly what he means. I'd pretty much given up reading non-fiction for the past 10 years. This is the kind of book that can bring me back.
Rating: 
Summary: Tell the truth please
Review: The book like others on the Appalachian Trail give the impression they are going to tell you of there adventure along the ENTIRE length of the Applachian Trail. I found myself remarking at my foolishness for buying this book. I could not believe the last part of the book after he quits the trail. Could someone actually have the guts to publish a book about their inability to finish the trail. DRIVING to small sections of the it by car to describe 3 mile sections..............eeeegads!!!!
Rating:
Summary: Good but not his best...
Review: I really enjoyed this book. I love Bryson's whit, and view on life generally. I also like the little snippets of history he always weaves into the narrative. His love of the landscape and his dislike for the National Parks Service are both funny and touching. Going along with his old friend Katz was inspired! As is usually the case, the first two thirds of the book move along at a good pace, the last third seems to drag a little. If you're new to Bryson this is good, but look at "Lost Continent" or "Neither Here Nor There" for his best stuff travel stuff. His histories of language are also excellent!
Rating:
Summary: This is one of his best !
Review: Bill has done it again, this is a masterpiece. I actually laughed out loud as I read and then into part 2 wished the book would never end... I just love this guy !!!! But then I'm from Iowa too !
Rating: 
Summary: So Bad it makes me want to get out on the trail!!
Review: Bill Bryson is a competent writer. That said, I bought this book after reading an excerpt from early chapters in a magazine. Mr. Bryson certainly knows what to hide from a potential reader (the fact that he hiked only a tiny portion of the Appalachian Trail), and he is certainly willing to spoonfeed the reader his inconsistent mix of praise and criticism regarding every person, town, and political view he encounters. He easily dismisses the failed attempt of a through-hiker a few short weeks before dropping off of the trail himself, and he spends much of the rest of the book in his car, road-tripping to various spots along the Appalachian trail so he can get his boots muddy and use that as an excuse to write with forced authority about something he clearly did not experience. In the middle of this travelogue, the reader is forced to endure his tirades against the Army Core of Engineers, in favor of ROAD HIKING sections of the trail that parallel civilization, against any hiker who is slower (or faster) than he, against any town with, say, a lack of sidewalks or an abundance of roads ... you catch my drift. For a great american travelogue, instead of reading this blather, try "Blue Highways" by William Least Heat Moon. And why doesn't amazon have a ZERO STAR RATING for books like this one? I need to go for a hike, before this book ruins me for experiencing the outdoors altogether. And to think Bill and I live in the same state. I'm soooo embarrased.
Rating:
Summary: Out of shape 40'somethings tackle the AT
Review: Bill Bryson had me laughing out loud from the very first chapter with one wise crack after another. The premise is inherently funny as Bryson and his pal Steven Katz attempt to thru hike the AT, he pokes fun at their incompetance, their (lack of) conditioning, and the people they meet along the way. After the first 6.5 weeks of hiking, Bryson and Katz take a break and it is here that the tale takes an abrupt change in tone. A more wistful and contemplative story emerges in Katz's absense and we learn much about the history of the AT as well as Bryson's thoughts on nature and his views on the environment. Although there were still some laughs in the second half of the book, the more serious tone was unmistakable and somewhat disconcerting. A lot of the humor in the first half had to do with the "fish out of water" aspect of their situation, in the second half, Bryson comes across as a more experienced hiker and isn't quite able to inject the same level of humor in it (although he still manages to get into some pretty dumb scrapes). I've hiked on the AT myself, although not to this extent, and the story caused me to fondly recall many of the same things Bryson experienced about the grind of life along the trail. After finishing the book, I was ready to lace up my boots and give the AT another shot!
Rating:
Summary: Starts great, grinds to the same slow halt the author did.
Review: Loved the first half of the book, even if Bryant wasn't as sour as usual {he actually seemed to enjoy himself, for once}. But, when he decides to quite the trail, the book basically quits, too. The rest is filler, with a few humorous moments, but overall I wish he'd stayed with the Trail.
Rating:
Summary: Snickers and Debbies snack Cakes on the trail
Review: Bill Bryson has again delivered a top notch, tongue in cheek humorous story of the true mis-adventures of himself and loyal hiking buddy Stephen Katz in their valiant attempt to go end to end on the Applachian Trail (from Georgia to Maine). As the author readily admits he's no hiker and certainly far from a rugged outdoorsman...but therein lies the humor. Two more ill suited backpackers could never be found and the hilarity of it all is that none of it is fiction! Schlossing up to their armpits in trail muck or quivering in a sleeping bag while hyperventilating on the possibilities of being eaten by a bear keep the reader laughing out loud. You will find yourself reading passages to innocent bystanders who might be in the immediate vicinty. I have no quibble with the fact that the author also can get serious and provide educational information about the trail's history, current environmental concerns and even the unfortunate matters of recent trail murders of innocent hikers. Bryson has pulled off another good book which can inform the reader as well as poke fun at himself and Americans 'at large'. The author boasts that his hiking brought him into great physical conditioning having covered miles of trail and climbing over rock and timbers. Too bad the author and his hiking buddy knew so little about good trail food...they existed on noodles, noodles and noodles ( also snickers and slim jim beef jerky) A high cholesterol hike to be sure! Did they finish the entire trail and how did each of them fare along the way? Read all about it...you'll have a great belly laugh.
Rating:
Summary: The true life of a hiker!
Review: Bill Bryson is one of two people who will be responsible for my degree class not being what it should. He contrives to transform a long and sometimes tedious hiking experience into a book so funny and addictive that it took over my life until I reached the final page. Anyone who has ever been hiking will have experienced some of the ludicrous, entertaining or thought-provoking situations Bill writes about in his book. He writes with a dry wit and has a very "English" outlook on life - not bad considering his real nationality. I thoroughly recommend this and all of his other travel books. If you ever have the good fortune to visit or know any of the places he writes about, you will instantly appreciate his candour and also his basic desire to search out the essence of his surroundings, not to mention the killer one-liners! Having read the comments of other reviewers, I was glad that he included historical and factual details in the book; it helped me to place all these unknown places in some sort of context and certainly aided my enjoyment. I'd like to recommend that you get this book, but I'll go beyond that and recommend that you get ALL his travel books. They're that good.
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