Rating: 
Summary: I can't stop reading this book
Review: My first exposure to "a Walk in the Woods" was via the audio version. Bryson did a fantastic job reading his story. Since then, I have re-read the book three times. The big appeal to me is that Bryson paints a picture of a couch potato who gets up and does something he has always wanted to do. Something cool. Also his command of the language is enviable.
Rating: 
Summary: A Mostly Enjoyable Travelogue, On Foot
Review: As a long-time hiker who prefers to trek for suicidally long distances, I really enjoyed this book by Bill Bryson. His books are not very dense and do not consist of heavy, research-oriented reading. Instead, he offers pleasant and enjoyable observations on the people he meets and places he sees during his travels. This particular travelogue just happens to be on foot. Unfortunately, Bryson has some real weaknesses, as his writing style can be annoyingly sappy and sentimental on occasion, and his observations on regular people who disagree with him are often unnecessarily cruel. Though Bryson and his hysterically cranky and out-of-shape partner Katz failed to hike the entire 2100 miles of the Appalachian Trail (they actually conquered about 850 miles), they truly learned about the long-distance hiking experience. Unlike some other reviewers, I don't really see this failure to complete the trail as a weakness for the book. Bryson includes astute and hilarious observations of obnoxious partiers on the trail, people who are dreadfully under-prepared for a grueling long distance hike (except for himself), and outfitters who charge ridiculous prices for useless items. Especially interesting are some of his darker observations on rampant development and loss of wildlife habitat along the trail. I was most interested in his observations on my particular region, central and eastern Pennsylvania, in which the AT travels through some areas of unbelievable environmental devastation, amid a landscape irreparably damaged by coal mines and heavy industry. Also note his side-trip to Centralia, PA, a near-ghost town that has been sitting on top of a burning coal mine for the last 40 years. A final bonus of this book is Bryson's commentary on some of the hardy and valiant souls who have completed (or "thru-hiked") the entire 2100 miles of the AT. Favorites include a 400-pound man who completed the trek and managed to lose (only) 75 pounds; a blind man who did the whole thing with his seeing-eye dog and fell down an estimated 5000 times; and the marathon runner who ran the entire distance carrying only a water bottle, which was replenished by strategically-placed friends along the way. This last guy spent the last few hundred miles crying uncontrollably. That trail can really do things to people.
Rating:
Summary: Outstanding book
Review: Interesting, funny, well-written. I'm ready to throw on a backpack and follow his lead.
Rating:
Summary: Armchair hiker? Experienced? You'll love this book!
Review: This book was an interesting blend of humor, trivia, facts and conservation oriented messages. Join Bryson and his pal Katz on their adventures on the AT -- through mud, rain, black flies and adventures. Both are out of shape when they start and even though they don't travel the complete trail you'll enjoy the banter and bumbles these two have. I am looking forward to reading more of Bryson's work. It is a very enjoyable read for anyone interested in the history of the trail and the book is filled with interesting segways into related topics like bears, gear, and tourist stops!
Rating:
Summary: who would have thought that my mom, my aunt, my cousin...
Review: my best friend, and two random college professors and i could all love the same book? it's the perfect blend statistics and loveable characters. it was recommended to me and i promptly bought a copy for my mother and leant mine to my friend. my mother, only 60 pages into the book, bought a copy for her sister and one for my 18 year old cousin. my friend bought one for his mom. the bottom line is rather you love kerouac, "brigette jones" or stephen king, you'll find it hard to put this book down.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful adventure
Review: I have done a bit of hiking in my day, my close proximity to the Blue Ridge Mountains being the main reason. My uncle got the idea that he wanted to walk the AT. The whole AT. Being the loving niece that I am - and knowing my crazy uncle like I do - I thought I would give "A Walk In the Woods" a read and pass it on to him to read if I thought it was good. Well, I'm going to get it for him for Christmas, definitely, and hope that it might make him think twice about his crazy idea. The beauty of this book is the clear message that one must be very serious about hiking the AT, if one is to make the WHOLE very loooong hike. Mr. Bryson pulls no punches when it comes to the hardships of the AT. Mr. Bryson encounters bears, the occasional lost partner, snow, ice, rain, hunger, strange hikers appearing out of nowhere and doing the oddest things, and more as he winds his way up the trail from Georgia to Maine. However, Mr. Bryson also gives great detail about the beauty and majesty of the glorious, and pitifully, rather ignored AT. I can definitely see myself taking day hikes to many of the splendid places along the trail that he describes. Many beautiful sites are described in loving detail - mountains, streams, and Mother Nature in all her glory. There is much to be said about those brave enough to hike the whole thing. I definitely admire those who have taken it on and lived to tell the tale. "A Walk in the Woods" is a witty, hilarious look at two regular guys and their misadventures along the adventures Appalacian Trail.
Rating: 
Summary: A funny waste of time
Review: I don't know why everyone loves this book so much. The book was hilarious at times, granted, but the author doesn't come anywhere close to completing the trail, which is what it's supposed to be about, right? How can you rediscover America on the Appalachian Trail if you don't hike the Appalachian Trail to begin with? What idiocy!
Rating:
Summary: Original, fine writing, entertaining, too
Review: Bryson brings his trademark humor, sense of wonder and ability to gracefully weave history, science and character sketches to the Appalachian Trail. A day hiker at best and somewhat out of shape, he was quite unprepared for the trek from Georgia to Maine, but he persevered long after the majority of those who attempt a thru-hike statistically drop out. He spent enough time to give us a very intimate look at the culture of the AT. From the outset, this is a very different kind of travelogue, even for Bryson, because of the presence of a partner in the enterprise, Katz, a high school pal he hasn't seen in years. Katz brings the unpredictability of a tornado to the mix. He is overweight, a post substance abuse sugar freak who contributes a novelistic tension to the mission, often influencing the rhythm and precipitating a suspenseful climax to their adventures. Dedicated, humorless backpackers may snort that Bryson admits to not walking every mile of the well over 2,000 mile trail and they will probably take him to task for bugging out to the occasional motel or hostel along the way. They will be offended that he hates to talk shop about equipment. I enjoyed the book immensely and came away with much new (to me) information. I had no idea that the AT was a 20th century construct or how it bustles with a culture of its own. From this book I learned a lot about what humans have done to the environment, and what humans become in the wilderness (sometimes generous, sometimes idiotic, sometimes certifiable). I learned that the "why" in "Why do it at all?" is not easily answered. I admire anyone who has done it, even if just in part.
Rating: 
Summary: I Can't Get Enough of Bryson
Review: It didn't surprise me at all how much I enjoyed this book about Bill Bryson's adventures on the Appalachian Trail. If you are already a fan of his, you too will thoroughly enjoy this book. For me the one reason why I didn't give it as much praise as his other books, is simply that I am not a hiker and would never in a million years undertake such a trip. I loved his book on Australia because I am Australian, his books on small-town America because I have lived in small-town America, and his books on England and Europe because I have travelled extensively throughout both. But hiking and camping? - not going to happen except from my armchair - my idea of roughing it is to stay at a Days Inn instead of a Marriott!
Rating:
Summary: Hilarious must-read for hikers
Review: This book kept a smile on my face during some trying times in the wilderness. Bryson's hilarious observations on his experience with the outdoor industry and their ability to suck money out of customers for things like rain covers for backpacks (because as he notes, apparently they never thought we hikers might want to take them out when it was raining) begins his chronicle of two men's struggle over the adversity of the Appalachian Trail. I must admit, I turned to this book for humor, so at times his historical narratives of the AT served as an effective sedative. His tone could also be preachy at times, which served as a jarring change of pace after reading about his pudgy friend Katz throwing cans of Spam out into the wilderness. Overall though, I certainly appreciate his reverence for the AT and efforts to educate the public on its signficance. I highly recommend this book to anyone who's had any outdoors experience that has tried their patience. Bryson's commendable progress towards his quest serves as an entertaining read any hiker can appreciate.
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