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Summary: Bill Bryson...International Man of Hysterical Mystery
Review: I have read most of Bill Bryson's books and this was probably my favorite. The book was not only great fun, but gave me a genuine feel and appreciation for the joy of walkin' the woods.Bill weaves uncannily humorous insight into the conflicting recommendations of experts. Read the "A Sh!t in the Pants" chapter for Bill's exhaustive survey of the latest research concerning bear attacks. Even when the facts are not in dispute, Bill can make the most arcane of knowledge seem simultaneously fun and relevant. Bill has a knack for finding humor in the most unsuspecting places...like Waynesboro, Tennessee. Read the "Romancin' the Woods" chapter to learn more about the joy of Beulah. If you ever decide to hike the Appalachian Trail, read this book. And, don't forget to pack your Snickers...
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Summary: A very entertaining and enjoyable book
Review: I was given this book as a birthday gift and honestly had some reservations about reading it, for it is not generally the type of book I tend to read. After the first page howerver, I was hooked. This book is very funny, informative, and very well written. It was a total joy to read. Like some of the other reviewers mentioned, it is a wonder Bill and Katz lived through it in the first place. Have they not heard of freeze dried food, tube tents or mosquito netting? I recommend two things, this book and if Bill Bryson asks you to go on a hike with him run like hell.
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Summary: Walking With Friends
Review: As one who revels in the concept of dropping everything to embark on an adventure, without benefit of exhaustive planning or preparation, I found this book to be a breath of fresh air. Almost on a whim, the author decides to tackle a 2,000 or so mile hike, drops by a sporting good store for some basics, talks an unlikely friend into joining him and sets off. The first half of the book was hilarious as a blow-by-blow journal of the trek that made me feel as if I was traveling right along with two buddies into a foolhardy, but fun, adventure clearly off the beaten track. The second half was a bit spottier - kind of like the author was trying to keep the story going without quite as much "meat", however learning more about the trail and its geography, with some interesting side notes, still made for interesting reading. If you're a devout hiker, you'll probably find this book rather trivial. But if you're a hopeless adventurer, you'll find it a refreshing way to lose yourself for a few hours in an account that deals with taking on nature in a most contemporary way.
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Summary: readable but he has done better.
Review: It is not one of Bill Bryson's best. I have a struggle to keep track with his walk in the woods and more of a struggle to find any humour. I shall be generous and say there were the odd bits that make me smile.
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Summary: Laugh out Loud
Review: This was my first Bill Bryson book. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I can see how "real hikers" would find this book appauling, but for a middle aged, non-active ex-outdoorsperson/athlete, it encouraged me to get back out there and just enjoy the woods and the Smokey Mountains. I could picture every step of Bill's journey. I thought it was a FUN read.
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Summary: If you love the Trail skip this book...
Review: Back packers are an interesting lot. Through hikers on the AT come from diverse backgrounds and range from college students to retired postal workers to returning vets. They are, however, connected by a common bond: a love of hiking and the hope of self-discovery. Bryson undertook his hike with the stated purpose of writing this book. He chose an over weight, out of shape, obnoxious ex-college chum as his trail mate. His purpose was not to discover the trail or himself or the simple joy of wilderness but simply to write a book. His book may well be a financial success but his vision of the trail is one the reader might expect from a commodities broker and not one who hikes because of some higher purpose. There are easier ways to gather material and better books on the trail than this. The real surprise is that the AT Conference puts this book in their catalogue.
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Summary: Heavy Going, but a Light Read
Review: The book begins on a strong, humorous note but simmers down after a few chapters. I found Bill's chatty style to be tiresome about a third of the way through, however A Walk in the Woods does give the lonely Appalachian Trail a real personality.
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Summary: A great book on so many levels!
Review: This book rescued me from a 10 hour delay at an airport - at the start of a major, once in a lifetime vacation - so it was a tall order to make me feel good. I literally cried with laughter so many times I could not see the pages. The other passengers were probably wondering why I was so happy, given our predicament. Other than the obvious humor that other reviewers have commented on, what I liked so much about this book was his observations about the hike and the trail. He actually criticises the whole setup, justly so in my opinion. For example, he comments on the fact that all possible traces of commercial activity have been eliminated - farms along the trail were purchased and eliminated so the trail would be 'pure', then he compares this to Europe where you hike and see all kinds of beauty - not just woods, but villages, farmers, etc. He also makes amazingly funny, and just, observations about the average American traveller - who will drive to a National Park, and maybe stray 100 yards from his car, then complain the parks are too crowded, while our fearless author hikes for days without so much as seeing anyone. Finally, I liked his 'conclusion' that this kind of hike sucks. You have a lot more fun going for a great hike in the woods, then checking into a charming village hotel for the night, then doing it again the next day, than you do hiking for 10 days with a pack on your back, where you can't shower; you stink; you walk with difficulty at an angle because of the 50 lbs you are carrying on your back; you become mindless with boredom after seeing more trees than you can ever imagine. Of course this is just one (relatively lazy) mans opinion. Purists out there will hate this aspect of it, but for me, it make the whole thing even more enjoyable.
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Summary: The Odd Couple Takes on the Appalachian Trail!!
Review: I loved this book! Bryson takes you along with him and his hysterically funny pal, Katz, as they challenge the Appalachian Trail. I understand his calling to throw a sandwich together, put on a day pack and set off on adventure. Bryson meets his challenge with a sense of humor and serves to educate the reader in the process. In between all the good-natured (pun intended) laughs was some meaningful pearls of ecological importance that everyone should pay attention to. Don't pass up this chance to meet some great people. I only hope Bryson keeps on hiking with Katz because they are a classic pair that rings of an original rustic Odd Couple!
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Summary: Don't waste your money
Review: First of all, there are already a million copies out there, so you won't have any trouble borrowing one. Second of all, it is not a book you would actually be proud to own. Finally, you can spend your time more profitably by either hiking for a few hours on the Appalachian Trail (preferably), or reading a book by someone who has actually hiked the trail (Bryson hasn't). It's true that he has, so far, hiked more miles than I have (I'm at 234 and counting, all barefoot). But Bryson only hiked a small part of the trail, for the purpose of giving a small amount of legitimacy to his book. Along the way, he appears to have picked up all the free pamphlets that describe various things along the path of the trail, and has condensed that scattered (and shallow) information into what, today, passes as a best selling book. Perhaps it is because it takes so little intellectual engagement to read the thing that makes it so popular to today's 'readers'. As for the humor -- there are a couple of chuckles, but not as many as you would find in a single Jay Leno monologue, which is free, and only takes five minutes. Finally, let me suggest that the information in this book could make a mildly interesting web site (perhaps only part of one), but makes a poor book. I feel I wasted my money -- don't do the same.
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