Rating: 
Summary: Beware this book . . .
Review: . . . unless you're willing to risk a life-altering experience. Indeed, 5 months after reading this book, I was sleeping on the ground at night and walking 15-20 miles every day. It inspired me to start a thruhike of the AT, and after finishing the first one, I did another, and then another. Almost surely I'll do it again. Life will never be the same. This book started it all for me. Not just about Luxenberg's own hiking experiences, the book distills the stories of many different hikers, from the first thruhiker (Earl Shaffer) to "ordinary" hikers of today, plus several who were not at all ordinary. Many, many books have been written about the AT. This one is a powerful classic.
Rating: 
Summary: Forget Bryson's book, read this one!
Review: A pleasure to read the tremendous variety of experiences of people who did the AT and got something out of it. I may always remain an armchair adventurer, but ya never know... since I read this book, the old REI framepack has begun calling to me from the closet...
Rating:
Summary: The pure essence of the Appalachian Trail
Review: As a Thru Hiker of 2001, I have read most everything on the Appalachian Trail. This book gives not only facts about the AT, but is able to capture the life of the Trail, and its people. I haven't seen anything that captures the essence of the Trail so well since the newly released documentary, TREK
Rating:
Summary: This book started it all for me. Great book!
Review: I just couldn't put this book down. Before I'd even finished the book, I decided that I was going to hike the Appalachian Trail. It covers all aspects of "thruhiking" the AT, not just facts but the feel. In August, I finished my thruhike and still feel that Luxenberg's book is right-on. If you love hiking and adventure, this book will give you future dreams.
Rating:
Summary: Great Read - Will need to have more to Hike the A.T. though
Review: I really enjoyed the read, lots of history and interesting stories of people on the trail. The book points out many ways to do the trail without stressing one method over another. Further enticed my desire to do the trail but this book is by no means a how to or a what you'll need type book.
Rating:
Summary: Motivation for Walking the A.T.
Review: Retired my backpack many years ago. I had thought about walking the A.T. but never did. Recently a work buddy suggested we thru-hike the trail on retirement in a few years.
Fortunately, this was the first book I read about the trail. This is not the definitive book about the trail but is an excellent motivator for day hiking or thru-hiking it. The author discusses many aspects of planning, walking and finishing but this is not a book about details. Informative and entertaining experiences of past hikers featured after every chapter are the focus of this book.
I have more reading and research to do about the A.T. Thanks to this book, the Good Lord Willing, I'll be at Springer Mountain for my thru-hike someday.
Rating:
Summary: Motivation for Walking the A.T.
Review: Retired my backpack many years ago. I had thought about walking the A.T. but never did. Recently a work buddy suggested we thru-hike the trail on retirement in a few years.
Fortunately, this was the first book I read about the trail. This is not the definitive book about the trail but is an excellent motivator for day hiking or thru-hiking it. The author discusses many aspects of planning, walking and finishing but this is not a book about details. Informative and entertaining experiences of past hikers featured after every chapter are the focus of this book.
I have more reading and research to do about the A.T. Thanks to this book, the Good Lord Willing, I'll be at Springer Mountain for my thru-hike someday.
Rating: 
Summary: This book is an attempt to cover the history of the AT
Review: The book provides the reader with an overview of the historical aspects of the trail. The reader is introduced to the early politics of the trail, and the feats of its more colorful "thru hickers". The book does lack the personal flavor and overall adventure aspect of many other publications.
Rating:
Summary: It puts me there...
Review: This book is a wonderful vehicle to take you back to trail, or there for the first time. It isn't a guide book in any way, which is actually what I wanted when I bought this... but I am very pleased that I ended up with this also (if you want a guide book, get the 'Thru-Hikers Companion')... Along with the details of planning for my upcoming thru-hike,it is great to pick this book up and instead of dealing with technicalities I can just take my mind to the finer aspects of trail life, which is nice when I'm not planning. It is one of the few books I have ever started and actually finished all the way through before getting bored. -Contains vivid accounts of famous and not so famous thru hikes of the past, some humorous and some touching, and offers an unbiased view of just enjoying the trail regardless of all variables.
Rating:
Summary: A book of great people not true people.
Review: This book is great for those who want the taste of the appalachian trail and what it has to offer but does not bring the at to your house so you can feel it. When I read this book I never did feel him walking the trail. I do respect him for walking the trail but the format of this book does not walk the trail it explains it. He speaks of the super hikers not the average hikers like myself. I can't hike the trail in 50 days. I did not walk the trail blind. I experienced it. I stopped and smelled the wildflowers bloom with the fresh mountain dew. Thats the trail.
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