A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail

I really enjoyed this book but was disappointed that Bryson and Katz skipped parts of the trail, then never finished the whole thing. I'm not saying I wouldn't have quit sooner! I give them a lot of credit for completing as much as they did under less than favorable conditions. I was feeling hopeful and became engrossed in their journey only to find when I turned a page, they had jumped into a taxi and skipped a good portion! Otherwise, the trail descriptions, the relationship between these two friends, the humor, the people they met along the way were well written and I felt I was on the journey with them, laughing all the way.
Even the statistics and history were interesting to me although I can see where they cut into the story line and may have been skimmed over by someone who wanted to get on with the adventure. The book opened my eyes to how endangered many of the plants and animals are, right in our own backyards.
Overall a good read although I was left wanting to spend more time on the trail with these two very funny people.

the first half of this book is just wonderful, in the second half he seems to lose his determination and a bit of the thread. I'd recommend it, but I can't quite give it five stars. I don't mind that he gave up. I just wish the story ended with the same punch with which it began.

Knowing the premise of this book beforehand, I was pleasantly surprised by the humor and sheer quality of the writing. An excellent read for outdoor enthusiasts and weekend warriors alike.

Without a doubt Bill Bryson is a good writer. I've read other books of his and enjoyed them very much. "A Walk In The Woods" is hilarious and informative in many respects. However anyone who has done any degree of hiking and/or backpacking will find much to poo poo about this book.
In the vein of Dave Barry his anecdotes are great but as a factual account of his "adventure" there is a lot to question.
It is obvious the author's intent is to make a good yarn and this he achieves. To take the account as indicative of actual hiking experience is a leap of faith.

There is much historical data and descriptive material but "Steve" is a figment of the authors imagination, fortunately, for no one should ever be put through the rigors Steve, in his corpulent condition and lack of conditioning, is forced to endure.

A fun book to be taken with several grains of salt.

This light hearted and entertaining book is done in Bill Bryson's usual style. He easily mixes humorous anecdotes, social commentary and historical background with a healthy dose of his often acerbic wit. Having walked some of the trail myself, much of what he writes rings true although I for one assiduously avoid the type of bad weather Bryson frequently encountered. This is not a great literary work nor would one expect it to be. That said, it is a very enjoyable tale of Bryson and his childhood friend Katz undertaking an adventure that goes against the temperament of both (they'd rather be in well fed and in cozy environs). For those more or less casual hikers wistfully considering walking the whole of the Appalachian Trail, it is an amusingly cautionary tale. I recommend it to any one who likes Bryson, travelogues or stories set in the outdoors.