A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail | 
 enlarge | Author: Bill Bryson
Publisher: Anchor
Category: Book
List Price: $7.99
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Avg. Customer Rating:  67 reviews
Sales Rank: 1656
Media: Mass Market Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 416
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.4
Dimensions (in): 6.9 x 4.2 x 1.2
ISBN: 0307279464
Dewey Decimal Number: 917.40443
EAN: 9780307279460
ASIN: 0307279464
Publication Date: December 26, 2006
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Product Description
The Appalachian Trail trail stretches from Georgia to Maine and covers some of the most breathtaking terrain in America–majestic mountains, silent forests, sparking lakes. If you’re going to take a hike, it’s probably the place to go. And Bill Bryson is surely the most entertaing guide you’ll find. He introduces us to the history and ecology of the trail and to some of the other hardy (or just foolhardy) folks he meets along the way–and a couple of bears. Already a classic, A Walk in the Woods will make you long for the great outdoors (or at least a comfortable chair to sit and read in).
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| Customer Reviews: Read 62 more reviews...
 A Long, Slow Walk To Nowhere ... October 8, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Some things we never seem to learn, like judging a book by its cover. In this instance, the cover of "A Walk In The Woods" looks inviting enough, even exciting, with the picture of a bear staring you down.
False advertising.
If "A Walk In The Woods" had been a TV show, it would have been named Seinfeld, but without the humor, because it is truly a book about nothing. Two guys decide to walk the Appalachian Train for different reasons. However, they don't actually hike together, they don't meet a lot of compelling other people and they never see a bear, or a bobcat either. Huh?
Instead, the reader is subjected to lengthy prose about the stark glories and occasional majesty of the AT, the shelter accommodations for hikers, or lack thereof, and a pile of pages filled with administrivia about the history of the trail.
Yikes! Our reluctant heroes did not even reach their destination, or come close ("a detail").
So, what did we learn from this reading experience? Not much, although it did addle my brain in regard to my neighbor who has contracted every conceivable disease, some very serious, in his pursuit of walking sections of the AT. But, he has probably already read this book and given it a 5 star rating.
 Typical witty, funny, entertaining and educational fare from Bryson October 7, 2008
I will admit right off the bat to being a big Bill Bryson fan. My only disappointment when it comes to him is that he hasn't written more. I am trying to catch up on some of his previous works so I read a walk in the woods. Needless to say you will not be disappointed by this work. Bryson does a great job of telling the story of his own adventure along the Appalachian Trail while also finding time to mix in stories of the trail's history and peripheral events along the trail, without getting sidetracked or lost on some tangent.
The writing is clear and clever and full of loads of interesting facts and phrases that make Bill Bryson such a joy to read. This book is ideal, not just for those who enjoy reading about the Appalachian Trail but also for those who enjoy reading good writing and witty literature.
Great book! October 6, 2008
Wonderful read. I read this book almost 10 years ago and there is still one line that comes to mind as if I had just set the book down today. I loved it!
 A bad, bad read September 27, 2008
I picked up this book at the library because I heard it was good. I did finish the whole book but do not understand why anyone would want to waste their time and money reading about a quitter. It must have been nice to hike the AT, quit, and still make a ton of money. The book is only mildly funny and if you want to read a book about a real pilgrimage about finding ones self you should read WALKING HOME by KELLY WINTERS.
 fun and informative September 18, 2008
This book starts off on a very humorous note, but runs the gamut from serious travelougue to real, scary adventure. The narrative of the author's attempt to walk the whole Appalachian trail in a summer are interspersed with good information of the history and geology of the trail and the towns near it. It includes the nitty gritty details of how he chose his camping equipment and the pleasures of a hot shower after a long stretch on the trail, and a near disaster when his hiking partner leaves the trail. The personal side of his relationship with his walking partner is particularly touching at the end. I good light read.
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