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

Summary:

The Appalachian 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 entertaining 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). (Summary and cover courtesy of goodreads.com)

Review:

This book is frankly more funny than helpful.  If you’re looking for a book about a realistic experience on the Appalachian Trail (AT), “A Walk in the Woods” is certainly not going to be useful.  What it does do, however, is inspire an adventure because Bryson makes it seem so dang appealing even though his trip is frankly a flop in many ways.  I love his portrayal of the AT because, even though Bryson does not get particular far, he is able to capture the culture and the appeal of the through-hike.  There’s also a good amount of history about the AT, which I really enjoyed.  This reiterated my interest in the trail (or doing parts of it)!  If anyone wants to join, drop me a line.

Rating: 4 stars!

Who should read it? Fans of adventure and outdoors books.