A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail (Official Guides to the Appalachian Trail) (Official Guides to the Appalachian Trail)

Well...it was funny and I laughed so much...at Bryson and Katz! There are some interesting facts and snippets about the trail. But I have to wonder how accurate they are overall. For example, Bryson credits Williamstown as having a Burger King. Well, the Burger King is in North Adams. Why point out something that could be so insignificant, you might ask of me? Because if this is the fact...more

Well...it was funny and I laughed so much...at Bryson and Katz! There are some interesting facts and snippets about the trail. But I have to wonder how accurate they are overall. For example, Bryson credits Williamstown as having a Burger King. Well, the Burger King is in North Adams. Why point out something that could be so insignificant, you might ask of me? Because if this is the fact checking for something "insiginificant", then how much care went into the larger details, such as the amount of public land that is leased out to private industry, amongst many examples. Overall it was an interesting read. Two books I hope he writes based on this...ummmm...work: 1). "I Don't Know How I Got Diabetes From Eating All These Processed Foods on the AP: What Every Weekend Warrior Who Wants to Pretend To Be a 'Mountain Man' Needs to Know About Dragging His Testicles Through The Underbrush" 2) "Another Walk in the Woods: Hey, I'm F@cking Up the Environment Just Like Every Other Sweater-Tied-Around-My-Neck-Yuppy With Whom I Would Wax Philosophical About Those Damn Sweater-Tied-Around-My-Neck-Yuppies Who Are F@cking Up the Environment. OH...and Picking Up the Trash Katz Left Behind on the AP!" I'm glad I borrowed this through the library. I'm sorry the library actually purchased it.   hide

LOVED it(!) - laughed out loud the entire way through (also managed to learn a thing or two as well) - the only thing that was missing was Katz boxing Mary Ellen's ears... "For two days, Katz barely spoke to me. On the second night, at nine o'clock, an unlikely noise came from his tent - the punctured-air click of a beverage can being opened - and he said in a pugnacious tone, 'Do you know...more

LOVED it(!) - laughed out loud the entire way through (also managed to learn a thing or two as well) - the only thing that was missing was Katz boxing Mary Ellen's ears... "For two days, Katz barely spoke to me. On the second night, at nine o'clock, an unlikely noise came from his tent - the punctured-air click of a beverage can being opened - and he said in a pugnacious tone, 'Do you know what that was, Bryson? Cream soda. You know what else? I'm drinking it right now, and I'm not giving you any. And you know what else? It's delicious.' There was a slurpy, intentionally amplified drinking noise. 'Mmmmmmmm. De-light-ful.' Another slurp. 'And do you know why I'm drinking it now? Because it's 9 P.M. - time for the X-Files, my favorite program of all time.' There was a long moment's drinking noise, the sound of a tent zip parting, the tink of an empty can landing in the undergrowth, the tent zip closing. 'Man, that was SO good. Now f*ck you and goodnight.' And that was the end of it. In the morning he was fine." haha - I think Katz and I could be friends...   hide

Bryson is brilliant! I loved his humour and his style - both made this book a very enjoyable read. He came across as honest, human and real...not some high and mighty explorer but the guy next door, and if he could do this (or at least part of it) why couldn't the rest of us? Even his retelling of the difficulties of the journey made me want to see the Applachian Trail. Could I hike it all? No,...more

Bryson is brilliant! I loved his humour and his style - both made this book a very enjoyable read. He came across as honest, human and real...not some high and mighty explorer but the guy next door, and if he could do this (or at least part of it) why couldn't the rest of us? Even his retelling of the difficulties of the journey made me want to see the Applachian Trail. Could I hike it all? No, but a piece here or there would be fun. I have more Bryson on Mt. TBR and I'm looking forward to taking other trips with him.   hide

I read this book on a whim (I was bored at work) and it was really entertaining. A nice, simple, light read that was a pleasant change of pace from my usual fare of text books. Totally worth picking up in mass market paperback.