A CLASSIC FROM THE “NEW YORK TIMES” BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF “ONE SUMMER
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Back in America after twenty years in Britain, Bill Bryson decided to reacquaint himself with his native country by walking the 2,100-mile Appalachian Trail, which stretches from Georgia to Maine. The AT offers an astonishing landscape of silent forests and sparkling lakes–and to a writer with the comic genius of Bill … Bill Bryson, it also provides endless opportunities to witness the majestic silliness of his fellow human beings.
For a start there’s the gloriously out-of-shape Stephen Katz, a buddy from Iowa along for the walk. Despite Katz’s overwhelming desire to find cozy restaurants, he and Bryson eventually settle into their stride, and while on the trail they meet a bizarre assortment of hilarious characters. But “A Walk in the Woods” is more than just a laugh-out-loud hike. Bryson’s acute eye is a wise witness to this beautiful but fragile trail, and as he tells its fascinating history, he makes a moving plea for the conservation of America’s last great wilderness. An adventure, a comedy, and a celebration, “A Walk in the Woods” has become a modern classic of travel literature.
“From the Trade Paperback edition.”
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Probably the funniest book I’ve ever read.
Maybe the funniest book I ever read.
This is a must read
I laughed out loud. This book made me want to take a hike. I loved it!
It’s hard for me to resist a book that makes me laugh out loud, and A Walk in the Woods has laugh-out-loud moments throughout. This is my favorite of Bryson’s books, none of which are boring. But A Walk’s combination of these two unforgettable, quirky, and thoroughly believable characters on a real woodland adventure was (and remains) irresistible to this occasional hiker. If you have ever even thought about hiking the Appalachian Trail, this book’s for you.
Loved this book. Bill Bryson is just so hilarious in this book and can’t quit laughing about his antics.
Recommend it to hikers and people enjoy a good book.
so funny and a book on a true hike on the ADK trail
Bryson is a master of the written language. He has an uncanny way of portraying his intelligence (both academic and emotional) to his readers in an easy to digest, entertaining way. This book in particular details his hike up the Appalachian Trail, an adventure I’d never be interested in without having read this book. Even with his constant warnings of danger and hardship, there’s something irresistible about the way he describes his experience. Like he’s a better person for having done it. And he’s terrified me of bears… Something I never thought I’d worry about in a mid-sized city in NW Ohio.
Bryson is a great writer, and this book does not disappoint! Funny, and engaging, one of his best and most timeless books.
I read every Bill Bryson book I come across. There’s no better way to learn something while being entertained
Not Bryson’s best, but well worth the page by page adventure of a pair of unlikely trail partners: a skilled chronicler of life’s twists and turns and a naive but willing re-enactor of a youthful friendship gone middle-aged.
One of my favorite Bill Bryson books. His humor is wonderful.
A fun read.
One of my favorite books that I keep on my bookshelf.
Bill Bryson – what more need be said? He’s just one of the Best, and this book is one of his best. Fabulous read.
This is a wonderful reflection of Bryson’s journey!
Laugh out loud, pee your pants funny!
Not Bryson’s best book.
Learned so much
I laughed out loud with some parts of this book. And, like life, it’s got some intensely serious stuff that can stick in the mind and heart more than I wanted it to. It made a good movie, but I must say, the book was a bit better. I love the bits of the App Trail I was on in the northern states. It’s a fine place to take a long walk and encounter Life.