- 122 quotes from A Walk in the Woods: ‘Black bears rarely attack. But here's the thing. Sometimes they do. All bears are agile, cunning and immensely stro.
- A Walk In The Woods is a full range tour guide service geared to making your time in the Smokies as wonderful as possible. Emphasizing the teaching of natural history, A Walk In The Woods ' offers spectacular trips into the Smokies.
When I first learned that A Walk in the Woods, Bill Bryson’s hilarious travelogue about his adventures hiking the Appalachian Trail, was going to be made into a movie starring Robert Redford, my first thought was, “A Walk in the Woods! I loved that book! I need to go read it again!” As is often the case for book nerds, adaptation news is exciting mostly because it provides a built-in excuse to revisit favorite reads. I’m certainly looking forward to this movie—the trailer is delightful, and the cast is stellar. But Bryson’s funny, charming, and utterly delightful memoir springs to life even without the aid of the big screen. Here’s why.
A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian TrailPaperback$10.00| $15.99
It actually is laugh-out-loud funny
The term “laugh-out-loud funny” gets thrown around a lot these days, applied to books, movies, and comedians that you’ll barely chuckle over, or even smile faintly at. As a result, I’ve learned to be cautious when it comes to believing it that something is actually going to make me laugh out loud. But A Walk in the Woods is one of the few books that actually delivers on that promise. It is shockingly funny. Poe does mana regeneration affect dmg taken gained as mana. It is so funny that if you read it in bed while lying next to your spouse, he will demand to know just what it is you keep laughing about, and eventually you will refuse to read another joke aloud to him, and will tell him to just read it himself when you’re done.
The term “laugh-out-loud funny” gets thrown around a lot these days, applied to books, movies, and comedians that you’ll barely chuckle over, or even smile faintly at. As a result, I’ve learned to be cautious when it comes to believing it that something is actually going to make me laugh out loud. But A Walk in the Woods is one of the few books that actually delivers on that promise. It is shockingly funny. Poe does mana regeneration affect dmg taken gained as mana. It is so funny that if you read it in bed while lying next to your spouse, he will demand to know just what it is you keep laughing about, and eventually you will refuse to read another joke aloud to him, and will tell him to just read it himself when you’re done.
It’s for everyone
Whether you’re a consummate hiker who knows what a crampon is, or a city slicker who has never ventured further into the wilds than the Turtle Pond in Central Park (and who snickers at the term “crampon”), there is something in A Walk in the Woods https://supernalzi.weebly.com/wind-beneath-my-wings-mp3-download.html. for you. Bryson is open about his lack of hiking experience when he sets off on this infamously difficult trail, and his wry account of the many pitfalls he encounters and errors in judgment he makes at every step will give outdoorsy people a good chuckle, while giving indoorsy people some very useful tips. (Perhaps my use of the word “outdoorsy” tells you which side of the doorsy I myself am on.)
Whether you’re a consummate hiker who knows what a crampon is, or a city slicker who has never ventured further into the wilds than the Turtle Pond in Central Park (and who snickers at the term “crampon”), there is something in A Walk in the Woods https://supernalzi.weebly.com/wind-beneath-my-wings-mp3-download.html. for you. Bryson is open about his lack of hiking experience when he sets off on this infamously difficult trail, and his wry account of the many pitfalls he encounters and errors in judgment he makes at every step will give outdoorsy people a good chuckle, while giving indoorsy people some very useful tips. (Perhaps my use of the word “outdoorsy” tells you which side of the doorsy I myself am on.)
VesnaGatlinburg, Owner at A Walk in the Woods, responded to this review Responded November 19, 2018 Thank you so much for choosing to do a hike with us! Charles had a delightful time taking you on the tour and loved the fact that you were flexible on your time and wanted to explore more than you had originally signed up for. The Paperback of the A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail by Bill Bryson at Barnes & Noble. A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail. By Bill Bryson. https://blasterskiey.weebly.com/circuiti-per-la-microelettronica-pdf-writer.html. (or just foolhardy) folks he meets along the way–and a couple of bears. Already a classic, A Walk in the Woods will.
A Short History of Nearly EverythingPaperback$16.48| $20.00 Mayan prophecy team keygen idm download. https://bosskeen.weebly.com/ford-a7-download.html.
It is packed with fascinating and engaging information
Download minecraft premium free mac. As he takes you along the storied Appalachian Trail, Bryson also gives you a rundown on some mind-blowing facts and figures about the trail’s creation, its history, and the areas surrounding it (it’s where I first encountered the intriguing—and deeply disturbing—story behind the town of Centralia, PA). If you’re familiar with Bill Bryson’s writing, you know that he packs an inordinate amount of really fascinating information into the pages of his books, whether he’s writing about the English language, as in The Mother Tongue: English and How it Got That Way, or the history of the world, in the voluminous and aptly titled A Short History of Nearly Everything. Fortunately, because he is a deeply amusing writer, you don’t even realize that you’re being educated as well as entertained. His books are smart, but they’re so funny that you don’t realize just how smart they are. That’s a lot harder to do than it looks, and Bryson is a master at it.
Download minecraft premium free mac. As he takes you along the storied Appalachian Trail, Bryson also gives you a rundown on some mind-blowing facts and figures about the trail’s creation, its history, and the areas surrounding it (it’s where I first encountered the intriguing—and deeply disturbing—story behind the town of Centralia, PA). If you’re familiar with Bill Bryson’s writing, you know that he packs an inordinate amount of really fascinating information into the pages of his books, whether he’s writing about the English language, as in The Mother Tongue: English and How it Got That Way, or the history of the world, in the voluminous and aptly titled A Short History of Nearly Everything. Fortunately, because he is a deeply amusing writer, you don’t even realize that you’re being educated as well as entertained. His books are smart, but they’re so funny that you don’t realize just how smart they are. That’s a lot harder to do than it looks, and Bryson is a master at it.
It’s peopled with unforgettable characters
When I learned that A Walk in the Woods was going to be adapted into a film, part of me was disappointed that Bryson wasn’t going to play himself, because he seems like one of those rare individuals who is just as interesting in person as he is on the page. Fortunately, he’s being played by an actor you may have heard of named Robert Redford, who is certainly no slouch. Bryson’s eccentric, bumbling, and alarmingly non-athletic friend Katz, who agreed to accompany Bryson on the expedition, is being played by Nick Nolte, which sounds to me like perfect casting.
When I learned that A Walk in the Woods was going to be adapted into a film, part of me was disappointed that Bryson wasn’t going to play himself, because he seems like one of those rare individuals who is just as interesting in person as he is on the page. Fortunately, he’s being played by an actor you may have heard of named Robert Redford, who is certainly no slouch. Bryson’s eccentric, bumbling, and alarmingly non-athletic friend Katz, who agreed to accompany Bryson on the expedition, is being played by Nick Nolte, which sounds to me like perfect casting.
The book makes a great gift for people who are hard to shop for
Most people I know have read A Walk in the Woods (or, they better have) thanks to the period during which it became my go-to present for people I was completely clueless about how to shop for. https://entrancementcellular.weebly.com/word-help-for-mac-text-form-calculation.html. Father-in-law? Check. Boss? Check. Mailwoman? Check. I literally cannot think of anyone I would not recommend giving this book to—except possibly Bill Bryson himself—although I’m sure he would graciously accept it, and tell you it’s the thought that counts. Plex media manager windows 7. https://blasterskiey.weebly.com/the-count-of-monte-cristo-french-pdf-learn.html.
Most people I know have read A Walk in the Woods (or, they better have) thanks to the period during which it became my go-to present for people I was completely clueless about how to shop for. https://entrancementcellular.weebly.com/word-help-for-mac-text-form-calculation.html. Father-in-law? Check. Boss? Check. Mailwoman? Check. I literally cannot think of anyone I would not recommend giving this book to—except possibly Bill Bryson himself—although I’m sure he would graciously accept it, and tell you it’s the thought that counts. Plex media manager windows 7. https://blasterskiey.weebly.com/the-count-of-monte-cristo-french-pdf-learn.html.
Are you excited to read—and then see--A Walk in the Woods?
Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read.
Start by marking “A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail” as Want to Read:
Rate this book
See a Problem?
We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson.
Not the book you’re looking for?Preview — A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson
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 oth.more
Published December 26th 2006 by Anchor Books (first published 1997)
To see what your friends thought of this book,please sign up.
To ask other readers questions aboutA Walk in the Woods,please sign up.
Popular Answered Questions
ChrisDon't forget Deliverance by James Dickey
Jennifer GuestTeens - in my opinion. There are some sexual references and cursing.
Favourite Travel Books 1,755 books — 4,058 voters
Best Humorous Books 3,805 books — 6,921 voters
More lists with this book.
Rating details
|
Jan 31, 2007erin rated it did not like itRecommends it for: Smug jerks, misanthropes, tourists
It's been a busy couple of weeks, so I thought I'd spent the last of my holiday indulging in a witty travelogue to set my feet itching. Unfortunately, I picked the wrong book. Years of declining the advice of the Bryson-worshipers, it seems, was not in vain.
I'm halfway through, and - like the author on the daunting trail - am unsure as to whether or not I can finish my task. Bryson sounds, to put it mildly, a real jerk. He's smug and superior, and spends most of the book complaining about his co.more
I'm halfway through, and - like the author on the daunting trail - am unsure as to whether or not I can finish my task. Bryson sounds, to put it mildly, a real jerk. He's smug and superior, and spends most of the book complaining about his co.more
Jul 24, 2011Jason rated it liked it
I am what some might call a pussy hiker. I do genuinely enjoy a leisurely stroll in the “mountains” of Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire. I like the pretty views. I always bring my conveniently-sized L.L. Bean backpack ($39.95 from the Kittery Outlets) so I have a place for my camera and cell phone. But by early afternoon, I would like to be done, please. I would like to be done and sitting at a booth in a pub with my burger and beer. Camping is certainly worthy of consideration, but here.more
May 20, 2014Anne rated it really liked it Shelves: poopin-in-the-woods, humor, kindle, non-fiction, read-in-2015
I kind of surprised I liked this book at all, because:
a) I read pathetically little non-fiction
b) I've never read a travelogue
AND
c) I'm only a fan of the Great Outdoors as long as I'm safely Indoors.
So, color me shocked that I not only finished this, but giggled my way through quite a bit of it! Bryson really is a pretty funny writer, and the way he captured his experience on the Appalachian Trail had me in tears a few times. His fears about getting mauled by a bear (among other things) befor.more
a) I read pathetically little non-fiction
b) I've never read a travelogue
AND
c) I'm only a fan of the Great Outdoors as long as I'm safely Indoors.
So, color me shocked that I not only finished this, but giggled my way through quite a bit of it! Bryson really is a pretty funny writer, and the way he captured his experience on the Appalachian Trail had me in tears a few times. His fears about getting mauled by a bear (among other things) befor.more
I'm no city mouse. I'm a country mouse who lives in jeans and who often has a thick layer of soil under her nails from gardening. But, when compared to my brother, I feel like Beyoncé.
My brother is like. . . Inman, from Cold Mountain. A man who walks and walks, all over Appalachia.
He knows how to forage for food and how to identify what is good and what is bad, out in nature. I can point to anything within the plant kingdom, and he knows its name. He composts all of his own waste and leaves a ve.more
My brother is like. . . Inman, from Cold Mountain. A man who walks and walks, all over Appalachia.
He knows how to forage for food and how to identify what is good and what is bad, out in nature. I can point to anything within the plant kingdom, and he knows its name. He composts all of his own waste and leaves a ve.more
I wanted to like Bill Bryson’s A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail. Not sure what I was expecting from this—perhaps more about hiking on the actual AT and the reasons Bryson made this trek—but I was mostly disappointed. It read like a series of travel brochures: here’s the history of the region on this section of the trail, and now another…There was much more attention devoted to towns along the route than hiking the actual trail. It was also disappointing that Br.more
Aug 14, 2007Diane rated it it was amazing Shelves: audiobooks, travelogues, outdoors, environment, nonfiction, humorous, favorites
Bill Bryson calls the Appalachian Trail 'the grandaddy of long hikes,' but for me, this book is the granddaddy of hiking memoirs. I first read it sometime around 1999, and I enjoyed it so much that not only have I reread this multiple times, but it also inspired me to read at least a dozen other hiking adventures. None have matched Bryson's wit.
Before he started writing long books on various aspects of history, Bryson was known for his entertaining travelogues. A Walk in the Woods was his humor.more
Apr 27, 2009Ken-ichi rated it liked it · review of another editionBefore he started writing long books on various aspects of history, Bryson was known for his entertaining travelogues. A Walk in the Woods was his humor.more
Shelves: naturalism, travel, nature
Undoubtedly an amusing, breezy read, full of the kind of fun and hilarity all the blurbs lead you to expect. For instance, 'Hunters will tell you that a moose is a wily and ferocious forest creature. Nonsense. A moose is a cow drawn by a three-year-old.' That had me laughing on the train.
I can't say I liked this book quite as much as some of my friends seem to. On the one hand, I've had at least 1 semi-grueling backpacking experience with a companion who was wholly unprepared for a rigorous day.more
I can't say I liked this book quite as much as some of my friends seem to. On the one hand, I've had at least 1 semi-grueling backpacking experience with a companion who was wholly unprepared for a rigorous day.more
Oct 18, 2012Jeff rated it it was amazing · review of another edition
Going into this book, I really had no idea of what to expect from Bill Bryson. Even though I picked this book up based on Diane’s terrific review (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show.), I had never read the author before and let’s face it - blurbs on the cover only tell you so much. You have to read and live with an author’s prose to get a feel for it. As far as travelogues go, I don’t read many: Paul Theroux, Mark Twain and Steinbeck’s Travels with Charley are the only ones that come to min.more
Apr 25, 2013Jason Koivu rated it it was amazing
A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail pressed all my favorite buttons: Humor. Adventure. Danger. Storytelling. Nature. Local/personal interest. Et cetera.
I even liked that the author Bill Bryson is a American-Brit ex-pat/transplant and thus an outsider giving his opinion as a stranger in a strange land. Bryson's humorous, well-researched, yet relaxed writing is what I always hope for when embarking upon a book like this.
A trek upon the Appalachian Trail is supposed.more
I even liked that the author Bill Bryson is a American-Brit ex-pat/transplant and thus an outsider giving his opinion as a stranger in a strange land. Bryson's humorous, well-researched, yet relaxed writing is what I always hope for when embarking upon a book like this.
A trek upon the Appalachian Trail is supposed.more
Nov 07, 2017Miranda Reads rated it really liked it
Well, scratch the Appalachian Trail off my bucketlist.
Bryson sets off to walk the Appalachian trail with only an extremely overpriced backpack (packed with equally ridiculously expensive gear), an old 'friend' that he hadn't talked to in years and a will to find his next story. He quickly realized that the months of preparation he conducted (and the lack of months his friend prepared) were not nearly adequate. But on the plus side, he certainly found his story.
As always, I absolutely enjoyed h.more
Bryson sets off to walk the Appalachian trail with only an extremely overpriced backpack (packed with equally ridiculously expensive gear), an old 'friend' that he hadn't talked to in years and a will to find his next story. He quickly realized that the months of preparation he conducted (and the lack of months his friend prepared) were not nearly adequate. But on the plus side, he certainly found his story.
As always, I absolutely enjoyed h.more
Apr 28, 2011Ben rated it did not like it
Bill Bryson is extremely annoying. I started out liking this book, but the further I went along, the more obnoxious I found the author's smarter-than-thou attitude. And that's a shame, too, because I was very interested in the subject matter and had the impression that Bryson wrote with a comedic edge. However, his sense of humor turns out to be quite bland, and consists mostly of making fun of everyone he meets. Get ready for adjectives like 'stupid' and 'fat' . very high-brow. And don't worr.more
Oct 03, 2016Kelly (and the Book Boar) rated it Walk In The Woods Crossword
really liked it Shelves: smort, memoir, like-this-or-we-cant-be-friends, read-in-2016, liburrrrrry-book, road-trippin, or-just-watch-the-movie, non-fiction
Find all of my reviews at: http://52bookminimum.blogspot.com/
After reading A Man Called Ove last week, I was afraid nothing would compare and I’d be stuck in book hangover mode unless I picked something totally different from what I normally read. I decided to go to the library website incognito in order to not get the typical porny recommendations made “just for me” and get the generally recommended ones instead.
Obviously A Walk In The Woods was a book that appeared on the list and I remember.more
Jan 20, 2017Chrissie rated it it was okAfter reading A Man Called Ove last week, I was afraid nothing would compare and I’d be stuck in book hangover mode unless I picked something totally different from what I normally read. I decided to go to the library website incognito in order to not get the typical porny recommendations made “just for me” and get the generally recommended ones instead.
Obviously A Walk In The Woods was a book that appeared on the list and I remember.more
Shelves: usa, travel, flora, fauna, returned, relationships, audible, bio, 2017-read, humor
When I chose this book I failed to understand the author’s intention. Look at the subtitle! I hadn't noted the words 'Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail'. This book is not for people who love hiking; it is not intended to increase love of the sport. It scarcely shows the pleasure one can derive from hiking. It is instead a commentary on America with some details about the Appalachian Trail. I have to admit my own fault in not carefully reading the complete title. I still must rate ac.more
May 17, 2007Jack rated it it was amazing · ![The The](/uploads/1/2/6/3/126335662/281223854.jpg)
Shelves: reallygoodstuff, jackrecommends
Imagine a grueling, four-month wilderness trek along the Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine. Your guide: an intellectual, who lived half his life in England, well versed in geology, zoology, ecology and pretty much all of the other ‘ologies.’ Yet, this far from ordinary guide summons the sparkle of Twain, and of Billy Crystal. Picture all of this for a sense of what can be found inside the covers of Bill Bryson’s 'A Walk in the Woods.' Bryson, a self-deprecating intellectual of the first or.more
Dec 25, 2017Nandakishore Varma rated it really liked it · review of another edition
In 'A Walk in the Woods', Bryson narrates his experiences on the Appalachian Trail which stretches 2000+ miles from Springer Mountain in Georgia to Mount Katahdin in Maine, passing through eleven states and populated with all kinds of peril imaginable. As Bryson says
The woods were full of peril - rattlesnakes and water moccasins and nests of copperheads; bobcat, bears, coyotes, wolves, and wild boar; loony hillbillies destabilized by gross quantities of impure corn liquor and generations of prof.more
Definitely read the book if you're a fan of the outdoors and hiking. I learned about the book after watching the movie, and let me say, the book to me was much better.
Nov 29, 2015PirateSteve rated it it was amazing · review of another edition
I chose this book in hopes it would rekindle my appetite for hiking. The book easily did that.
I also found this to be such a pleasurable read. I looked forward at every stolen opportunity to read another chapter. It delivered each time.
I also found this to be such a pleasurable read. I looked forward at every stolen opportunity to read another chapter. It delivered each time.
Sep 15, 2007Dylan rated it it was amazing
I have read most of Bill Bryson's books and they are all good-- excellent even. His gift is in his ability to detect the humor in any situation. Where you or I might see a man walking down the street he sees something, and articulates it so well, packed with humor. But this book is his best. The reason, I think, is that it takes him out of his element. His natural writing style is this so-called 'travel writing' genre-- the idea that someone goes somewhere and writes about it and their time ther.more
Apr 18, 2017Paul E. Morph rated it really liked it · review of another edition
Let me just get this out of the way first: Sorry, Trish! I couldn't help myself! I have no willpower! I am officially the world's worst buddy reader!
Right, as for the book. I enjoyed it. The only Bryson I've read before this was his book about hiking in my native UK and, perhaps because this book deals with territory I'm a lot less familiar with, I preferred this one. I enjoyed Bryson's wry, despairing sense of humour. I enjoyed his interactions with his walking-buddy, Katz (not sure of the sp.more
Right, as for the book. I enjoyed it. The only Bryson I've read before this was his book about hiking in my native UK and, perhaps because this book deals with territory I'm a lot less familiar with, I preferred this one. I enjoyed Bryson's wry, despairing sense of humour. I enjoyed his interactions with his walking-buddy, Katz (not sure of the sp.more
Oct 03, 2017J.K. Grice rated it it was amazing
Pure Bryson delight, as well as an informative history about the Appalachian Trail. Although I could never imagine Robert Redford portraying Bill Bryson, the film version is pretty funny, with Nick Nolte adding great comic relief. Highly recommended.
Aug 18, 2015Carole (Carole's Random Life in Books) rated it it was ok · review of another edition Shelves: reviewed, blogging-for-books, humor, 2015, non-fiction
This review can also be found at Carole's Random Life.
I am terribly disappointed by the fact that I did not fall in love with this book. When I was choosing a book to read, I took one look at the ratings for this book on Goodreads and knew that I had to read this book right away. Seriously, every single one of my friends on Goodreads gave this book either a 4 or 5 star rating. And they said it was funny. I love funny. I knew that I would just love this book.
I didn't love it. I was actually bored.more
I am terribly disappointed by the fact that I did not fall in love with this book. When I was choosing a book to read, I took one look at the ratings for this book on Goodreads and knew that I had to read this book right away. Seriously, every single one of my friends on Goodreads gave this book either a 4 or 5 star rating. And they said it was funny. I love funny. I knew that I would just love this book.
I didn't love it. I was actually bored.more
I really enjoyed A Walk in the Woods, the first book I've read by Bill Bryson. I enjoyed Part 1, where Katz was Bryson's trail companion, more than Part 2 but still liked all of it. The book has a very good balance of story, humor (including plenty of sarcasm), and Appalachian Trail history and information.
Hiking the AT (or anything similar really) is something I more than likely would never do. I am a day-nature-r, enjoying outdoorsy activities for the day, usually one day at a time, and if an.more
Hiking the AT (or anything similar really) is something I more than likely would never do. I am a day-nature-r, enjoying outdoorsy activities for the day, usually one day at a time, and if an.more
Aug 06, 2011Jan-Maat added it · review of another edition
Sometimes I wonder if I have been too judgemental with a book, I returned and reread a good chunk of this and feel if anything I was too generous. The problem I feel is that Bryson's humour is all about people. The odd people he meets and the funny things they say. On a footpath, in a forest, there are not many people and the interactions between Bryson and his sidekick Katz don't carry the weight of my expectations. The other ingredient in Bryson's style is a general attitude that the world is.more
Jan 23, 2018Char rated it liked it · review of another edition Shelves: audio-book, humor, american-history, from-library
A WALK IN THE WOODS was just okay.
The author and his friend did not get to hike the entire trail as they had originally intended, which was not only disappointing for them, but for me as well.
I learned about the history of the trail and how the whole thing works. I previously had no idea that the trail sometimes crosses roads and rivers and whatnot-I had this picture of a pristine wilderness in my head and while some parts are just that, others are not.
I thought there would be a bit more hu.more
The author and his friend did not get to hike the entire trail as they had originally intended, which was not only disappointing for them, but for me as well.
I learned about the history of the trail and how the whole thing works. I previously had no idea that the trail sometimes crosses roads and rivers and whatnot-I had this picture of a pristine wilderness in my head and while some parts are just that, others are not.
I thought there would be a bit more hu.more
It's the longest armchair hike I've ever taken and I've enjoyed every minute of it. I know I will never do this for real so this is next best. I enjoyed reading about the history of the AT and all the other stories that BB included in the report of his adventures.
Jan 11, 2017Guy Austin rated it really liked it · review of another editionWalk In The Woods Soundtrack
Shelves: books-on-shelf-read, non-fiction, bio-memior
This is a book I had always thought to read, but never had. I am very pleased that I finally got round to it. If you’re wanting something funny and absorbing for the flight home, to sit on the patio with a cup of coffee, or you’re your favorite chair staring out the window you have found it in A Walk in the Woods. I’m intrigued by stories of people who take to challenging adventures… I'll never be one of them. Bill Bryson and Katz kept me laughing and entertained for hours. I latterly was laugh.more
May 13, 2014David rated it it was amazing
I love Bill Bryson's books, and this one is no exception. Bryson tells the story of his hiking up the Appalachian Trail (AT for short) with his friend, Stephen Katz. His friend is quite a character, and I sort of wonder if he is a real person, or if he is 'invented'. But--Katz is such a wonderful character, he is probably real, because 'inventing' him would be nearly impossible. He is a recovering alcoholic, overweight sort of slob who throws out his irreplaceable supplies when the going gets to.more
Mar 07, 2018Sharon Metcalf rated it liked it
3.5 stars
If not for being my book club choice for March I probably would not have read A Walk In The Woods by Bill Bryson, and though I didn't vote for it I'm happy to have read it. Bill Bryson, a much published travel writer, was mid 40's when he struck upon the idea of walking the Appalachian Trail (AT). At time of publishing, the AT was around 2200 miles of wilderness and was the longest continuous footpath in the world. Bryson and buddy Stephen Katz embarked on this walk with little preparat.more
If not for being my book club choice for March I probably would not have read A Walk In The Woods by Bill Bryson, and though I didn't vote for it I'm happy to have read it. Bill Bryson, a much published travel writer, was mid 40's when he struck upon the idea of walking the Appalachian Trail (AT). At time of publishing, the AT was around 2200 miles of wilderness and was the longest continuous footpath in the world. Bryson and buddy Stephen Katz embarked on this walk with little preparat.more
i always tell people that they will either love this (and most of his other) books to death, or that they will find them utterly unamusing. i find them hilarious. i have never laughed so hard while reading a book as with Bryson's books. Give it a go--you'll know after the first few chapters whether you share his witty, tasteful sense of humor or not:)
I have had 4-5 people tell me over the years that I ought to read this book, so after Jean read it I kept it around the house. And one evening when I had finished a book and wasn't all that sleepy, I picked this up.
And it made me very sleepy. Lots of sleepy nights with this selection.
Yes, and he's a good writer and this has a few nice little anecdotes.
But jeez, it's just not a very interesting or very good book, that's all. Let's see, it's by a guy who doesn't really like to hike (he'd rather be.more
And it made me very sleepy. Lots of sleepy nights with this selection.
Yes, and he's a good writer and this has a few nice little anecdotes.
But jeez, it's just not a very interesting or very good book, that's all. Let's see, it's by a guy who doesn't really like to hike (he'd rather be.more
topics | posts | views | last activity |
---|---|---|---|
Non Fiction Book .:A Walk in the Woods (Jun 24-Jul 24, 2019) | 14 | 17 | Jul 01, 2019 03:23PM |
Around the Year i.:A Walk in the Woods: Resdiscovering America on the Appalachian Trail, by Bill Bryson | 15 | 101 | Apr 14, 2019 02:08AM |
Madison Mega-Mara.:#83 A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson | 1 | 2 | Aug 11, 2018 07:39AM |
UCAS English 10 H.:February reading assignment | 1 | 1 | Feb 10, 2018 10:33AM |
The Long Overdue .:Second Book! | 10 | 23 | Jan 23, 2018 02:04PM |
AP Language SHS:Jackson Chambers Summer Reading | 5 | 10 | Oct 10, 2017 01:19PM |
Bill Bryson | 83 | 675 | Aug 07, 2017 06:48PM |
Recommend It | Stats | Recent Status Updates
See similar books…
See top shelves…
Walk In The Woods Candle
12,581followers
William McGuire 'Bill' Bryson, OBE, FRS was born in Des Moines, Iowa, in 1951. He settled in England in 1977, and worked in journalism until he became a full time writer. He lived for many years with his English wife and four children in North Yorkshire. He and his family then moved to New Hampshire in America for a few years, but they have now returned to live in the UK.
In The Lost Continent, Bil.more
In The Lost Continent, Bil.more
More quizzes & trivia.
“Black bears rarely attack. But here's the thing. Sometimes they do. All bears are agile, cunning and immensely strong, and they are always hungry. If they want to kill you and eat you, they can, and pretty much whenever they want. That doesn't happen often, but - and here is the absolutely salient point - once would be enough.” — 196 likes
“Distance changes utterly when you take the world on foot. A mile becomes a long way, two miles literally considerable, ten miles whopping, fifty miles at the very limits of conception. The world, you realize, is enormous in a way that only you and a small community of fellow hikers know. Planetary scale is your little secret.
Life takes on a neat simplicity, too. Time ceases to have any meaning. When it is dark, you go to bed, and when it is light again you get up, and everything in between is just in between. It’s quite wonderful, really.
You have no engagements, commitments, obligations, or duties; no special ambitions and only the smallest, least complicated of wants; you exist in a tranquil tedium, serenely beyond the reach of exasperation, “far removed from the seats of strife,” as the early explorer and botanist William Bartram put it. All that is required of you is a willingness to trudge.
There is no point in hurrying because you are not actually going anywhere. However far or long you plod, you are always in the same place: in the woods. It’s where you were yesterday, where you will be tomorrow. The woods is one boundless singularity. Every bend in the path presents a prospect indistinguishable from every other, every glimpse into the trees the same tangled mass. For all you know, your route could describe a very large, pointless circle. In a way, it would hardly matter.
At times, you become almost certain that you slabbed this hillside three days ago, crossed this stream yesterday, clambered over this fallen tree at least twice today already. But most of the time you don’t think. No point. Instead, you exist in a kind of mobile Zen mode, your brain like a balloon tethered with string, accompanying but not actually part of the body below. Walking for hours and miles becomes as automatic, as unremarkable, as breathing. At the end of the day you don’t think, “Hey, I did sixteen miles today,” any more than you think, “Hey, I took eight-thousand breaths today.” It’s just what you do.” — 118 likes
More quotes…Life takes on a neat simplicity, too. Time ceases to have any meaning. When it is dark, you go to bed, and when it is light again you get up, and everything in between is just in between. It’s quite wonderful, really.
You have no engagements, commitments, obligations, or duties; no special ambitions and only the smallest, least complicated of wants; you exist in a tranquil tedium, serenely beyond the reach of exasperation, “far removed from the seats of strife,” as the early explorer and botanist William Bartram put it. All that is required of you is a willingness to trudge.
There is no point in hurrying because you are not actually going anywhere. However far or long you plod, you are always in the same place: in the woods. It’s where you were yesterday, where you will be tomorrow. The woods is one boundless singularity. Every bend in the path presents a prospect indistinguishable from every other, every glimpse into the trees the same tangled mass. For all you know, your route could describe a very large, pointless circle. In a way, it would hardly matter.
At times, you become almost certain that you slabbed this hillside three days ago, crossed this stream yesterday, clambered over this fallen tree at least twice today already. But most of the time you don’t think. No point. Instead, you exist in a kind of mobile Zen mode, your brain like a balloon tethered with string, accompanying but not actually part of the body below. Walking for hours and miles becomes as automatic, as unremarkable, as breathing. At the end of the day you don’t think, “Hey, I did sixteen miles today,” any more than you think, “Hey, I took eight-thousand breaths today.” It’s just what you do.”