A Walk in the Woods

Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail

By: Bill Bryson

Narrated by: Rob McQuay

Length: 9 hrs and 44 mins

Publisher's summary

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).

©1999 Bill Bryson (P)2012 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"Short of doing it yourself, the best way of escaping into nature is to read a book like A Walk in the Woods." ( The New York Times)

"A terribly misguided, and terribly funny tale of adventure.... The yarn is choke-on-your-coffee funny." ( The Washington Post)

"Bill Bryson could write an essay about dryer lint or fever reducers and still make us laugh out loud." ( Chicago Sun-Times)

Prepare to be entertained!

Bryson's humor is on the same wave length as my own. A Walk in the Woods was kept me entertained throughout the whole book. Wonderful story of adventure and an excellent history lesson on America's trails. Bill also does a great job of making the reader aware of the very real possibility of our wilderness disappearing if we are not careful in the environmental decisions we as a society make.
I also have to gives props to Rob McQuay for performing an excellent narration of this book. Bryson's traveling partner, Katz, was wonderfully portrayed by McQuay.

let's go for a hike

really great fun story. Even though he starts off with how dangerous this hike is, you still want to hike it towards the end of the story. fun facts, a bit whiny though on some subjects. I really enjoyed the story, the narrator did a great job too.

100%

the fist book I listened to of Bill Bryson was "sunburned Country" I loved it. funny laugh out loud parts all the way through, so when I was done with that book I wanted more, I saw this one, I thought why not, I'd seen three movie, and through past experience books are always better than the movie. even though the movie was great, the book is 100% better. So funny I was cracking up laughing going down the road, I'm sure people probably thought I took too many happy pills that day or something. Bill Brysons Witt and sense of humor makes for a very entertaining extremely funny book. The narrator delivers it perfectly.

Love his sense of humor

I usually listen more than once, really one of my favorite authors! his books have turned me on to other writers I also thoroughly enjoy, like John Mcphee...thanks for writing Mr Bryson!

Almost 5 starts

Really enjoyed this book except the needless profanity. I really wish Audible would warn you when a book may not be suitable for all audiences. Other than that, this book was very entertaining and educational, made me laugh out loud several times.

Political views

It felt like most of the book was about science and government rather than walking the trail. I would tell anyone wanting to learn about the AT to stay away from this book.

Didn’t even hike the whole trail

Spoiler I was bummed to find out they hadn’t hiked the whole trail and quit a few times and skipped lengths

An entertaining read!

I listened to this with four Boy Scouts on our way to Summer Camp. When we started the long drive they had their headsets in listening to whatever teenage boys listen to. An hour into the ride I heard chuckling from the backseat and realized they were as engrossed in the book as I was. I can only hope to find another book as good as this for the ride home!

Great funny book

Loved it. This book was hysterical. Listened to it walking in my neighborhood and my neighbors think I am nuts because i would be laughing to what appeared to them as nothing. This book was not only funny but very informative a fantastic non fiction read.

Hiking..

I enjoyed this book A Wslk in the woods very much... As I am a 59 year old man who at 62 when I retire my plans are to hike the APT....the story was great, the reading was good . As I read the book my mind would drift off and I would be on the trial. people may ask after reading the book and reading of how hard and sometimes dangerous the hike might be did it scare me or discourage me in anyway... to that I would say hell no if anything it had the opposite effect. I'm looking more and more forward to than before reading the book...Who knows maybe one day people will be reading about my adventure on the APT....