A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson came highly recommended to me by a coworker because of my penchant for hiking and the outdoors. This book describes the author's experience attempting to hike the Appalachian Trail. Bryson, who was born and raised in the U.S., had recently returned and taken up residency in Hanover, NH. As a way to refamiliarize himself with his homeland, he decided to hike the Appalachian Trail from beginning to end, despite having very little backpacking experience. He also brought along his childhood friend, Stephen Katz, who was not known for making good decisions.
The bulk of the book is about Bryson's adventures (and misadventures) while hiking the trail. He describes in detail the scenery and the feeling of accomplishment that one gets from the spectacular view at the top of the mountain. He also describes the various characters he meets along the way, such as a woman who talked incessantly who tagged along with him for a period of time, as well as a group of snooty hikers he met on a rainy evening who were unwilling to share a limited amount of space.
Whether you are an experienced hiker or not, A Walk in the Woods is an enjoyable read. Like in his other works, Bryson uses humor to keep the book moving quickly and to make his story more interesting.
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