A Walk in the Woods

I love Bill Bryson. The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid is one of the most hilarious memoirs I've ever read.

Recently, I picked up an earlier book of his called A Walk in the Woods, about his attempt to walk the Appalachian Trail with an overweight, out of shape, ex-alchoholic friend of his. Needless to say, they didn't make it all the way. But they did hike a good portion of the trail, and this book tells of that experience, along with anecdotes about the trail and the usual Bryson humor.

I can't say I liked it as much as Thunderbolt Kid, but it was an entertaining and informative read, especially for those interested in the Appalachian Trail, a part of the country that lies undiscovered by most Americans.

One of the most sobering facts presented in the book, was that Bryson walked more in 20 minutes on the trail than the average American does in a week. How frightening! Made me want to put down the book and go for a walk!