A Walk in The Woods, by Bill Bryson

Ask me for a lighthearted, fun book about hiking (even if it's not an accurate portrayal of the backcountry) and I'll recommend you this one. This is the story of how Bryson "rediscovered" his own country after a long stay abroad by hiking the Appalachian Trail (AT). Or to put it more accurately, a part of the AT. His angle is certainly humorous and enjoyable, though not so much to make me laugh out loud in public places as The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy. (I'm just ranting a little bit because so many people say they have almost died laughing while reading the book.)

Another line of reviews you may hear floating around will tell you that people are glad they read the book, that they enjoyed nature through Bryson's experience and that they're glad they never left home to do it. I personally find that perspective narrow minded and sad. If anything, reading this book teaches that backpacking is much more than loading yourself like a pack-mule and naively braving through the wilderness. Bryson makes clear that he didn't know what he was getting in and so no one should view "A Walk in The Woods" as the report of life on the trail through the eyes of an experienced hiker. If you don't get that from the first chapter, you should be able to figure it out when he relates to you that his diet was noodles and Snickers.

Once you understand this fact, the book is rewarding. It's a nice collection of anecdotes, some of them very amusing, punctuated with bits of very relevant statistics and historical facts. Is it reference book? No way, but it's still a good read both for those who enjoy the outdoors and those who think they would if they got off their seats.

SPOILER ALERT: Don't expect the story to take you through the whole way from Georgia to Maine. Bryson was not one of those people who do the whole thing from start to finish (only 15% of the people who start out actually accomplish that). In fact, you may be left with the feeling that he did 500 miles the right way, collected his best material for the book and then cheated his way through to the end of the trail just to finish the book. I was led to conclude this is a real possibility, but even then I must say I enjoyed it.