A Walk in the Woods

This isn't your everyday adventure book, and I'd like to make that clear first off. A Walk in the Woods is more of a tale that offers an insight on the way the average American thinks, acts, and changes over the course of time. Narrated by an eager but inexperienced hiker, the story unfolds in a humorous and reflecting way. Bill Bryson, comes off as a likable narrator whom you can't really help following throughout his (sometimes perilous yet still funny) journey. And even though the title, cover, and blurb say that the book is about the Appalachian Trail, it's not. Though the central idea is a hike on the AT, it covers topics from his opinions on rural development in the South to rekindling friendships that drift apart with time. From the beginning, Bryson's witty voice keeps you interested from the start and manages to neatly and sneakily drop in a few pages of Trail history at the same time. Whether you've decided to take a crack at this book because you're a hiking enthusiast or simply because you need something lighthearted and easy to read, there's something for everyone to take away from it.