Bryson Stumbles On The Appalachian Trail

There's a big difference between a bestselling travel book and a great travel book. No work illustrates this better than Bill Bryson's A Walk In The Woods. The book was immensely popular for two reasons: fans of his folksy humor and his other works were salivating for the next offering, plus the Appalachian Trail is a must-read subject for many people who feel they should learn about this part of the American landscape if not someday hike it themselves.

So, Bryson's project was set up for huge success. He only needed to deliver a quality product. Yet, at that step in the writer's journey, he apparently slipped on some bear scat and fell off a cliff. The book began enjoyably enough. Bryson used his wilderness unpreparedness to make his epic trek relatable to couch potatoes as well as nature lovers. He also used data about the Appalachian Trail to create a sense of its vast length and significance. Thus, he made the trip seem both accessible and important.