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Quick answer: If you liked A Walk in the Woods, read Bill Bryson's In a Sunburned Country and Notes from a Small Island, then try Wild, The Salt Path and A Year in Provence. All pair travel with humor and the pleasures of a good walk.
Bryson's 1998 book tells how he and his unfit friend Katz try to hike the Appalachian Trail, with jokes, history and nature facts. The books below share its mix of travel, comedy and curiosity. All are nonfiction, and all are real, in-print books.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| In a Sunburned Country | Bill Bryson | Adult | Bryson at his best |
| Notes from a Small Island | Bill Bryson | Adult | British humor |
| The Lost Continent | Bill Bryson | Adult | road trip humor |
| Neither Here nor There | Bill Bryson | Adult | European travel |
| The Road to Little Dribbling | Bill Bryson | Adult | British sequel |
| A Short History of Nearly Everything | Bill Bryson | Adult | popular science |
| Wild | Cheryl Strayed | Adult | hiking and grief |
| Into the Wild | Jon Krakauer | Adult | wilderness risk |
| Blue Highways | William Least Heat-Moon | Adult | back roads |
| Travels with Charley | John Steinbeck | Adult | road trips |
| The Salt Path | Raynor Winn | Adult | walking memoirs |
| Born to Run | Christopher McDougall | Adult | running adventure |
| Round Ireland with a Fridge | Tony Hawks | Adult | travel comedy |
| Under the Tuscan Sun | Frances Mayes | Adult | Italian escapes |
| A Year in Provence | Peter Mayle | Adult | travel memoirs |
1. In a Sunburned Country by Bill Bryson
Bryson travels around Australia, writing about its dangers and its people. Funny and full of facts.
Best for: Bryson at his best.
2. Notes from a Small Island by Bill Bryson
A farewell tour of Britain full of affection and complaints. Warm and funny.
Best for: British humor.
3. The Lost Continent by Bill Bryson
Bryson's trip across small-town America, with sharp jokes. His first travel book.
Best for: road trip humor.
4. Neither Here nor There by Bill Bryson
A journey around Europe with a rueful narrator. Light and amusing.
Best for: European travel.
5. The Road to Little Dribbling by Bill Bryson
Bryson returns to Britain twenty years later. Grumpy, funny and affectionate.
Best for: British sequel.
6. A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson
A lively tour through science, from the Big Bang to bacteria. Informative and humorous.
Best for: popular science.
7. Wild by Cheryl Strayed
After her mother's death and her divorce, a woman hikes the Pacific Crest Trail alone. Funny, raw and gripping.
Best for: hiking and grief.
8. Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer
The story of Chris McCandless, who walked into the Alaskan wilderness. Controversial and moving.
Best for: wilderness risk.
9. Blue Highways by William Least Heat-Moon
A man travels the back roads of America in a van. Quiet and observant.
Best for: back roads.
10. Travels with Charley by John Steinbeck
Steinbeck tours America with his dog. Warm, wry and reflective.
Best for: road trips.
11. The Salt Path by Raynor Winn
A couple walks England's South West Coast Path after losing their home. Moving and hopeful.
Best for: walking memoirs.
12. Born to Run by Christopher McDougall
A journalist explores the Tarahumara runners of Mexico and why humans run. Lively and surprising.
Best for: running adventure.
13. Round Ireland with a Fridge by Tony Hawks
A comedian bets he can hitchhike around Ireland with a fridge. Silly and charming.
Best for: travel comedy.
14. Under the Tuscan Sun by Frances Mayes
An American writer buys and restores a villa in Tuscany. Food, scenery and slow renewal.
Best for: Italian escapes.
15. A Year in Provence by Peter Mayle
An English couple moves to southern France for a year of food and neighbors. Light, funny and sunny.
Best for: travel memoirs.
How to Choose
For more Bryson, begin with In a Sunburned Country or Notes from a Small Island. For hiking, Wild and The Salt Path. For road trips, Blue Highways and Travels with Charley. For comic travel, Round Ireland with a Fridge. These books suit travel days and can inspire your next trip. If you enjoy these, consider a walking trip of your own, even a short one. Libraries often carry hiking guides, and local parks have trails for every ability. Reading about a walk and then taking one is one of the best ways to enjoy these books.
Related: The God of the Woods Book Club Discussion Questions (With Summary and Themes) · Sherryl Woods Printable Book List
Frequently Asked Questions
What is A Walk in the Woods about?
Bryson and his friend Katz try to hike the Appalachian Trail, a route of about 2,200 miles, and learn how hard it is.
Did Bryson finish the trail?
No. They hiked large parts of it but did not complete the full route.
Is there a film?
Yes. A 2015 film starred Robert Redford and Nick Nolte.
Is the book funny?
Yes, with Bryson's trademark wit and self-deprecation.
What else should I read by Bryson?
In a Sunburned Country and A Short History of Nearly Everything are favorites.
How long is the Appalachian Trail?
About 2,190 miles from Georgia to Maine.
Who is Katz?
Bryson's old friend Stephen Katz is an unfit companion whose antics provide much of the humor.
Is the book accurate?
Bryson blends fact and humor, though some details have been disputed.
Is it good for non-hikers?
Yes. It is mostly about friendship, history and travel.
Is there an audiobook?
Yes, and Bryson's dry humor works well when narrated.
Where can I try a short section of the trail?
Many state parks and national forests along the route have day hikes of a few miles.