Gödel Escher Bach

by Douglas Hofstadter
Gödel Escher Bach cover
Good Books rating 3.67
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  • ID: 3860
  • Added: 2025-10-20
  • Updated: 2025-10-20
  • Reviews: 3
Reviews
goodreads.com · Unknown · 2025-10-21
mixed 3.50

The reviewer enjoyed Bill Bryson's humorous and engaging narrative in 'A Walk in the Woods', appreciating the adventure and self-deprecating humor. However, they were disappointed by the decision to skip a major portion of the trail and found some of the humor to be mean-spirited and insulting.

The reviewer initially approached 'A Walk in the Woods' with some skepticism, as they are not particularly interested in hiking. However, they found Bill Bryson's humorous and engaging narrative to be quite enjoyable. The reviewer appreciated the adventure and self-deprecating humor, as well as the dynamic between Bryson and his tag-along friend, Katz. They also found the book's moral about the depletion of natural habitats to be thought-provoking. However, the reviewer was disappointed by the decision to skip a major portion of the trail, as they had hoped to experience the complete misery of the journey. Additionally, they found some of the humor to be mean-spirited and insulting, particularly towards people from Tennessee. Despite these criticisms, the reviewer found the book to be a good read and is considering trying another book by Bryson in the future.

Quick quotes

    They enjoy living through Bryson and his seemingly random sidekick.

    Neither of them are serious in the annoying way of all mad hobbyists, and for this even non-athletic couch-potato readers (yours truly) can get involved with the adventure and, Lord help me, even start to think about hiking or exploring a little.

    The jokes here encompass a wide group of people and if you happen to be from Tennessee (guilty) the misbegotten humor tends toward the insulting.

techietonics.com · Unknown · 2024-11-30
mixed 3.50

The reviewer found the book humorous and enjoyable, particularly for its history of the Appalachian Trail, but criticized the protagonists' lack of preparedness and poor decision-making. They appreciated the insights into the trail but felt the characters' antics were frustrating and unrealistic.

The reviewer enjoyed the book's humor and the interesting history it provided about the Appalachian Trail. They found the descriptions of the trail and its surroundings engaging, and appreciated the historical context. However, they were frustrated by the protagonists' lack of preparedness and poor decision-making. The reviewer felt that the characters' actions were often unrealistic and annoying, making it difficult to fully enjoy the book. Despite this, they found the book to be a funny travelogue and a decent read for those interested in the Appalachian Trail.

Quick quotes

    The book is funny and has interesting history about the Appalachian Trail.

    I was aghast at the stuff these two were munching on and the amount of soda pop they drink.

    I am glad for gung-ho people like Bryson and his chubby checker friend Katz who did walk “the AT” and are kind enough to let me know what I am missing.

benjamincongdon.me · Unknown · 2021-03-21
positive 4.00

The reviewer found 'A Walk in the Woods' by Bill Bryson to be a hilarious and engaging account of hiking the Appalachian Trail. They appreciated Bryson's humor and the way he mixed facts with wit, making the book appealing despite the potential tedium of the subject matter. The reviewer also enjoyed Bryson's descriptions of nature and his aversion to rain, which resonated with them personally. Overall, they highly recommend the book to both travelers and non-travelers alike.

The reviewer was initially drawn to 'A Walk in the Woods' by Bill Bryson because of its travel-related theme, which is not something they typically get excited about in nonfiction. However, they found the book to be incredibly engaging and humorous, with Bryson's ability to poke fun at everything, including himself, making it a joy to read. The reviewer particularly enjoyed Bryson's descriptions of nature and his aversion to rain, which resonated with them on a personal level. They also appreciated the way Bryson mixed facts with humor, making the book appealing despite the potential tedium of the subject matter. The reviewer found the book to be a funny take on trudging miles through relative wilderness, with Bryson's exasperation with his companion, Stephen Katz, adding to the humor. They also enjoyed the sections about Mary Ellen, which they found to be an absolute laugh riot. Overall, the reviewer highly recommends the book to both travelers and non-travelers alike, as it offers a different take on hiking and how it can be written in a fun, comical manner.

Quick quotes

    I was up before daybreak and sat by the window watching as a pale dawn grudgingly exposed the surrounding landscape.

    Rain spoils everything.

    I was done for by this one sentence.

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