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pammella's review
4.0
Not sure why I read books about crazy long hikes since I have no desire to take on something so daunting. Maybe it's because I understand and relate to the reasons why someone (especially someone over 40 with a family and a job) would want to take on such a big challenge. As Miller explains it in this book, "Our vision becomes so narrow that risk is trying a new brand of cereal, and adventure is watching a new sitcom."
I have read other accounts of the AT, and those authors focused on the beauty of the trail and the sense of community among hikers. AWOL describes beautiful places and the other hikers he meets, but he also paints quite a vivid picture of the frequent rain, boulder-strewn fields, and physical pain that were part of his thru hike.
I have read other accounts of the AT, and those authors focused on the beauty of the trail and the sense of community among hikers. AWOL describes beautiful places and the other hikers he meets, but he also paints quite a vivid picture of the frequent rain, boulder-strewn fields, and physical pain that were part of his thru hike.
osc's review
5.0
A friend recommended this book to me and I'm glad he did. Funny and inspiring, this is one of those books that makes you want to jump off the couch and start chasing dreams. The book takes journal entries and newspaper articles that the author wrote as he hiked the Appalachian Trail in its entirety and adds to them to create an engaging book. He covers the ups and downs of the trip itself and does a great job of sharing his story and that of the other hikers he meets on his journey. I highly recommend this one.
stephasaurous's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
amailhot57's review
5.0
David Miller leaves his unfulfilling Job to hike the Appalachian trail. Hiking two thousand plus miles creates incredible challenges that replace the routine of his prior life. The description of his hike is without a lot of personal commentary which I like. You can create your own commentary as if you are hiking the trail. There are a lot of detours while on the hike to small town motels and hostels, but always returning to the trail without missing any of it. David mostly sleeps in shelters on the trail abandoning his tent. Although I love the getting lost in nature with its internal self reflection, David’s story also allows you to experience small towns, trail angels and those connections on the trail that become ever more important as you progress through this grueling hike. Overall a great book.
h3dakota's review
4.0
I've thought about doing a thru hike ever since I was heading into high school & spent 3 days on the AT. I loved those 3 days & would dearly love to get back on the trail, but I don't think I'll be able to talk anyone into going with me. I was happy to live vicariously through AWOL's hike at any rate! :)
kimball_hansen's review
4.0
If I were to write a book about my cross-country bicycle trip I would write it in this format that David Miller did. I really want to hike the AT now or better yet bike it (not on the trail of course but the nearest road that parallels it). The author seems to have had his fair share of beginner's luck (which I believe is real from my biking trip experience) by not getting too sick or having too many problems.
vizira's review
poorly written, with super awkward transititions that made it extremely difficult to tell whether time had passed between one event and another.
the writing was also very dry and blunt, which would have been fine if the author didn't the habit of going on long tangents about how his old life was so awful and boring. did not finish
the writing was also very dry and blunt, which would have been fine if the author didn't the habit of going on long tangents about how his old life was so awful and boring. did not finish
jmoses's review
4.0
This was a good read. The author's voice is clear and consistent, and does an excellent job of describing both the external (scenery, trail, etc) and the internal (thoughts, doubts, etc). It almost makes me want to go hiking (*not* the AT, that's uh, really far).
alicecw's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
3.75
rachael_reading's review
5.0
Can you tell I'm obsessed with hiking nonfiction? A much more detailed account of the trail. The author now writes a highly recommended guidebook for the AT. Exceptional detail and also a realistic description of the struggles of life on the trail. A book that really makes you realize that it is quite a feat to hike over 2,000 miles, but also very much so worth it.