Bryson's journey into the woods is more than a humorous romp through the ups and downs of life on the Appalachian Trail.

It is Bryson's elegy to a disappearing wilderness and his call to arms for all those who would save it. It is a celebration of America's commitment to preservation that also critiques the apathy and greed which threaten America's natural resources.

More than giving the reader a glimpse of natural wonders, A Walk in the Woods gives Americans a glimpse of their own characters, blemishes and all. Bryson calls our attention to the bad taste and laziness of Americans, the twin causes of much of the unsightly development of the Appalachian Mountains. While he does this, he raises complicated questions about the use of forests. Are they to be enjoyed visually or used as resources? Is it possible to do both responsibly? To do...