To The Woods: A Journey Along The Appalachian Trail

by John Scott

This book is not solely about the Appalachian Trail nor is it a guide to long distance hiking. There are many such guides, and some of them are excellent. It is rather an account of my fascination with the US, seen through my experience of hiking 2160 miles from Georgia to Maine. I write about hiking, politics, work and culture in a manner which will be challenging for some readers but is also, I hope, respectful. I try to explain why the US fascinated me as a boy growing up in Scotland and why the fascination continued on the Trail. I also write about the challenges of reintegrating back into day to day life after the Trail.

Genres: Audiobook, Nonfiction, Adventure, Travel

230 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 2, 2006

About the author

Librarian note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Reviews

[Rogue Hiker · Rating 2 out of 5]

A foreigner comes to the US to hike the AT and talks trash about the US and spews political garbage. I go hike in the woods to get away from that garbage. I don’t need to read about in a book and it has nothing to do with his hiking experience. Don’t waste your time. Plenty of better books about journeys on the AT without the garbage filler.

[Elizabeth Holm · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed hearing about his journey through the Appalachian Trail, and the people he met along the way, as well as his/ opinions on the American people and culture. This would have been a five star review if it had included more description of scenery along the way, in each area he hiked through, although I did love the scenic descriptions he did include in parts of the book.

[Beckiezra · Rating 2.75 out of 5]

Hoopla bonus borrow. This just didn’t hold my interest. The end when he was talking about adjusting to not hiking the trail it was a bit more engaging but it was already too late to care and I’m not willing to go back to the beginning and restart the book just because he finally became a bit more interesting to me than he was the rest of the book.

[Daniel Bear Croll]

Boring nonsense, not a AT trail read

I thought this book was about hiking the AT when really it's about the perception of the USA from a foreigner , pleAse stay wherever you are from. Just a bunch of drivel as far as I am concerned

[Amy Meyers · Rating 1.5 out of 5]

I’d heard of a book about the Appalachian Trail hike that was supposedly very interesting, so when this came up as a hoopla bonus borrow, I thought this was it. It isn’t. This is a Scottish guy who inserts his misunderstandings of America and liberal political nonsense into his emotional hiking, while feeling sorry for himself that though he is doing this now he didn’t get to do it in a gap year like, apparently, some kids these days, do? The only thing of note was at the end when he mentioned how jarring it was to partake in the modern world again. The hike sounds grueling, by the way, so my respect to anyone who does it; but i doubt it’s worth the time.

[Sui5te · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ehhh.
The Scottish accent of the author brought authenticity to his travelogue in the audio book, but it was dry and monotone. The overall summary was a value and a tribute to the trail experience in his life, but I had to ignore the monologues about politics, gun control, and systemic racism in the US. If you truly enjoy listening to personal hiking experiences and the value they bring to one's life, then this is a good book. The print versions may leave more to the imagination and the monotone reading would not be a distraction. And you could skip over the monologues.

[Babs Langille · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having read A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson, I was expecting a similar book. I could no be more wrong. Where Bryson's book was more of a physical account of his journey with specific conversations and events from his time on the trail, Scott's was more metaphysical. There was a mindfulness journey happening and also big reflections on the state of the United States, and people in general. It was not what I was expecting but I enjoyed it. Scott still writes plenty about the trail, but things he sees while there prompt the larger revelations of thought.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Part of the attraction of long walking trails like the ATC is that one's mind also wanders where it will. This contemplation in motion can be both healing and additive. It is difficult to stop and rest at the end of endurance. Meetings with fellow hikers can reinvigorate. Their stories add flavor to yours. Scott's trail story is a calm excursion into Self.

[Sue Cohlmeyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to the audio book. Entertaining while I worked in the garden or walked. Only down side is that the author is on many occasions judgemental. Sometimes acknowledges this other times does not.

[Mark Gannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting read. An great insight to American culture from a Scotsman.

[Jill Hallenbeck · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! Good job making this very long walk in the woods. I like the idea of the friendships that you made and that most of the Americans you encountered were pleasant.

[Deedee · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF. Really boring narration.

[Laura · Rating 1.5 out of 5]

There was no why, how, or adventure in this book.

[Lauraab Blancifroti · Rating 3.75 out of 5]

I learned a lot about the trials of hiking the AT

[Mitch · Rating 5 out of 5]

An incredible tale

Mr Scott has written an incredible story of his six month trek along the Appalachian Trail. He writes not only an amazing travelogue, but an insightful political study of the American way of life. Seen through the eyes of a Scotsman, the entire endeavor takes on a different, and deeper, hue.

[Myra L Rice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Scotsman hikes the Appalachian Trail

Very interesting account of a Scotsman hiking the Appalachian trail! He was interested in learning more about the U.S. and the people here and he did that by hiking the trail and visiting the towns along the way!