Bryson share his experiences hiking the Appalachian Trail with a childhood friend. The two encounter eccentric characters, a blizzard, getting lost, and rude yuppies along the way.

Bill Bryson was born in the middle of the American century -- 1951 -- in the middle of the United States -- Des Moines, Iowa -- in the middle of the largest generation in American history -- the baby boomers. As one of the funniest writers alive, he is perfectly positioned to mine his all-American childhood for memoir gold. Like millions of his generational peers, Bill Bryson grew up with a rich fantasy life as a superhero. In his case, he ran around...

Bryson takes in the sights in Europe, dissects the culture and illuminates each place and person with humorous, caustic observations.

Instead of retiring to a quiet life with his wife and family, Bill Bryson decides to hike the Appalachian Trail and the only companion he can find is his old friend Katz, a down-on-his-luck serial philanderer.

Bill Bryson's unsparing and hilarious account of his travels across America in search of the perfect small town. At the end of his journey, Bryson finds not the idyllic town of his dream, but a ture understanding of America--and a certainty that despite the poverty and ignorance, there is much good in the island

A sequel to "Notes from a Small Island" stands as the author's tribute to his adopted country of England and describes his riotous return visit two decades later to rediscover the country, its people, and its culture.