This was the first Bryson book I read and it remains my favorite. I'm sure this is partly because it made me remember the funny things that happened to my friends and I when we were backpacking. (Everything is funnier when you're out in the middle of nowhere -- maybe it's all that fresh air). It was also interesting to learn about the history of the trail, but the highlights for me were his dealings with his ill-prepared hiking partner and the other characters they met on the trail. A very fun read.