Our score
Outstanding
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A Walk in the Woods Audiobook by Bill Bryson— narrated by Rob McQuay
Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail
Bill Bryson and his hopeless old friend Katz set out to hike the Appalachian Trail in A Walk in the Woods, and the result is gut-funny travel writing that's also a sneakily serious tribute to the American forest.
Why the audiobook wins
Bryson's humor lives in the timing of a sentence, and Rob McQuay reads him like someone who's clocked exactly where the joke lands: the deadpan aside, the sudden swerve into genuine awe at the size of the Appalachian forest. A lot of comic travel writing goes flat read aloud; this doesn't, because McQuay treats the comedy and the nature writing as the same voice, not two different registers bolted together.
This is the audiobook to have going on an actual drive toward actual woods, or any long haul where you want company that's funnier and more miserable than you are. Katz's running commentary on the trail's endless, pointless suffering plays even better out loud than on the page; you can hear Bryson trying not to laugh at his own friend.
At just under ten hours, it's a manageable, endlessly quotable listen, and one credit buys you the whole hopeless, hilarious hike.
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Audiobook questions
- Who narrates the A Walk in the Woods audiobook?
- Rob McQuay narrates the audiobook edition of A Walk in the Woods.
- How long is the A Walk in the Woods audiobook?
- The audiobook runs 9 hr 44 min.
- Is the A Walk in the Woods audiobook worth listening to?
- We scored A Walk in the Woods 4.5 out of 5. Bryson's humor lives in the timing of a sentence, and Rob McQuay reads him like someone who's clocked exactly where the joke lands: the deadpan aside, the sudden swerve into genuine awe at the size of the Appalachian forest. A lot of comic travel writing goes flat read aloud…
- Can I listen to A Walk in the Woods free with an Audible trial?
- Eligible new Audible members can use a free-trial credit to listen in the Audible app. Eligibility and current offer terms are set by Audible.Listen to A Walk in the Woods free with an Audible trial
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- Is A Walk in the Woods on Kindle Unlimited?
- No. A Walk in the Woods was not included with Kindle Unlimited when we last checked on July 5, 2026.
- How much does A Walk in the Woods cost?
- On Amazon: Kindle $9.99, Paperback $8.07, Hardcover $29.09. Prices as of August 22, 2026 at 11:21 AM EDT and may change.
