How we cite our quotes: (Part.Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #7
Now here's a thought to consider. Every twenty minutes on the Appalachian Trail, Katz and I walked farther than the average American walks in a week. (1.11.1)
Although Bryson hikes the Appalachian Trail for mostly personal reasons, dude's probably in mad shape by now. So here's a tip from us: if you want to lose that dadbod and start looking like John Cena, then there's a lot worse places to start than the mighty Appalachian Trail.
Quote #8
I was home by 4:00 P.M. This didn't feel right at all. You don't hike the Appalachian Trail and then go home and cut the grass. (2.13.13)
Bryson has a very different experience with trail when he attempts to walk it piecemeal, driving his car between entrances. This method lacks the magical immersion that characterized his early retreats into nature—that Zen-like state Bryson now craves like a drug.
Quote #9
In America, alas beauty has become something you drive to, and nature an either/or proposition—either you ruthlessly subjugate it [...] or you deify it. (2.15.31)
This is a really good point. In America, there are very few communities that actually exist with nature. Instead, you're stuck with two polar opposites: super-dense cities and completely untouched countrysides. While that may seem like a good idea in concept, we can't help but feel like it sort of misses the point.