Yes. As a humorous story it's good for some laughs. But most hikers would tell you that he completely missed the usual trail experience/comraderie/culture that builds among long--distance hikers.
edited to add:
That book is coming out as a movie, and AT managers are starting to make plans to deal with the aftermath. There will probably be more trail use for awhile, as there was when the book came out. Not sure if that is good or bad.

