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The Know-It-All | 
 enlarge | Author: A.j. Jacobs
Publisher: Highbridge Audio
Category: Book
List Price: $39.95
Buy New: $26.37
You Save: $13.58 (34%)
New (7) Used (5) from $2.39
Rating:  223 reviews
Sales Rank: 1196466
Format: Audiobook, Unabridged
Media: Audio Cassette
Edition: Unabridged
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 900
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.9
Dimensions (in): 6.3 x 4 x 2.8
ISBN: 1565119045
Dewey Decimal Number: 031
EAN: 9781565119048
ASIN: 1565119045
Publication Date: September 23, 2004
Shipping: Eligible for Super Saver Shipping
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Product Description
A hilarious, intelligent-trivia-packed story from a man who read the entire ENCYLOPEDIA BRITANNICA. Early in his career, A. J. Jacobs found himself putting his Ivy League education to work at ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY. After five years he learned which stars have fake boobs, which stars have toupees, which have both, and not much else. This unsettling realization led Jacobs on a life-changing quest: to read the entire contents of the ENCYCLOPEDIA BRITANNICA, all 33,000 pages, all 44 million words. Jacobs accumulates useful and less-so knowledge, and along the way finds a deep connection with his father (who attempted the same feat when Jacob's was a child), examines the nature of knowledge vs. intelligence, and learns how to be rather annoying at cocktail parties. Part memoir/part-education (or lack thereof), the chapters are organized by the letters of the alphabet.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 218 more reviews...
 One Man's Quest to read 44 Million Words January 9, 2009
Why read the Encyclopaedia Britannica from A-Z when you can read a much more entertaining version by an author obsessed with knowledge. I loved finding out that abominable snowman's footprints are produced by running bears. Then, why haven't I ever heard of olive oil being used during the building of pyramids? So a few items in this book were enlightening. Who knew that parents actually cause their children to stutter - I figured it was something you were born with. There were a lot of topics that didn't grab my attention but the ones that did were worth the effort. "Lily" was my favorite entry because it was pretty funny. Since the author talked about being sick throughout the book I kept wanting to tell him about Emergen-C MSM Super Energy Booster Fizzy Drink Mix, 1000 mg, Lite, Citrus, 0.2-Ounce Packets in 36-Count Boxes and System Well Ultimate Immunity 90 caps. To be honest I enjoyed this book but I think The Year of Living Biblically: One Man's Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible is much funnier.
~The Rebecca Review, one time I read an entire dictionary
 Terrific Thoughts about Goals and the philosophy of lie December 27, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
So, anyone who has at least thought about reading the encyclopedia straight through, even in a brief moment of craziness, will love this book. Ravenous readers will too. Jacobs' running commentary on his reading of the Encyclopedia Brittannica is at times funny, and at times contemplative, as in profoundly philosophical in simple phrases. Only occasional does he get a little too stare-at-your-own-belly-button in terms of contemplation, and occasionally the pop culture references get a little tiresome (what the author knows best, prior to reading the EB), but overall, a wonderful read. You too will learn some facts along the way, but to just see the facts is to definitely miss the point of this book. Wants me want to buy a EB set, or at least look at the library's copy.
Read This Book December 26, 2008
Jacobs takes us on this quest to read the entire encyclopedia in great style. Not just a book about trivia, more a memoir of his experiences and little humiliations during his attempt. Well written, always entertaining and quite a few spot left me laughing out loud to myself. These giggles often caused people to stare at me, leaving me having my own 'A. J. Jacobs' moment. Overall, one of those books that left me wishing I had written it.
And now for a fun way to gain some interesting cocktail conversation... December 22, 2008
If you're comparing reviews trying to decide if this books for you - here's an easy way to tell: I've noticed a trend in reviews that didn't like this book as much as I. Negative reviewers were expecting a more serious and detailed summary of the complete encyclopedia (something more along the lines of A Short History of Nearly Everything or Encyclopedia Cliff Notes. This book is definitely not that!
While told from A to Z, it is a generally light-hearted memoir of the pursuit of reading the encyclopedia and exploring intelligence and how it affects his family and life. There's still loads of brain candy thrown in for trivial information junkies as he covers odd-ball facts and trends from some of the articles he's reading (generally, with a laugh-out-loud, if immature observation of his own). This isn't high-brow, heavy reading despite the heavy topic.
BOTTOM LINE: It's the perfect book for people who love trivia and memoirs on odd experiments conducted by creatively, witty writers. (All of which add up coincidentally enough to wonderful conversational pieces). If you finish this book - you'll talk about it - guaranteed!
ADDITIONAL CAVEAT: There's a good bit of immature jokes, sexual references and swearing - so I wouldn't recommend it for your brainiac child that's contemplating reading the real encyclopedia.
I Will Read and Re-Read This One! November 3, 2008
A.J. Jacobs works as the editor at large at Esquire magazine and has carved his personal niche at becoming what he calls "a human guinea pig." I would love to be present during one of his brainstorm sessions ("Maybe I could do this!," "Has anyone ever tried that?"). It might have been after consuming several caffeinated drinks that he thought of the premise for The Know It-All: One Man's Humble Quest to Become the Smartest Person in the World. In short, he decided to read the entire Encylopaedia Britannica in one year.
I was not sure what to expect when reading about his experience. I worried it might be as big of a snooze as reading the encyclopaedia itself. Let me tell you - it's anything BUT boring. Jacobs highlights several entries - A to Z - from Britannica that he found interesting, disturbing, educational, or just plain random. He also explains how he sought to use his newfound knowledge in his everyday life (often to quite hilarious outcomes!). I didn't realize it was possible to relate even the most dense of encylopaedic articles to one's own life, but Jacobs manages to weave the different entries into aspects of his own life, and you end up getting to know him quite well.
This is a really charming book, and Jacobs' voice is so clear and distinct that you feel the book more as a conversation than a read.
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