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 enlarge | Author: A. J. Jacobs
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Category: EBooks
List Price: $17.99
Buy New: $9.99
You Save: $8.00 (44%)
Rating:  395 reviews
Sales Rank: 224
Format: Kindle Book
Media: Kindle Edition
Edition: 1
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 400
Dewey Decimal Number: 220
ASIN: B000SEPAYO
Publication Date: October 9, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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| Customer Reviews:
 Funny and insightful November 10, 2008
This was a VERY enjoyable book to read. I felt like the author gave an honest and respectful (though superficial) look at faith and the Bible. No matter where you come from in regards to faith I believe you will find this book a delight to read. With that said, you will be disappointed if you look to this book for deep, theological insights. That is not the strength (nor, I believe, the intent) of this book. It should be read as a light-hearted peek into Jewish and Christian cultures from the perspective of a marginally agnostic individual.
 If AJ Jacobs name is on the cover, I'm buying it November 7, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Having recently finished the enjoyable ride that was "The Year of Living Biblically", I felt compelled to write a review, and a good one at that. Knowing that I will be under the scrutiny of Mr. Jacobs the son, and Mr. Jacobs the father, I feel pressure to perform. This is my first amazon review, and unless Mr. Jacobs writes another book, my last.
There were many parts of this book that I enjoyed - including the refreshing honesty as the author shared his experiences, deep secrets, and generally walked in the shoes of other people. Setting out to not only read a ridiculous amount about the bible, but also to live by it's laws is a wonderful idea, and something that would have gone unnoticed by me without A J Jacobs name on it.
I read "Know it All" when it first came out, and since then, it has become one of my favorite books. One of those I hesitate to loan even my mother, for fear she won't return it. My husband asked me to not read it around him, because I kept reading passages out loud, and laughing during inappropriate pauses in his one sided conversation with me.
I look forward to the next one!
Interesting and Entertaining Perspective on Religion November 4, 2008
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Since it is natural for people hang out with folks who think and believe like they do, opportunities to view religion objectively are rare. A. J. Jacobs has provided a fresh look at both Judaism and Christianity with both seriousness and refreshing humor.
Light, Serious, and Reverent at the Same Time October 25, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
A few months ago, I was going on a trip to Italy, including Rome, and thought this book would be a good travel companion. It was: light and funny enough for casual reading, but serious and reverent enough for its subject matter.
The subject matter being: "What happens when an Agnostic Jew from New York tries to live for a whole year like the ultimate Bible Fundamentalist? What happens if you really see the Bible as a divine encyclopedia and read it primarily to make lists of right and wrong behavior, right and wrong beliefs?"
In the ensuing year-long experience in which A. J. Jacobs turns himself into a human guinea pig, we meet many interesting creatures: Orthodox Jews at a dance party and a ritual sacrifice; religious clothes' inspectors, owners of a Creationist museum, snake handlers, and the like.
What is most striking is that Jacobs doesn't primarily make fun of them, but sincerely tries to make the reader understand them. His own patriarchal beard and biblical outfit no doubt helped in winning the trust of the religious oddballs.
I only wish Jacobs had gone deeper into the actual fiber of people's beliefs. Given the length of the book, perhaps too much was filled with relatively meaningless anecdotes.
Which is not to say that it wasn't worthwhile reading - even if it had been merely for the absolutely hilarious conversation with the Christian polygamist who advises Jacobs in all seriousness on how to breach the news to his wife that he wants to take a second wife.
On a more pensive note, Jacobs' self-experiment is also a good illustration of the interplay between faith and practice. It is often said that what you believe determines what you do, but this book shows that it's at least equally true the other way around: What you do determines what you believe. Jacobs was an Agnostic when he started the year, and yet, because he actually prayed to the God of the Bible, he says that at times he really began to believe in Him.
Jacobs now calls himself a "reverend Agnostic," which is perhaps not a bad thing to be. I was certainly enriched by reading about how he became one.
- Jacob Schriftman, Author of "The C. S. Lewis Book on the Bible"
Intelligent and Witty October 25, 2008
You will learn something about yourself and your beliefs, and how you walk those beliefs out in your life, when you read this book. Plus, it's a lot of fun!
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