goodbetterbetsy's review against another edition
3.0
I laughed through a lot of this book. A.J. Jacobs makes really funny observations and I found myself laughing out loud many times. I was a little confused by his approach to "living biblically." It seemed a little hodge-podge in a way. Kind of "well, now I'll try this and I should probably stone someone and then I'll maybe work on this a bit." It seemed more like he was researching different Jewish and Christian beliefs and then trying out some of the more bizarre practices to see what they are like. I enjoyed the book, though, and will be reading everything else he's written. I especially can't wait to read his book Drop Dead Healthy. Humor and healthy living. Two of my favorite things.
jamyelovesbooks's review against another edition
2.0
It started off good but all I heard by the end was whine whine whine. Bummer.
jcpdiesel21's review against another edition
4.0
After reading The Guinea Pig Diaries, I was very curious as to how a longer-term experiment done by Jacobs would compare. Answer: not quite as humorous, but a lot more detailed, well-researched and insightful. I enjoyed reading about Jacobs' attempts to follow the Bible's many meticulous rules, some more successful in today's society than others, and how he discovered how various groups followed these rules, whether it was strictly literally or with some interpretation. Jacobs is very respectful of every different type of faith he encounters, and wrote about his experiences in a light, yet informative manner.
readhikerepeat's review against another edition
5.0
From The Book Wheel
The Year of Living Biblically: One Man’s Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible by A.J. Jacobs was not on my radar until Rebecca at Love at First Book told me (repeatedly) that it was fantastic. I really enjoyed Good Without God by Greg Epstein, so I thought that an agnostic Jew’s year-long quest to follow the Bible literally would be pretty interesting. His journey, which began as a new father’s concern for his son’s upbringing, leans more heavily on the Old Testament than the New. Jacobs spreads out his time with Orthodox Jews, Fundamentalists and Creationists and navigates the waters with incredible ease. It sounds very serious, and the subject matter certainly is, but this book is flat-out hilarious. My husband, who hasn’t read the book, knows about 1/3 of what is in it because I kept reading passages to him out loud.
To give you a visual, Jacobs spends his year wearing all white (at one point donning a robe with a roped belt), using a walking stick (that opens into a stool so as to avoid the unclean), grows his beard and sidelocks (payot), won’t wear mixed fibers, plays a ten-string harp on the streets of NYC, attaches tassels to his clothing and literally wears the Ten Commandments around his wrist and head. He follows the Sabbath and prays three times a day, but also participates in rituals such as blowing a ram horn to signal the beginning of a new month, writing the Commandments on his door, and writing by olive oil lamp. To top it off, he visits a snake handler, Jerusalem, a creationist museum, a chicken sacrifice, and a Hasidic dance. And did I mention his quest to figure out how to land a second wife?
But while this book is flat-out hilarious, it is not purely entertainment. Along with struggling with the literalist interpretation, such as stoning adulterers and using a flexible rod to beat your child, he learns that religion is much more than a book that tells him what he can and can’t do. He is very candid about his liberal leanings on a personal level but makes a genuine effort to understand the more conservative side of religion and to fairly portray their insights.
For the full review, click here.
The Year of Living Biblically: One Man’s Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible by A.J. Jacobs was not on my radar until Rebecca at Love at First Book told me (repeatedly) that it was fantastic. I really enjoyed Good Without God by Greg Epstein, so I thought that an agnostic Jew’s year-long quest to follow the Bible literally would be pretty interesting. His journey, which began as a new father’s concern for his son’s upbringing, leans more heavily on the Old Testament than the New. Jacobs spreads out his time with Orthodox Jews, Fundamentalists and Creationists and navigates the waters with incredible ease. It sounds very serious, and the subject matter certainly is, but this book is flat-out hilarious. My husband, who hasn’t read the book, knows about 1/3 of what is in it because I kept reading passages to him out loud.
To give you a visual, Jacobs spends his year wearing all white (at one point donning a robe with a roped belt), using a walking stick (that opens into a stool so as to avoid the unclean), grows his beard and sidelocks (payot), won’t wear mixed fibers, plays a ten-string harp on the streets of NYC, attaches tassels to his clothing and literally wears the Ten Commandments around his wrist and head. He follows the Sabbath and prays three times a day, but also participates in rituals such as blowing a ram horn to signal the beginning of a new month, writing the Commandments on his door, and writing by olive oil lamp. To top it off, he visits a snake handler, Jerusalem, a creationist museum, a chicken sacrifice, and a Hasidic dance. And did I mention his quest to figure out how to land a second wife?
But while this book is flat-out hilarious, it is not purely entertainment. Along with struggling with the literalist interpretation, such as stoning adulterers and using a flexible rod to beat your child, he learns that religion is much more than a book that tells him what he can and can’t do. He is very candid about his liberal leanings on a personal level but makes a genuine effort to understand the more conservative side of religion and to fairly portray their insights.
For the full review, click here.
jenkittycatfrog's review against another edition
4.0
This is a very funny book. I was hesitant because I am not a religious person, but this book does not insist you be. AJ Jacobs explores some really obscure biblical traditions and ceremonies.
glitterbomb47's review against another edition
3.0
I was initially turned off by the cover and subtitle. 'How original,' I thought, 'a liberal making fun of religious people.' But then my friend Cassie gave this four stars, and you know, she has good taste in books. So I gave this a try.
Jacobs is very funny. I read this book in just a few days, despite having a newborn. The book was entertaining, and interesting. I even laughed out loud a few times.
Here comes the BUT.
BUT Jacobs' entire premise was irritating. He said he started out with the intent to make biblical literalists look idiotic. That's not cool. (By the way, I am not a biblical literalist.)
He read oodles of books about religion, and yet showed a shocking lack of understanding of some really basic biblical principles (prayer, charity, etc.).
He was relatively open-minded (much more so about Judaism than Christianity), unless the biblical literalists were Republicans. Then they were just stupid.
He criticized people throughout the book for picking and choosing which biblical rules to follow - and then concluded that picking and choosing which biblical rules to follow is okay.
He spent a lot of time navel-gazing during his year-long quest, but I got the impression he was not really serious about finding out whether Judaism or Christianity had any truth - for instance, he included great quotes from various religious leaders - and then completely failed to analyze the statements. He just kind of included them and then moved on to talking about another wacky biblical rule. I wanted to grab his beard and say, "Well Jacobs, what do you THINK about that quote you just added?" I think he was afraid to fully commit to his quest; he always maintained a distance and I feel this hurt the narrative - gave it a shallowness that he could have avoided.
Jacobs is very funny. I read this book in just a few days, despite having a newborn. The book was entertaining, and interesting. I even laughed out loud a few times.
Here comes the BUT.
BUT Jacobs' entire premise was irritating. He said he started out with the intent to make biblical literalists look idiotic. That's not cool. (By the way, I am not a biblical literalist.)
He read oodles of books about religion, and yet showed a shocking lack of understanding of some really basic biblical principles (prayer, charity, etc.).
He was relatively open-minded (much more so about Judaism than Christianity), unless the biblical literalists were Republicans. Then they were just stupid.
He criticized people throughout the book for picking and choosing which biblical rules to follow - and then concluded that picking and choosing which biblical rules to follow is okay.
He spent a lot of time navel-gazing during his year-long quest, but I got the impression he was not really serious about finding out whether Judaism or Christianity had any truth - for instance, he included great quotes from various religious leaders - and then completely failed to analyze the statements. He just kind of included them and then moved on to talking about another wacky biblical rule. I wanted to grab his beard and say, "Well Jacobs, what do you THINK about that quote you just added?" I think he was afraid to fully commit to his quest; he always maintained a distance and I feel this hurt the narrative - gave it a shallowness that he could have avoided.
alldaffer's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this thoughtful book. I'm sure that it probably wouldn't appeal to a fervent christian, but as a non-believer who nonetheless likes to read about religious experience, this book made me appreciate the bible more than I already did. And just like any human creation, the foibles of the Bible were also enjoyable to read about.
I have read other memoirs of a comtempletive life, and would compare this one favorably with The Closter Walk by Kathleen Norris.
I have read other memoirs of a comtempletive life, and would compare this one favorably with The Closter Walk by Kathleen Norris.
radiojen's review against another edition
4.0
Jacobs uses the perfect tone to relay his "biblical adventure." He's an atheist with a very open mind (or perhaps it's the journalist in him) and sets out to live his life according to what the Bible teaches.
His sense of humor shows easily through his writing & he sent me double checking a couple of verses along the way. I love how he shares stories of how his wife is handling this project, and is very open about his faults. I crack up every time he finds himself breaking one law while trying to uphold another.
I think this makes a great story no matter what your beliefs may be.
His sense of humor shows easily through his writing & he sent me double checking a couple of verses along the way. I love how he shares stories of how his wife is handling this project, and is very open about his faults. I crack up every time he finds himself breaking one law while trying to uphold another.
I think this makes a great story no matter what your beliefs may be.