Scan barcode
Reviews
The Know-It-All: One Man's Humble Quest to Become the Smartest Person in the World by A.J. Jacobs
andreacolam's review against another edition
Funny and informative. AJ Jacobs keeps this highly interesting
tommyhousworth's review against another edition
4.0
Like Morgan Spurlock's "Supersize Me" experiment, I kept reading this book, bemoaning "Why didn't I think of this????"
Nicely woven concept that educates the reader while drawing you into the author's personal life during the process.
This book could've been a clunker if mishandled, but Jacobs has an alchemist's touch, blending humor and heart along the encyclopedic journey.
Nicely woven concept that educates the reader while drawing you into the author's personal life during the process.
This book could've been a clunker if mishandled, but Jacobs has an alchemist's touch, blending humor and heart along the encyclopedic journey.
ilovestory's review against another edition
4.0
It was a unique memoir that follow's A.J.'s year of reading through the encyclopedia. He selects a few entries from each letter of the alphabet and tells us something -- usually humorous -- about it or his view of it, and weaves in stories from his childhood and his life as he goes through a year in which he and his wife are trying to conceive. I found it interesting, funny and educational.
barbaraskalberg's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 Laughed out loud. My kids (separately) listened in the car with me for short bits and they laughed out loud. AJ is smart, funny and a good writer. Great combination.
hobhouchin's review against another edition
3.0
Respekt, dass sich jemand überhaupt an das Projekt wagt, ein Lexikon zu lesen. Und dann auch noch DAS Lexikon. Die Geschichten und Anekdoten rund um das Lesen der Britannica an sich sind recht amüsant. Aber mitunter nervt es ein wenig. Ein ganz netter Zeitvertreib mit einigen Stellen, bei denen ich durchaus schmunzeln musste, aber das Fazit bleibt am Ende, dass ich irgendwie mehr erwartet hab. Auch das Ende ist doch irgendwie sehr amerikanisch gestaltet; mit einem hübschen pathetisch- moralischen Schlussabsatz, der schon ein wenig schmalzig anmutet. Aber ich will niemandem die Lektüre verhageln :)
paperbacksandpines's review against another edition
3.0
I found the premise of The Know-It-All: One Man's Humble Quest to Become the Smartest Person in the World to be compelling. I would love to read the entire Encyclopedia Britannica (or at least be one of the types of readers who could consume that volume of information)! To be exposed to so much information contained therein and to be able to learn so much (or as much as I am capable of learning) is amazing. The more I read, the more impressed I was with the enormity of Jacobs' undertaking.
The facts contained within The Know-It-All were interesting. Equally interesting, however, was Jacobs' thoughts and conclusions about the trivia. Jacobs didn't seem to take himself so seriously, as his self-deprecating tone and comparisons to brother-in-laws indicated. Yet at times, it seemed like there was an underlying tone of belief in his superiority of knowledge over "common thinkers."
Jacobs occasionally strayed into more depth when he pursued learning the difference between knowledge and information. He went to extraordinary lengths to speak with experts these fields. I would have liked to have read about the connection between knowledge and wisdom.
Although I was impressed with Jacobs' journey, I didn't find him as amusing as many of the Goodreads' reviewers. Even the more amusing parts of this book never made me chuckle aloud or in my head. I would equate reading this book to watching a B or C grade TBS sitcom. I haven't decided whether or not I will read another Jacobs' book but I do know I'm not in a rush to go out and read his next book.
The facts contained within The Know-It-All were interesting. Equally interesting, however, was Jacobs' thoughts and conclusions about the trivia. Jacobs didn't seem to take himself so seriously, as his self-deprecating tone and comparisons to brother-in-laws indicated. Yet at times, it seemed like there was an underlying tone of belief in his superiority of knowledge over "common thinkers."
Jacobs occasionally strayed into more depth when he pursued learning the difference between knowledge and information. He went to extraordinary lengths to speak with experts these fields. I would have liked to have read about the connection between knowledge and wisdom.
Although I was impressed with Jacobs' journey, I didn't find him as amusing as many of the Goodreads' reviewers. Even the more amusing parts of this book never made me chuckle aloud or in my head. I would equate reading this book to watching a B or C grade TBS sitcom. I haven't decided whether or not I will read another Jacobs' book but I do know I'm not in a rush to go out and read his next book.
trish7's review against another edition
2.0
It was a fine book, but it gets only two stars because it never really gripped me. It is funny and there are several curious facts, but it starts to feel like reading Britannica Light - interesting, but disjointed and ultimately tiring. Oh well.
lavoiture's review against another edition
4.0
Really funny! I laughed out loud a lot--and maybe even learned some stuff. I liked this better than his newer book, the name of which totally escapes me right now!
susanbrooks's review against another edition
4.0
Funny, interesting, self-deprecating story of Jacobs' quest to read all of Encyclopedia Brittanica. It's best read in small chunks. His earnestness
and love of learning were winning and sweet.
and love of learning were winning and sweet.
olicooper's review against another edition
3.0
I liked this book. While it didn't have me on the edge of my seat, I did find the anecdotes amusing. And much like the author, I find myself slipping odd facts I have learned into casual conversation, often to the dismay or confusion of my fellow conversationalists.