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813 reviews for:
The Year of Living Biblically: One Man's Humble Quest to Follow the Bible As Literally As Possible
A.J. Jacobs
3.76 AVERAGE
813 reviews for:
The Year of Living Biblically: One Man's Humble Quest to Follow the Bible As Literally As Possible
A.J. Jacobs
3.76 AVERAGE
I just finished reading this book for the second time, and enjoyed it just as much as the first time I read it! The author really tries to remain open minded throughout his quest to live by the Bible for an entire year. In case you're skeptical, you should know he admits that he fails in many ways. But by the end of the year, he does admit to being a changed person. A very enjoyable memoir...
Like everyone else said, this book ended up being more inspiring and thought-provoking than I expected. I loved reading about the author's transformation throughout the book. Though he remained skeptical, he couldn't help but be swept away in certain moments, and I thought that was really beautiful. I think Katie and Becky both mentioned the Hasidic 'dance party', and it was my favorite moment as well. Such passion! Such energy! I got a little choked up every time the author said his "gratitude prayers" and even more choked up when he started to realize that he really meant them. I appreciated his wife's sense of humor, especially with the "purity laws." What a good sport. In all, a great book, easy to read, entertaining, lots of food for thought.
I have spent the last three years considering and then committing to conversion to Judaism. My number one fear was that I would go fundamentalist and become everything that I do not appreciate about the politically active religious. In fact, when I told a few Jewish friends I was converting to Reform Judaism, they laughed and made a few comments along the lines of that I was converting to the least Jewish movement, least law driven form there is. That was on purpose, because I was scared of what I would "turn into." Had I read this book first, I'd have felt better. Jacobs describes perfectly my fears and trepidations about studying and, in his case, completely immersing himself in the laws of the Bible. Of course, he took it much farther than I have and his risk therefore might have been much greater. On the other hand, I never for a second have felt compelled to truly consider creationism as a viable theory for how we got here.
In any case, Jacobs is a compelling author and he succeeds here in interspersing day to day challenges with living Biblically with life occurring writ large. The challenges of pregnancy and birth and maintaining a relationship with a more secular, skeptical spouse without his year long project are familiar to many. Had Jacobs merely wrote about this year in his life, even with all its banality - yet universality, I suspect he would have made a great story there, too. He's funny and honest and charming.
I give this book five stars, though, for mostly subjective reasons. It resonated with me personally. His sense of wonder at how the Bible made his life a little richer, expanded his worldview, yet still felt completely wrong (on homosexuality) or ridiculous (don't mix fibers in your clothes) are so close to exactly how I feel as to be the same. I love reading the Bible and looking for what's applicable now and where I can find wisdom and guidance. I also love reading the Bible and trying to figure out why anyone would try to apply other rules today.
I think Mr. Jacobs ending statements about picking or choosing sum up what I am trying to say best, but I won't quote them here, as I highly recommend you read the book.
In any case, Jacobs is a compelling author and he succeeds here in interspersing day to day challenges with living Biblically with life occurring writ large. The challenges of pregnancy and birth and maintaining a relationship with a more secular, skeptical spouse without his year long project are familiar to many. Had Jacobs merely wrote about this year in his life, even with all its banality - yet universality, I suspect he would have made a great story there, too. He's funny and honest and charming.
I give this book five stars, though, for mostly subjective reasons. It resonated with me personally. His sense of wonder at how the Bible made his life a little richer, expanded his worldview, yet still felt completely wrong (on homosexuality) or ridiculous (don't mix fibers in your clothes) are so close to exactly how I feel as to be the same. I love reading the Bible and looking for what's applicable now and where I can find wisdom and guidance. I also love reading the Bible and trying to figure out why anyone would try to apply other rules today.
I think Mr. Jacobs ending statements about picking or choosing sum up what I am trying to say best, but I won't quote them here, as I highly recommend you read the book.
It seems very authentically Jewish to write smart and funny social commentary about exploring spirituality through following obscure rules. I don’t know if such a thing as being “authentically Jewish” exists (versus everyone who is inauthentically Jewish, right?), and I hope I don’t offend by that phrase, but what I’m saying is that I don’t think Moses and Isaiah and all the boys would kick A.J. Jacobs out of their club. In fact, I think Jacobs comes closer to meaningful Bible commentary than any contemporary Christian writers I have read. I was worried when I started the book that it would be like my experience with the Will Farrell movie Blades of Glory: without much substance beyond the weirdness of the concept. Instead, The Year of Living Biblically was an adventure, and I feel it would be very thought provoking and entertaining for readers of any religion or spiritual persuasion.
Jacobs’ purpose in following the Bible as literally as possible is to prove that each of us, regardless of our specific beliefs, makes choices as to what constitutes Scripture (or holiness, or what have you) and what doesn’t. Specifically, Jacobs looks at interpretations of the Bible (2/3 Old Testament, 1/3 New Testament) and tests how relevant, or even manageable, they are today. He goes about this with the earnestness of a little kid memorizing statistics on his favorite baseball team or learning how to take apart a car, and I think that enthusiasm is what makes this book charming rather than obnoxious. For example, when he finds two prevailing interpretations of how to live a biblical rule or principal, he does both. He gives thanks both before and after a meal, and when deciding who he should stone, he looks for someone working on both Saturday and Sunday (failing to observe both the Jewish and Christian Sabbaths). I mean, if you have to stone someone, it’s better to cover your bases, right?
If it is not already obvious in what I have said thus far, A.J. Jacobs is unabashedly weird. I don’t get the impression that the weirdness is a show, either, but that the show is some kind of natural part of his weirdness. I think that makes this a compliment. Regardless, his weirdness brings out the weirdness in others enough to make the cast of characters in The Year of Living Biblically as hilarious and horrifying as a [a:Dickens|239579|Charles Dickens|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1183239979p2/239579.jpg] novel. The book is not a circus, though, and Jacobs treats all of his characters and their beliefs with respect, whether he agrees or disagrees with them. He is very honest about his own skepticism and willing to say when something seems hateful or unlikely, but he is also very open to the views of others.
His blog is updated pretty frequently, and while scanning through it, I came across this selection, which gives a pretty good sample of his writing:
Tuesday, April 11, 2006
The Other Moses
I got a note from a reader saying that I shouldn’t ignore the ‘hanging curveball’ thrown by Gwyneth, who just begat a new son named Moses.
It’s a rich topic, to be sure. Though as a guy whose real name is “Arnold,” I don’t think I can really make fun of other people’s names.
But...I will say that if the Paltrow-Martins are trying to form some sort of Biblical theme (Apple from Genesis, Moses from Exodus), they should know that most Biblical scholars do not think that the unnamed forbidden fruit was an apple.
The more likely candidates, they say, include pomegranate, fig, apricot, wheat and grape. One source said it was a banana tree, but that might just be crazy talk.
I hope that people will not dismiss this book before they have read it. It is possible that people on the right and will expect it to be hateful mockery and people on the left will expect it to be irrelevant. I don’t think it is either of those things, but rather, as I said, thoughtful and smart. Often he discusses debates over Scripture similar to the passage above in that his ultimate conclusion is that the very nature of the debate is a little loony tunes. I found his reflections on the value of faith and family, however, very insightful. Hopefully, we can learn his more profound lessons without having to forsake mixed fibers and carry a Handyseat for a year, but it is a comfort to have A.J. Jacobs out there on the front lines of literalness, taking the bullet for the rest of us.
Jacobs’ purpose in following the Bible as literally as possible is to prove that each of us, regardless of our specific beliefs, makes choices as to what constitutes Scripture (or holiness, or what have you) and what doesn’t. Specifically, Jacobs looks at interpretations of the Bible (2/3 Old Testament, 1/3 New Testament) and tests how relevant, or even manageable, they are today. He goes about this with the earnestness of a little kid memorizing statistics on his favorite baseball team or learning how to take apart a car, and I think that enthusiasm is what makes this book charming rather than obnoxious. For example, when he finds two prevailing interpretations of how to live a biblical rule or principal, he does both. He gives thanks both before and after a meal, and when deciding who he should stone, he looks for someone working on both Saturday and Sunday (failing to observe both the Jewish and Christian Sabbaths). I mean, if you have to stone someone, it’s better to cover your bases, right?
If it is not already obvious in what I have said thus far, A.J. Jacobs is unabashedly weird. I don’t get the impression that the weirdness is a show, either, but that the show is some kind of natural part of his weirdness. I think that makes this a compliment. Regardless, his weirdness brings out the weirdness in others enough to make the cast of characters in The Year of Living Biblically as hilarious and horrifying as a [a:Dickens|239579|Charles Dickens|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1183239979p2/239579.jpg] novel. The book is not a circus, though, and Jacobs treats all of his characters and their beliefs with respect, whether he agrees or disagrees with them. He is very honest about his own skepticism and willing to say when something seems hateful or unlikely, but he is also very open to the views of others.
His blog is updated pretty frequently, and while scanning through it, I came across this selection, which gives a pretty good sample of his writing:
Tuesday, April 11, 2006
The Other Moses
I got a note from a reader saying that I shouldn’t ignore the ‘hanging curveball’ thrown by Gwyneth, who just begat a new son named Moses.
It’s a rich topic, to be sure. Though as a guy whose real name is “Arnold,” I don’t think I can really make fun of other people’s names.
But...I will say that if the Paltrow-Martins are trying to form some sort of Biblical theme (Apple from Genesis, Moses from Exodus), they should know that most Biblical scholars do not think that the unnamed forbidden fruit was an apple.
The more likely candidates, they say, include pomegranate, fig, apricot, wheat and grape. One source said it was a banana tree, but that might just be crazy talk.
I hope that people will not dismiss this book before they have read it. It is possible that people on the right and will expect it to be hateful mockery and people on the left will expect it to be irrelevant. I don’t think it is either of those things, but rather, as I said, thoughtful and smart. Often he discusses debates over Scripture similar to the passage above in that his ultimate conclusion is that the very nature of the debate is a little loony tunes. I found his reflections on the value of faith and family, however, very insightful. Hopefully, we can learn his more profound lessons without having to forsake mixed fibers and carry a Handyseat for a year, but it is a comfort to have A.J. Jacobs out there on the front lines of literalness, taking the bullet for the rest of us.
so far . . . . funny!!! all that and a biblical mandate to drink more alcohol!! who could ask for anything more?
This book was good enough to finish but was kind of a waste of time. With all the good books out there to read, and knowing what I know now having read it, I would pick up another book first. It was a better idea than book. It is written in such a way that it doesn't live up to it's full potential. It also didn't help that Mr. Jacobs personality annoyed me to no end. He is a bit OCD, and by a bit I mean he's incredibly OCD! This book sounds better than it is, read something else if you are interested in reading about religion.
funny
informative
reflective
medium-paced