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3.65 AVERAGE
3.65 AVERAGE
Jacobs does one sort of thing, and does it very well. This book is probably the weakest of his three book-length endeavors, more because he was compiling essays and pre-published articles as opposed to having a whole book to explore what he was trying to accomplish, but it was still an enjoyable and often funny read
If you've got a rebuke to the literary mission of A.J. Jacobs, he's already heard it and put it behind him. He knows his wife is a saint. He knows he isn't as natty as Plimpton or Robert Benchley. And he knows that his work could be called market-ready fluff. I'm sure that feels like a day well spent at the office for some critic. To me it's like dissecting a rendition of "Happy Birthday." You may be perfectly right. You're also a humorless jerk.
To this reader, Jacobs' experiments are about understanding oneself, making life more interesting and showing the reader a good time. And I love them for it.
To this reader, Jacobs' experiments are about understanding oneself, making life more interesting and showing the reader a good time. And I love them for it.
I want to outsource my life. And to have Geoff try the experiment of doing everything his wife (me!) says for an entire month.
Great book, fun read.
Great book, fun read.
I wish there was a way I could give this 4 1/2 stars.
I really do love AJ Jacobs. I figured that out after his experiment of living biblically for a year, so I was so excited to read this. What I love most about Jacobs is his sense to improve himself and learn more about who he is. I love that he can admit his failures, and I find that more relatable and inspirational.
This just wasn't "The Year of Living Biblically" though.
I still highly enjoyed it, and there were lots of sections that made me stop and say "YEAH" out loud with a fist in the air. I felt like a few of his experiments weren't really experiments, or related so closely to another section in the book. Like I liked that there was a big difference in between trying to stay focused and the section on rules George Washington lived by. I felt like the section on "being a woman" (or really online dating. that was the most awkward part of the book for me), doing stuff for his wife, and then measuring his brain to see if he's in love were all very similar.
Maybe the different experiments is what didn't make it feel as charismatic to me. I loved the focus to detail in The Year of Living Biblically, and I think this was lacking that.
I still recommend it! Lots of inspiring parts, and I enjoy his thought process for the most part!
I really do love AJ Jacobs. I figured that out after his experiment of living biblically for a year, so I was so excited to read this. What I love most about Jacobs is his sense to improve himself and learn more about who he is. I love that he can admit his failures, and I find that more relatable and inspirational.
This just wasn't "The Year of Living Biblically" though.
I still highly enjoyed it, and there were lots of sections that made me stop and say "YEAH" out loud with a fist in the air. I felt like a few of his experiments weren't really experiments, or related so closely to another section in the book. Like I liked that there was a big difference in between trying to stay focused and the section on rules George Washington lived by. I felt like the section on "being a woman" (or really online dating. that was the most awkward part of the book for me), doing stuff for his wife, and then measuring his brain to see if he's in love were all very similar.
Maybe the different experiments is what didn't make it feel as charismatic to me. I loved the focus to detail in The Year of Living Biblically, and I think this was lacking that.
I still recommend it! Lots of inspiring parts, and I enjoy his thought process for the most part!
There's something honest and appealing about AJ Jacobs particular brand of neuroses. I appreciate the openness with which he opens up his home and family to his readers. I really enjoyed his book on his biblical project, and this series of essays on his other smaller projects was equally entertaining.
Obviously, some projects were more entertaining than others. I recently read a biography of Washington, so Jacobs' revelations on that score were not that new to me, though I agree with his conclusions. The radical honesty experiment was interesting, but in the end, seemed more like shock for shock's sake. The last project, where he spent a month doing everything his wife, Julie, wanted, actually made me like her less than I had previously. I appreciated the exercises like Julie making a list of all the household stuff she does that AJ didnt even know existed, because that is good for any relationship. But the glee she felt in making him get up to manually change the volume on the tv when she was holding the remote felt mean-spirited and was off putting. I do feel like Julie lets AJ get away with a lot of annoying behaviors, but she took her month of power a little too far.
I really enjoyed the essay about AJ outsourcing his life to India. It's kind of shocking to see how much stuff could be done remotely, from half a world away, and so proficiently. Clearly, the American workforce had better watch out. My favorite were the polite but firm emails the girls would send for AJ to his boss. They were impossible to ignore and impossible to be rude to.
Attending the Oscars as an actual celebrity, even if you're just impersonating one, is one of those dream-come-true things that most people can never experience, so I appreciated Jacobs' take on that one. What a rush to meet so many famous celebrities and feel like you fit in amongst them. Other than that one who actually knows the guy you're impersonating and can tell the difference. And the cherry on top of that sundae was the guy he impersonated was appreciative, because he hates those things! Score! :)
I was also fascinated by the month AJ spent responding to online dating ads for his beautiful nanny. As much as AJ had never experienced that before, neither have I, and it was definitely interesting to see the way power dynamics shift between people, depending on how they present themselves in photos and in their words. Part of me wants to set up a fake dating profile myself to experiment, but in the end, I think I'd feel too mean or get too depressed.
I'll definitely read the rest of Jacobs' books eventually. His writing style is entertaining and his quirky nature is funny and endearing. He'd be a fun friend to have, even if he is a little strange.
PS. I might have googled AJ's nude photo for Esquire. He's right, it is very tasteful! :)
Obviously, some projects were more entertaining than others. I recently read a biography of Washington, so Jacobs' revelations on that score were not that new to me, though I agree with his conclusions. The radical honesty experiment was interesting, but in the end, seemed more like shock for shock's sake. The last project, where he spent a month doing everything his wife, Julie, wanted, actually made me like her less than I had previously. I appreciated the exercises like Julie making a list of all the household stuff she does that AJ didnt even know existed, because that is good for any relationship. But the glee she felt in making him get up to manually change the volume on the tv when she was holding the remote felt mean-spirited and was off putting. I do feel like Julie lets AJ get away with a lot of annoying behaviors, but she took her month of power a little too far.
I really enjoyed the essay about AJ outsourcing his life to India. It's kind of shocking to see how much stuff could be done remotely, from half a world away, and so proficiently. Clearly, the American workforce had better watch out. My favorite were the polite but firm emails the girls would send for AJ to his boss. They were impossible to ignore and impossible to be rude to.
Attending the Oscars as an actual celebrity, even if you're just impersonating one, is one of those dream-come-true things that most people can never experience, so I appreciated Jacobs' take on that one. What a rush to meet so many famous celebrities and feel like you fit in amongst them. Other than that one who actually knows the guy you're impersonating and can tell the difference. And the cherry on top of that sundae was the guy he impersonated was appreciative, because he hates those things! Score! :)
I was also fascinated by the month AJ spent responding to online dating ads for his beautiful nanny. As much as AJ had never experienced that before, neither have I, and it was definitely interesting to see the way power dynamics shift between people, depending on how they present themselves in photos and in their words. Part of me wants to set up a fake dating profile myself to experiment, but in the end, I think I'd feel too mean or get too depressed.
I'll definitely read the rest of Jacobs' books eventually. His writing style is entertaining and his quirky nature is funny and endearing. He'd be a fun friend to have, even if he is a little strange.
PS. I might have googled AJ's nude photo for Esquire. He's right, it is very tasteful! :)
This was a fun read, and so interesting to see life lived from so many different polarizing perspectives!
Very readable and had a good sense of humor. I love the idea of these experiments and like that I could live them vicariously instead of doing it myself.
A.J does a good job drawing readers in on the unique premise of experiments like living an outsourced life and radical honesty, but some were forgettable - as in I forgot that chapter as soon as I had finished- and maybe that's me, but chapters like rationality were difficult to get through. The ideas presented were fascinating but maybe it seemed dull compared to getting naked on camera - either way, it was overwhelmingly a funny and interesting read and I'm excited to read some of his other stuff (would definitely read The Year of living Julie: the first wife made saint - get on it A.J!) 3.9 stars
def written mostly for a men's magazine but still entertaining experiments
