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3.65 AVERAGE
3.65 AVERAGE
I enjoyed this book, primarily because I listened to the audio which was read by the author.
He puts himself through some outrageous and some silly "experiments" to see how behavior effects thought.
I think he made some interesting points such as how easy it is to manipulate the brain, power struggles in relationships, observing formalities in today's society, multi vs uni-tasking, etc.
I read it for my book club, but I enjoyed this (short, easy) read. I'm looking forward to our upcoming discussion.
He puts himself through some outrageous and some silly "experiments" to see how behavior effects thought.
I think he made some interesting points such as how easy it is to manipulate the brain, power struggles in relationships, observing formalities in today's society, multi vs uni-tasking, etc.
I read it for my book club, but I enjoyed this (short, easy) read. I'm looking forward to our upcoming discussion.
A.J. Jacobs makes me laugh. The experiments he does in this book had me chuckling and I had a hard time putting this book down to go to work or to go to sleep. The best part is I always learn something I never knew before when reading his books. I'm going to try and find the book where he read the encyclopedia for a year next!
Love his writing and quest to try new things and become a better/logical/rational/honest person.
I thought this would be funnier but parts were just so-so. For some reason I was thinking Jacobs was going to be undergoing experiments on himself. Instead it was about living more like George Washington or not multitasking all day.
In The Guinea Pig Diaries, A.J. Jacobs describes several “experiments” he has done with his life, generally in terms of his own behavior. Each experiment lasts (usually) about a month, and some are more formal than others. He experiments with portraying a beautiful woman on a dating site (on behalf of his babysitter), following George Washington’s rules of conduct, practicing Radical Honesty, and attending the Academy Awards as a look-alike stand in for a movie star. My favorite experiments in this book:
My Outsourced Life. Jacobs outsources everything to India–and I mean everything. He gets his assistants in India to research articles for him, worry daily about things that worry him, email his wife an apology after a big fight, even read a bedtime story to his son (that is, newspaper headlines). This was fascinating to me, because I never would have thought to do it. I didn’t even know that such agencies existed, or that India would have cornered the market on virtual assistants. It was hilarious and eye-opening at the same time.
The Unitasker. Jacobs tries to do only one thing at a time. He closes his eyes while talking on the phone. He stops making his breakfast while his wife tells him a long, rambling story. He plays with his sons without looking at his phone. I loved his conclusion–unitasking isn’t always practical or even necessary, but it is greatly underappreciated. Slow down and be where you are.
Whipped. Jacobs gives his wife a month of total authority over him. She lays down the rules, makes demands, and reveals all the work she does that Jacobs doesn’t realize. Funny–almost like he gets his just desserts for all the things he puts his wife through during his other experiments. He also goes over typical “battle of the sexes” myths and sees how he and his wife stack up.
Read more on my blog: http://newberyandbeyond.com/book-review-the-guinea-pig-diaries/
My Outsourced Life. Jacobs outsources everything to India–and I mean everything. He gets his assistants in India to research articles for him, worry daily about things that worry him, email his wife an apology after a big fight, even read a bedtime story to his son (that is, newspaper headlines). This was fascinating to me, because I never would have thought to do it. I didn’t even know that such agencies existed, or that India would have cornered the market on virtual assistants. It was hilarious and eye-opening at the same time.
The Unitasker. Jacobs tries to do only one thing at a time. He closes his eyes while talking on the phone. He stops making his breakfast while his wife tells him a long, rambling story. He plays with his sons without looking at his phone. I loved his conclusion–unitasking isn’t always practical or even necessary, but it is greatly underappreciated. Slow down and be where you are.
Whipped. Jacobs gives his wife a month of total authority over him. She lays down the rules, makes demands, and reveals all the work she does that Jacobs doesn’t realize. Funny–almost like he gets his just desserts for all the things he puts his wife through during his other experiments. He also goes over typical “battle of the sexes” myths and sees how he and his wife stack up.
Read more on my blog: http://newberyandbeyond.com/book-review-the-guinea-pig-diaries/
I love A.J. Jacobs, and his writing is very funny, but I felt that something was lacking in most of these experiments: a deeper, soul-searching core. While his other books delve into issues like the nature of intelligence, or the spiritual meaning behind the rules and rituals of religion, these essays flit across the surface of problems like what it is like to be a celebrity or if you can outsource your life to India.
I was intrigued by some of his experiments, like a month of uni-tasking to cure his multi-tasking mania, the month of following George Washington's rules of decorum (which appealed to the 18th century person in me), or the month of thinking rationally (as opposed to reacting with his subconscious brain). These, I felt, had a lasting lesson to teach A.J. and us, and he was changed for the better because of them. His commitment to the experiments, and the imaginative lengths to which he goes to complete them are always fascinating, hilarious and brave. I really related to him during his last two books as a compulsive knowledge seeker, myself.
However, there are moments in this book where I felt he was being a dick. He accommodatingly admits it and is uncomfortable about it, but I felt bad for his family and his Indian assistants. Luckily, his long suffering wife is there to bring him back to earth every so often.
Still an entertaining summer read!
I was intrigued by some of his experiments, like a month of uni-tasking to cure his multi-tasking mania, the month of following George Washington's rules of decorum (which appealed to the 18th century person in me), or the month of thinking rationally (as opposed to reacting with his subconscious brain). These, I felt, had a lasting lesson to teach A.J. and us, and he was changed for the better because of them. His commitment to the experiments, and the imaginative lengths to which he goes to complete them are always fascinating, hilarious and brave. I really related to him during his last two books as a compulsive knowledge seeker, myself.
However, there are moments in this book where I felt he was being a dick. He accommodatingly admits it and is uncomfortable about it, but I felt bad for his family and his Indian assistants. Luckily, his long suffering wife is there to bring him back to earth every so often.
Still an entertaining summer read!
I like AJ Jacobs. He does some really wacky experiments, or projects, or whatever you feel like calling them. Some of the projects in this book weren't as good as others, but I enjoy reading about his experiences.
I keep meaning to read his other books (where he follows the Bible literally for a year and reads the whole Encyclopedia), but saw this one (where he does little monthly "experiments" like outsourcing his life or being overly honest) at the library and picked it up. Pretty entertaining.
I am trained as a sociologist and this guy had me raising my eyebrows.. I know PhDs who less attentive than him. Someone should give him an honorary PHD in the subject.