The Year of Living Biblically: One Man's Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible in Around the World in 80 Books

Jun 05, 2018 Rachel N. rated it liked it

Shelves: new-york-city, new-york, read-in-2018, nonfiction, memoir, religion, bible

A.J. Jacobs decides to follow the Bible as literally as possible for a year. He spends most of the year focused on the Old Testament, as he is nominally Jewish, and the last three months on the New Testament. Along with trying to follow the Bible and it's mandates Jacobs visits many religious groups. A lot of people have classified this book as humor but it didn't come off as humorous to me. I think Jacobs was legitimately trying to follow the Bible as best he could though obviously part of his ...more

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Oct 26, 2008 Sunflower rated it really liked it

Shelves: nonfiction-2020-and-before

Great idea! Difficult to do, but he did it anyway, which makes him either brave, weird, or desperate for something to write about. And you'll still like him at the end. This book is funny, even at times laugh-out-loud funny (the bits about coveting and using a Nerf bat as a rod for disciplining his son), entertaining, and even educational (if you're into Bible and Jewish trivia).
He takes it so seriously that he even travels to Jerusalem, and visits many other groups like the Amish and those tha ...more

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Jul 29, 2008 Kemlo rated it liked it

Shelves: nonfiction, biography-and-memoir

I read this because I thoroughly enjoyed The Know-It-All by Jacobs. I didn't think this book was quite as interesting, but it was still a pleasure to read. It contained many fascinating bits of information about the Bible, religious life, and so much more. The nice thing about this book is that it is not overly religious (contrary to what you might expect from the title) nor does it mock those who are. I thought Jacobs did an admirable job of striking a fairly impartial and open-minded tone whil ...more

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Nov 11, 2008 Janna rated it really liked it

Very funny and fascinating look at the bizarre contradictions and mysterious rules he tries to follow. I related to his wife who gives him the eye roll repeatedly when it gets ridiculously bizarre.

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