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Liked It2 of 3 members found this review helpful “There was a time in my life when I thought I could never keep kosher because I could not possibly live without cheeseburgers. I got a grip and have been (mostly) happily keeping kosher for several years now. A. J. Jacobs took on a much more extensive challenge when he decided to write this...” see full review » see other reviews » |
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“I really enjoyed this book. Its sincere and funny”
lisa c wrote this review 4 days ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Loved this journey and was fascinated by it.”
Ellen S wrote this review 8 days ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“A.J. Jacobs is hilarious as he tries to spend a year following the Bible literally. It ends up changing his life in a very deep and profound way. I found myself laughing out loud multiple times while reading this book. ”
Emily B wrote this review 9 days ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Quite interesting and thought provoking.”
threethings wrote this review 11 days ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Library book.
SpeaksofRivers wrote this review 3 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
This is the best kind of nonfiction- full of information, with facts stuffed in. It's like The Know-It-All with communion wafers.
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“This non-fiction text is a fun, interesting read. The blurb says that it is the Cliff's Notes for the Bible, and indeed it is. What made the book fun is that it is really his exploration of the Bible rather than a religious quest; there is no great epiphany at the end.
Katherine T wrote this review 3 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
The book is easy to read partly because the language is colloquial and the chapters are further delineated by sections headed with appropriate biblical quotes.
While this is not a must read; it is a nice break from heavier texts that will make you chuckle, and make you think about religion is quite a different way.”
“This was a surprisingly funny book! AJ (Jacob for this year) undertook the challenge to live according to the Bible as closely as possible. He gives the verse he's addressing at the moment, and tells the reader about what he encountered in trying to follow what it says. Towards the end, I loved his description of shaving off his beard, "like losing a pet rabbit!" His wife was a really good sport about all this. ”
Judy K wrote this review 3 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Hilarious, gentle, and inspired. ”
Chaigirl wrote this review 4 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“This is the best book I have read all year and I have read some good books. This book made me think. It made me understand. It made me laugh and it even brought tears to my eyes at some points.
Zommbie1 wrote this review Saturday, December 5 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
Like Jacobs I grew up in a secular family and I find religion perplexing and intriguing and in part I am a little bit jealous of people of faith. My grandmother was Catholic and my mum once said that she envied her faith. The comfort my grandmother gained from her faith is something I wish I had. I, however am a sceptic. I want to believe but I can’t quite bring myself to believe. One of the most perplexing things I find with people of faith is their belief in parts of the Bible but not others. This specifically applies to those Biblical literalist I have encountered (primarily on the interwebbies). Jacob does a very good job of presenting what these people believe and why. Does he pass judgment, yes, but to my, secular liberal, views he does it with compassion and understanding. He states that he cannot believe what they believe but at the same time there is a sense of him wanting to have that strong faith.
The sections that had me laughing out loud where often connected to his wife's reactions to his project (her sitting on all the chairs in the apartment when she is menstruating is pure genius on her part) . I read several sections of the book out loud to my parents as I sat reading they were that funny. I also read out sections that I thought were particularly profound. One of these sections was this:
“The Bible is right: A deluge of images does encourage idolatry. Look at the cults of personality in America today. Look at Hollywood. Look at Washington. I’d like to see the next presidential race be run according to Second Commandment principals. No commercials. A radio-only debate. We need an ugly president. I know we’re missing out on some potential Abe Lincolns because they’d look gawky and gangly on TV.” (106)
Looking over my notes on the book I do have one thing that I am still wondering about: What would this book look like if a woman had written it? Many of the rules he touches upon points to the differences between men and women. I would like to read the book written by a woman doing the same thing.
The book primarily deals with the Old Testament as this is where most of the rules are located, but also because these are the rules that Jacobs with his Jewish heritage feels closest to. If I have one criticism of the book it is that I would have liked to see more commentary on the New Testament. The three chapters that cover the New Testament feel shorter and flatter than the nine that cover the Old Testament. They do include some fairly profound thoughts but they feel rushed. This is probably in part because of the birth of Jacobs twins and the changes that they cause in his life (and I was so happy that they had those kids). It didn’t take away from my enjoyment of the book but I did notice the change in the book.
I highly recommend this book!”“I liked the exploration of religious thought and ritual- what's real, what's intended, what's the point, and the effort to understand and learn. I did wonder how and why this guy sets himself up to do these kinds of things, and get paid for it!”
kirsten a wrote this review Tuesday, December 1 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
