The Year of Living Biblically by A. J. Jacobs

I really liked A. J. Jacobs' first book, "The Know it All". In that one, his quest was to read the Encyclopedia Britannica from A to Z. I thought it was uproaringly funny how he worked all these little bits of information he had gleaned from his reading into his every day conversations.

When I heard he had a second book out, and this time he was going to attempt to obey the Bible as literally as possible for one full year, I knew I wanted to read it. And the book does not disappoint. Because not only does he attempt to follow all the well known principles of the Bible, like the Ten Commandments, or loving your neighbor, and being fruitful and multiplying...but he also tries to obey all the hundreds of lesser known rules, such as avoiding wearing clothes made of mixed fibers, etc. This is quite a daunting task and as he explores all the consequences of attempting to follow these precepts we are taken along on his thought provoking and hilarious journey--and we even learn a few things along the way. As one of the quotes sprinkled liberally throughout the book says "Religion makes the strange familiar and the familiar strange."

This book is extremely funny and self-deprecating and not only is it quirky and entertaining, but full of life lessons and ultimately beautiful and moving. It examines religion in terms of modern life and makes the whole experience delightful and charming. It's a spiritual journey that is both reverent and irreverent and a really entertaining read. And like A. J. says at one point in the book "My favorite parts of the Bible are the ones that admit that we don't know everything, that stress the mystery of God and the universe." Like Ecclesiastes 6:12 which says:

For who knows what is good for man while he lives the few days of his vain life, which he passes like a shadow? For who can tell man what will be after him under the sun?


So if you want a highly entertaining book that's funny and thought provoking at the same time, I recommend you pick up a copy of either of A.J.'s books. And if you want to test the waters so to speak before you pick up copies of his books, check out his website here. You'll love him.