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The Year of Living Biblically: One Man's Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible [Paperback]

A J Jacobs
4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (43 customer reviews)
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Book Description

5 Mar 2009

Avoiding shellfish was easy. The stoning of adulterers proved a little more difficult - and potentially controversial. Was it enough to walk up to an adulterer and gently touch them with a stone? Even that could be grounds for accusations of assault, especially with female adulterers in Manhattan. So what's a good Bible-reading boy to do?

Raised in a secular family but increasingly interested in the relevance of faith in our modern world, A.J. Jacobs decides to dive in head first and attempt to obey the hundreds of less-publicized rules. The resulting spiritual journey is at once funny and profound, reverent and irreverent, personal and universal, and will make you see history's most influential book with new eyes.


Frequently Bought Together

The Year of Living Biblically: One Man's Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible + The Know-It-All: One Man's Humble Quest to Become the Smartest Person in the World + My Experimental Life
Price For All Three: £19.47

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Product details

  • Paperback: 400 pages
  • Publisher: Arrow (5 Mar 2009)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0099509792
  • ISBN-13: 978-0099509790
  • Product Dimensions: 13.2 x 19.8 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (43 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 5,860 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Review

"A.J. Jacobs has written a - how else to put it? - Good Book. Let me take my review from the original, Psalm 2, verse 4: 'He that sittith in the heavens shall laugh.' And let me suggest that readers, whether they know their bible or not, get to know A.J. Jacobs. But not in a biblical sense, please" (PJ O'Rourke)

"Jacobs has two great strengths as a writer. One is his extreme open-mindedness...the other is his humour, which he uses with precision and some subtelety." (Sunday Telegraph)

"Engaging . . . comical . . . full of curious lore" (Independent on Sunday)

"Witty and entertaining" (Daily Mail)

"At the end of this entertaining (for the reader) spiritual journey Jacobs may not be a religious man but he is a better person" (Sunday Telegraph)

Book Description

In the hysterical follow-up to The Know-It-All, A J Jacobs tells the story of the year in which he attempted to follow every precept in the Bible, even where they contradicted each other...

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Thank you!!! 6 Feb 2011
By rosebud
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
To the Author:

Thank you, thank you, thank you :)
I could not tell you how many times this book has lifted me up at the end of a weary day. As a homeschooling mother of 4 under 8s, life is wonderful, but soooo trying at times. So my favourite end-of-day-treat is to curl up with your book (my husband banned me from reading it in the study as I was laughing out loud too much). The worries of the day fade away, as I laugh uncontrollably....
As a life-long Christian who dearly loves G-d, I am 9 months into my own discovery of the wonders of Judaism and the scriptures read from a Jewish point of view. It's a life-changingly wondrous journey, but when I get a little too serious about it all, I think of this book...and read on until I force myself to put it down and get on with what I really ought to be doing......, but this time with a big grin on my face :)
If there's one thing I do know about G-d, it's that He has a better sense of humour than most people imagine. I thank Him for inspiring you to write such a funny book, on such a heart-touchingly meaningful subject. The most delicious thing about it is that you get to do all those crazy things I'd love to do, but don't quite dare to for fear that my family and friends (and poor long-suffering husband) would think I was totally mad. Wonderful :) I shall be quite lost when it is finished...

Best wishes to your dear wife - she deserves a medal for living through such a project ;) She must be quite a lady!
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24 of 25 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Witty, thoughtful and thoroughly enjoyable 29 Jan 2009
Format:Paperback
I read about this book in the Guardian weekend magazine which included a few passages. The bits that were included were very good, so I bought the book. You never know whether they printed the best "bits", but what they printed in the Guardian magazine were just examples of the many brilliant parts of the book. Now, if you're looking for a spiritual guide, or some deep and meaningful book about the bible, this is not for you. But if you want to read an interesting, witty, and thoughtful rendition of how a guy tried to stick to the many rules set out in the bible, this is the book for you. I would recommend this book almost everyone I know because I think most people will find something in it that they can relate to.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars Thou shalt not pass wind... 16 Oct 2010
Format:Paperback
I loved this book! I was sure I'd find it funny in many places but didn't bargain for it to be quite so thought provoking. Just as revealing about yourself the reader and ourselves in modern society as it is for what you may or may not know of the Bible. My criticism is that all ended so suddenly due to the large section of notes at the back. (I'd started checking them as I read the early pages, but as they're not referenced at all in the main body of text, I'd forgotten all about them when the book abruptly ended...). My favourite obscure commandment was the [unexplained] ban on passing wind when praying with tefilin on! Well worth reading.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Laugh out loud 30 Sep 2010
By Mondoro TOP 1000 REVIEWER VINE™ VOICE
Format:Paperback
I was reading this book on a crowded train coming home from Manchester yesterday and attracted some strange looks because I just could not stop myself laughing out loud. When I first picked it up it was because I wanted an answer to the question 'why on earth did he do this'. Within a few pages I was compltely hooked, I can't pick out the best bit, it was all good and you just have to read it. Think he must be a very sweet man -and as for his wife - if there is a heaven she is going to be made a saint, if only for putting up with his awful beard!! I can't wait to read his other books - thanks A.J. loved your book!
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By M. A. Ramos TOP 1000 REVIEWER
Format:Hardcover
Most of us try to live good lives and help others when we can. But Esquire magazine writer, AJ Jacobs, decided that he would combine the writing of his next book with his search into religion. And what better way to do this then to try and live a year following all the hundreds of rules and laws of the Holy Bible.

To start with the author begins with almost no background at all in religion of any kind. He was born into a Jewish family; he was raised very secular and labeled himself as agnostic. He went into this venture with a very objective mindset and talked to various religious Scholars from various faiths from his Orthodox Jewish heritage to the fundamentalist Christians. He did not even own a copy of his own Bible when he started the project; he had a Bible from his ex-girlfriend from ten years earlier.

His plan, which he follows, is to live the first nine months of the year per the Old Testament and the remainder of the year following the teachings of the New Testament. We see not only what he goes through in trying to accomplish his goal, but some of the reactions to those he interacts with. Of course the first time he is in public and tries to follow the law that he cannot touch a woman to receive his change. But in doing so he breaks another law and sins to explain his actions, he lies. And from there the book just flows. He does try a wide range of literal approaches to the Bible and we get to watch it all.

The book is a very entertaining read. I had never read any of his work before, but I found myself just sitting in my chair and reading page after page. He shares his journey with us from what he physically went through, but also his thoughts and what he learns from these experiences.
... Read more ›
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars Living biblically
Well written, Interesting and amusing in parts.
However, it just goes to prove how ridiculous religion is in any form.
Published 18 days ago by Suedoc
5.0 out of 5 stars Was a great read.
Interesting, challenging and refreshing. Love the questions asked about organised religion and the boundaries that were pushed with this experiment!
Published 19 days ago by dancinglady
4.0 out of 5 stars bit of everything
I went through a full range of feelings and emotions, its a good look at others perspective and may help a little with your own. Good read.
Published 27 days ago by debbie t
3.0 out of 5 stars Interseting
I had no idea what to expect, I am not a bible reader, but I may give it a try now. With the perspective I learned from the book.
Published 29 days ago by Judy
3.0 out of 5 stars Radical ????
It is ok but after reading say 30% I am disappointed as I thought it would be more radical than it is.
Published 1 month ago by Les Roberts
4.0 out of 5 stars I want to read more
Loved this book and read the entire contents in three days. Fascinating to hear so make interpretations of parables, scriptures and rules. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Bethany Wivell
5.0 out of 5 stars A funny read
Was reccommended this book by a friend. Could not put it down. So funny even though it was a serious experiment. Well worth reading.
Published 4 months ago by jan
5.0 out of 5 stars A light and fresh approach
I absolutely loved this book and the unique approach AJ took to the project. I laughed out loud at parts concerning his long suffering wife and really enjoyed the book. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Rachel Henke
3.0 out of 5 stars The Year of Living Biblically A.J. Jacobs
A.J. Jacobs is a clever, correct, intellectual writer and this book is entertaining in it's own way. Read more
Published 9 months ago by PiePony
2.0 out of 5 stars Irritating, not very interesting, religion-friendly account of...
Falls between two stools - not sure whether it wants to mock or praise religion, but inclining towards the latter. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Jezza
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