The Year of Living Biblically
Summary:
From the bestselling author of "The Know-It-All" comes a fascinating and timely exploration of religion and the Bible. Raised in a secular family but increasingly interested in the relevance of faith in our modern world, A.J. Jacobs decides to dive in headfirst and attempt to obey the Bible as literally as possible for one full year. He vows to follow the Ten Commandments. To be fruitful and multiply. To love his neighbor. But also to obey the hundreds of less publicized rules: to avoid wearing clothes made of mixed fibers; to play a ten-string harp; to stone adulterers.
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.
Jacobs's quest transforms his life even more radically than the year spent reading the entire "Encyclopedia Britannica" for "The Know-It-All." His beard grows so unruly that he is regularly mistaken for a member of ZZ Top. He immerses himself in prayer, tends sheep in the Israeli desert, battles idolatry, and tells the absolute truth in all situations - much to his wife's chagrin.
Throughout the book, Jacobs also embeds himself in a cross-section of communities that take the Bible literally. He tours a Kentucky-based creationist museum and sings hymns with Pennsylvania Amish. He dances with Hasidic Jews in Brooklyn and does Scripture study with Jehovah's Witnesses. He discovers ancient biblical wisdom of startling relevance. And he wrestles with seemingly archaic rules that baffle the twenty-first-century brain. Jacobs's extraordinary undertaking yields unexpected epiphanies and challenges. A book that will charm readers both secular and religious, "The Year of Living Biblically" is part Cliff Notes to the Bible, part memoir, and part look into worlds unimaginable. Thou shalt not be able to put it down. (Summary and book cover courtesy of goodreads.com)
Review:
Growing up Catholic in a mostly Christian neighborhood, Judaism was not something I knew much about before reading this book. When I saw it, I thought it would be something interesting to both broaden my understanding and insightful to see how a modern adult managed the many religious rules.
I found the book very funny though it certainly could offend some people at times. The humor is not mocking, but rather a result of trying to follow rules in a modern setting. I particularly appreciated Jacob’s journey to visiting a variety of sects and the results of the trips. While the book could have easily come off as shallow, I felt it was clear that Jacobs did gain some benefit to the experience and may maintain some of the habits he learned. I know it certainly was considering the weekly 24hrs without technology becoming standard in my life. Or at least a few hours. Maybe an hour. Ok, I’ll just have to try my best…
Rating: 4 stars!
Who should read it? People looking for insights to traditional Judaism or a funny read.