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The Year of Living Biblically: One Man's Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible Hardcover – Deckle Edge, October 9, 2007

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A. J. Jacobs (Author)
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Deckle edge paper
This Book Is Bound with "Deckle Edge" Paper
You may have noticed that some of our books are identified as "deckle edge" in the title. Deckle edge books are bound with pages that are made to resemble handmade paper by applying a frayed texture to the edges. Deckle edge is an ornamental feature designed to set certain titles apart from books with machine-cut pages. See a larger image.

Product Details

  • Hardcover: 400 pages
  • Publisher: Simon & Schuster; 1 edition (October 9, 2007)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0743291476
  • ISBN-13: 978-0743291477
  • Product Dimensions: 6.2 x 1.2 x 9.2 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
  • Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1,017 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #61,360 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

267 of 279 people found the following review helpful
A man's journey, plumbing the depths of trying to live by the Bible
By David J. Huber VINE VOICE on September 14, 2007
Format: Hardcover Vine Customer Review of Free Product ( What's this? )
How can I rate or judge one person's life story? Only by the way he writes about it. His story is his story, and deserves five stars simply for telling it. But I give this five stars because he wrote about it so compellingly. I had a difficult time setting the book down, always wanting to keep on reading and moving forward and see what he did next.

When humorous things happen, he writes about them in a way that led me to chuckle along. Times of seriousness were written poignantly enough to sometimes shed a tear, or feel my heart moved as well. I especially applaud him for including stories about his wife, and how she wasn't always keen on what he was doing, and the difficulties they had while he went on this adventure. And I give him great credit for sticking with his goal for the whole year (and slightly beyond), and not giving up.

Jacobs is a wonderful writer! I will definitely be looking for more books by this guy, and will read his previous book.

And speaking as a Christian - and an ordained minister at that - I found his spiritual journey, and his insights into Judaism and Christianity as what was basically an outsider, to be very interesting to read about. Some of the things we take for granted or as base assumptions, he didn't know - he had to find out, and he continually showed the courage to go find a scholar, a rabbi, a minister, or other person with the knowledge to help him out. Especially when he found a law to be silly, instead of writing it off, he sought out someone who could explain why it might be there, and what it meant historically and means to some in the context of 21st century earth. I learned things about Christianity and Judaism from him; and also I learned a few things about my own personal faith from him.Read more ›
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365 of 400 people found the following review helpful
Thou shalt read this book
By mrliteral VINE VOICE on August 26, 2007
Format: Hardcover Vine Customer Review of Free Product ( What's this? )
Around a year ago, I read my first book by A.J. Jacobs, The Know-It-All, a memoir of the author's quest to read the entire Encyclopaedia Britannica. As a follow-up to that top-notch book, he has taken on a shorter but more difficult book, The Bible. For a year, Jacobs intended to follow the commandments of the Bible as literally as possible: not just the well-known ones (like "Thou shalt not kill") but the obscure ones as well (such as wearing clothes of mixed fibers). It was to be, as the book title states, The Year of Living Biblically.

The first problem with undertaking such a task is that there are a lot of different Bibles out there and even more ways to interpret what's in them. While Jacobs seems to rely mostly on the Revised Standard Version, he consults other versions as well. Over the course of the year he will meet with a number of different religious groups and individuals representing a broad spectrum of interpretations.

The nice thing about the Encyclopaedia Britannica was it was pretty straightforward, with little wiggle room for misreading. But in the Bible, almost everything can be read at least two ways. Even the Ten Commandments are subject to multiple interpretations: Does the commandment against killing mean all killing? What about executions? It is this ambiguity that lets the Bible fit almost all agendas. Is the Bible pro- or anti-slavery? What is its views on abortion, homosexuality or the roles of women? As Jacobs finds during the year, there is no true agreement. (And if the Bible has a message that contradicts your ideals, do you reject your ideals or (at least in part) the Bible?Read more ›
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169 of 184 people found the following review helpful
Light-hearted but insightful look at a very serious subject
By A. Reid VINE VOICE on August 22, 2007
Format: Hardcover Vine Customer Review of Free Product ( What's this? )
Towards the end of this book, author AJ Jacobs speaks of the emptiness he experiences when he completes a project. I know the feeling. I have it now. I hate to put down his book.

This book is a travelogue, with Jacobs documenting his journey through terrain both strange and familiar. Throughout, he exhibits a self-deprecating wit that in no way undermines his insight. Laugh out loud funny? It is that. But even when he's wagging his bushy beard at something absurd, Jacobs' humor is neither cynical nor mean-spirited. His observations feel unflinchingly frank, but never superior--he is quick to acknowledge that he is as eccentric as anyone.

None of this is meant to imply that this book will be a comfortable fit for everyone. He is, after all, pointing out some of the more unusual and esoteric Biblical rules, trying them on, questioning them, looking at the people who follow them. I felt he handled the subject of Biblical literalism with meticulous respect, but some readers might be made uneasy at such scrutiny of sacred cows. And that would be a shame. Because while it's easy to laugh at his humor, it's equally important to reflect on his subtext. What are the psychological and social impacts of ritualism? There's a lot to be learned from an outsider looking in.

Like any good tour guide, Jacobs has come to feel like a friend, and I'm going to miss him. Until next trip.
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50 of 52 people found the following review helpful
"The Secret Fraternity of Bearded Guys" ~ Obedience, Cognitive Dissonance and the Holy Antenna
By Brian E. Erland HALL OF FAMEVINE VOICE on September 11, 2007
Format: Hardcover Vine Customer Review of Free Product ( What's this? )
I was less than three paragraphs into the introduction of `The Year of Living Biblically' when I came to the conclusion that I was going to love this book. A. J. Jacobs latest literary endeavor takes the reader on a delightful and insightful journey onto the highways, byways and a neglected side roads or two in search of an authentic expression of 21st century Biblically based spirituality. Relying on the Bible, both Old and New Testament, as his beginning and end to all decision making processes Jacobs provides us with a very personal, intelligent, humorous and thought-provoking look at man's modern day search for God.

Jacobs is an extremely talented wordsmith who knows exactly how to transfer his inner thoughts and outward events onto the printed page in such a manner as to make one feel as though they're engaged in an intimate conversation with a close friend. His ongoing interior dialogue shows his audience that he is definitely an individual of depth who knows and understands the religio/philosophical issues he's dealing with. His mental musings are coupled with a quirky slant on the oddities of faith making for an entertaining and hilarious reading as he deftly moves from the absurd to the sublime.

Long after the laughing stops and the book has been finished and put aside you will be left with numerous nuggets of profundity to crack open and digest at your leisure. The most important for me was his recognition that true belief must be accompanied by corresponding actions lived out in the real world every day, if not as an act of love, most certainly as an act of obedience to the rules. As the Bible says, "Faith without works is dead."
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

A good read.

This was a good read. Jacobs has a wonderful sense of humor and I guess he has the right personality to tackle these personal challenges his books are about. Read more

Published 3 days ago by MaryannT
Well spent time.

Was reading this book on my flights for one month. Well spent time. Brave idea and honest job! Oportunity to look at the bible, even if you are not the believer. Read more

Published 4 days ago by Martynas
Four Stars

A delightful read, cleverly written with humor that leavens the rather serious topic.

Published 7 days ago by Yutygirl
has a great sense of humor and writes well

You can learn a lot about Judaism and Christianity here and come to some interesting revelations about organized religion. A.J. has a great sense of humor and writes well.

Published 7 days ago by Del Rio Sue
AWESOME.

Only one adjective is needed. AWESOME.

Published 10 days ago by Christopher cruz
Two Stars

Found it boring

Published 11 days ago by Lori A Foecke
Cause for Pause

I began this book with more curiosity than enthusiasm. However, as I continued to read, I found myself pausing to reflect and to question. Read more

Published 11 days ago by Magdalena Young
Five Stars

Very enjoyable reading.

Published 12 days ago by Alana Kelly
Thought-provoking and laugh-out-loud funny

A thought-provoking and laugh-out-loud book that will raise beneficial questions in your life while providing a truly enjoyable reading experience. Highly recommended!

Published 20 days ago by Unnamed
Five Stars

Hilarious. The religious and formerly religious alike should use this as a mirror.

Published 20 days ago by Tatsinda Spears

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