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The Year of Living Biblically

One Man's Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible

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The Year of Living Biblically

By: A. J. Jacobs
Narrated by: A. J. Jacobs
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Summary

 Inspiration for the TV series Living Biblically streaming now!

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Know-It-All comes a fascinating and timely exploration of religion and the Bible. A.J. Jacobs chronicles his hilarious and thoughtful year spent obeying?as literally as possible?the tenets of 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.©2007 A. J. Jacobs; (P)2007 Simon and Schuster Inc. Bible Study Bibles & Bible Study Christianity Judaism Middle East Funny Witty
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Critic reviews

"A.J. Jacobs is so funny he can make watching his beard grow hilarious. The Year of Living Biblically is the most unexpectedly delightful - and consistently charming - book I've read in a long time. It will have you laughing out loud, nodding in disbelief, and rethinking what you believe about the Bible. It will also have you tallying your sins: I coveted his humor and envied his facial hair. And that's no lie."–Bruce Feiler, author of Walking the Bible and Where God Was Born
"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 sitteth 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."–P.J. O'Rourke
"The Year of Living Biblically is an extremely compelling book, appropriately irreverent and highly entertaining. More significantly, it is a tale of an intense and intelligent spiritual search that will speak powerfully and instructively to a generation of seekers."–Rabbi David Ellenson, president of Hebrew Union College
"In the twenty-first century few, if any, Christians truly attempt to follow the Bible in its literal entirety, even us evangelicals. In this yearlong experiment A.J. Jacobs attempts just that, with disarming sincere, refreshingly humorous, and unexpectedly insightful results. I commend this inspired narrative to anyone actively exploring the continued relevance of biblical living, religion's need for critical self-reflection, and the timelessness of authentic faith."–Reverend Jim Wallis, author of God's Politics and president of Sojourners/Call to Renewal
"A. J. Jacobs has written about the Bible in a manner that is brilliantly funny but unerringly respectful, learned but goofy, deeply personal yet highly relevant. I am covetous and wish him smited."–Mary Roach, Bestselling author of Spook and Stiff
"A book that is at one and the same time delightfully readable and profoundly memorable is a wonder! The Year of Living Biblically is exactly that. A. J. Jacobs has perceived the distinction between the wisdom of the Bible and its absurdities. It is a shame that so many of both our clergy and our politicians seem incapable of making that distinction."–John Shelby Spong, author of Jesus for the Non-Religious and former Episcopal bishop
All stars
Most relevant
As a former Fundamentalist I could relate to this on so many levels. great read.

Thoroughly Enjoyed It

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Fantastic book. Riveting.



Full of wonderful insight and hilarious humour.

Couldn't put it down.



Well done A J JACOBS



A British journalist is doing something similar.



Look it up in the guardian:

The Book of Rachel

As a Christian, Rachel Held Evans was intrigued to find out what sort of advice the Bible could offer a wife in a modern relationship. So she decided to take its instructions to women 'hyper-literally' for a year. Interview by Hannah Booth

Fantastic.

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If you could sum up The Year of Living Biblically in three words, what would they be?

Thought provoking, crazy, informative

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Year of Living Biblically?

The fact that there is a rule for ultra Orthodox Jews about wearing mixed fibres!

Any additional comments?

Thought provoking and challenging, while maintaining humour

Things you never knew

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This is a very interesting idea for a book. It is well read. It looses one star because it just wasn't as captivating as some audio books I've listened to. I did listen through and I did learn a few things but I wouldn't listen to I a second time.

Interesting story

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Loved the content and loved the way it was written (and read). Super interesting! It was nice to hear how he walked and maneuvered through his journey. I was definitely hooked. It was also funny in some parts! Very enjoyable read/listen!! God bless!

Loved it!

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