The Year of Living Biblically: One Man's Humble Quest to Follow the Bible As Literally As Possible by A.J. Jacobs

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


If you are interested in how the Bible strikes the secular and politically correct (and ridiculously funny), this may be just the thing. I found A. J. Jacobs’ book very intellectual without being stuffy, offering numerous little insights and funny moments, and I do mean funny in both traditional senses. If you want a page turner and many a good laugh, read on.



I did not glean many life-changing revelations from the pages, but I was entertained, and I believe that was Jacobs’ principal goal in writing. The words of Paul in 1 Cor. 2 come readily to mind (e.g., 1 Cor. 2:14). Jacobs himself admits that he is being a little superficial, and he is unsure how much or even whether he can change to the frame of humility so necessary to receive revelation from God. We do not fully come to know God by trying him out selectively and for limited amounts of time, but by humbly receiving and internalizing revelation from him (1 Cor. 2:11; Jacob 4:8).



Of course, God is much kinder than any of us deserves. It is kind of heart-warming how even Jacobs’ limited (and sometimes downright wacky) efforts at finding God bear fruit. Perhaps most touching was how he acquired a deep gratitude for his many blessings. That alone is one of the best gifts we can receive: to understand true gratitude.



In sum, I recommend it heartily, with a grain of salt.





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