The Year of Living Biblically by AJ Jacobs

[AMP76]

The Year of Living Biblically
By AJ Jacobs

A.J. Jacobs set out on a quest to follow every single rule, covenant, and commandment in the Bible over the span of a year. His chronicle of that year is entertaining, enlightening, and thought provoking, for all readers, regardless of religious belief or lack thereof.
The book opens with AJ explaining his personal background, although of Jewish decent, he grew up in a secular home with a smattering of individually zealous relatives, who add zest to the religious buffet sampled over the timeline. As such, he has decided to take a sampling of every religious group over the course of his Biblical year and visits the Jewish, the Amish, the Creationists, and the snake handlers, to name a few. His experiences are reverentially hilarious.
In the beginning, AJ thinks he needs to follow every single rule in the entire Bible. After compiling an exorbitantly long list of said rules, he decides maybe to follow only the biggest and the wackiest rules, his exploits in implementation, following, and breaking of said rules are peppered throughout the book. In addition to conscious rule following, AJ discovers prayer. Or more accurately, practices praying. Communing with God in a devotional manner. And, of course, constantly ponders the big questions, is there a God?
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Jacobs is a gifted writer, exceedingly funny and yet able to give a little heartstring tug at poignant life moments. He is never judgmental of religious systems and explains differences in understandable language. As a Christian raised in the church, even I learned some things about my own religion and a few others. It’s a must read. It probably won’t answer any questions for the individual, but it will bring perspective.