The Year of Living Biblically

This semester, I have gone through several books of all types of genres, and I must say that my favorite has been A.J. Jacobs The Year of Living Biblically.

The book follows 21st-century New Yorker and "Esquire" editor A.J. Jacobs as he lives by the rules set forth by the Bible. With a comical and often snarky attitude, Jacobs goes about his modern life following a very organized schedule of Old and New Testament rules. One can only imagine the hundreds of rules in the bible, some of them aimed for literal interpretation, others, not-so-much. Despite this, Mr. Jacobs does his best to complete all as literal as possible. There is a suspense in what types of surprises the Bible will hold, but it is taken to the extreme in this book. Some of what Jacobs undergoes is growing an untamed, thick, long beard, visiting the Middle East, a gigantic Jewish mosh pit, troubles with his family, circumcision confusion, visiting tiny churches in the South that deals with snakes every mass, and simply gaining an understanding of the Bible.

Throughout the book, we see a transformation of our protagonist from an nonreligious New Yorker of Jewish descent to a Bible-savvy believer. This adds a feeling of reality and emotion to the story. Jacobs keeps the reader entertained with his outrageous comments and approach to the bible. His perfect descriptions of the awkward and ridiculous circumstances he finds himself in keep the book much different from others. As the book progresses, the reader feels almost as if they know Jacobs personally. His wit, humor, and drollness in addition to his sincere discovery of religion create a story that is weaved together perfectly and immerses the reader in the life and experiences of Jacobs. The Year of Living Biblically is a page-turning and immensely entertaining story that I recommend to everyone. For those who believe in the Bible, it is touching and reminds of the true essence of the Bible and God. For those who do not, Jacobs amuses and creates much humor to make a perfect story for all.