I think he looks a little fat in this video, what do you think?
Speaking at the most recent EG conference, author, philosopher, prankster and journalist A.J. Jacobs talks about the year he spent living biblically -- following the rules in the Bible as literally as possible.A.J. Jacobs' writings stand at the intersection of philosophy, Gonzo journalism and performance art. Stubbornly curious and slyly perceptive, he takes immersive learning to its irrational and profoundly amusing extreme -- extracting wisdom and meaning after long stints as a self-styled guinea pig. For his widely circulated Esquire article, My Outsourced Life, he explored the phenomenon of outsourcing by hiring a team in Bangalore, India to take care of every part of his life -- from reading his emails to arguing with his wife to reading bedtime stories to his own son. A previous article, I Think You're Fat, chronicled a brief, cringe-inducing attempt to live his life in Radical Honesty, telling all the truth, all the time.
Jacobs is author of The Know-It-All, which documents the year he spent reading the Encyclopedia Britannica from A to Z, uncovering both funny and surprising factoids but also poignant insight into history and human nature. For his latest book, The Year of Living Biblically, he attempted to follow every single rule in the Bible as literally as possible for an entire year.
Comments
I read The Year of Living Biblically a few weeks ago, I highly recommend it. I'd forgotten about his foray into Radical Honesty, also an interesting read.
Posted by: Rev Matt | August 19, 2008 1:34 PM
"For his latest book, The Year of Living Biblically, he attempted to follow every single rule in the Bible as literally as possible for an entire year."
Really? How many witches did he kill?
Posted by: Romeo Vitelli | August 19, 2008 1:56 PM
good point.
Posted by: Betul | August 19, 2008 2:05 PM
I heard he beat his neighbor to death when he caught him mowing the lawn on Saturday. Or Sunday.
Posted by: Greg Laden | August 19, 2008 2:11 PM
Well, he did say he failed miserably in following every single rules. The part about "stoning" the adulterer was funny.
Posted by: IBY | August 19, 2008 2:20 PM
Greg, no making me LOL at work. I may be indispensible, but I'd still prefer not to explain that.
Posted by: Stephanie Z | August 19, 2008 2:32 PM
"Nothing can be more contrary to religion and the clergy than reason and common sense."
long live Voltaire!
Posted by: Betul | August 19, 2008 2:34 PM