A.J. Jacobs is the editor-at-large of Esquire. He has written articles for Esquire and the NYT. His best-seller The Know-It-All resulted from his reading the entire Encyclopedia Britannica. In book 264 he learns very different things, while maintaining his sense of humor.

Jacobs’ quest here transforms his life more radically than the year spent reading the Encyclopedia Britannica. But the experience of The Know-It-All convinced him to “explore the relevance of faith in our modern world.” He says “One of the reasons I embarked on this experience was to take legalism to its logical extreme and show that it leads to righteous idiocy. What better way to demonstrate the absurdity of Jewish and Christian fundamentalism? If you actually follow all the rules, you’ll spend your days acting like a crazy person.” But then he also says “But as with everything involving religion, my project has become much more complicated. The spiritual journey now takes up far more of my time.”

Thus my summary is that he proved his point about strict literalism but also benefited in the process, in spite of the idiocy he forced upon himself by acting strictly literal. A.J. Jacobs had well-chosen religious advisors he consulted when he needed help interpreting the Bible as seen from their traditions. His extraordinary quest gave him not only unusual challenges but also unexpected epiphanies.

What all did he do during this year? He embedded himself in a various representative communities that take the Bible seriously. Examples are touring a creationist museum in Kentucky, visiting with the Amish, dancing with Hasidic Jews, studying Scripture with Jehovah’s Witnesses, visiting Jerusalem. He found none take it all literally – all do cherry-picking (even while they claim strict fundamentalism in their faith). Much of the time he wrestles with seemingly archaic rules that baffle the mind – his as well as those of his various religious advisors. This is quite clear in words of praise from Rev. Jim Wallis: “In the 21st century few, if any, Christians truly attempt to follow the Bible in its literal entirety, even us evangelicals. A.J. Jacobs attempts just that, with disarmingly 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.” Wallis is right, as authentic faith requires recognition of myth, metaphor, symbolism, and allegory within the Bible’s “epic story” of Judaism and early Christianity. Read! Enjoy! Learn!