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Library Journal Review
An agnostic wakes up one day determined to follow the more than 800 rules found in the Hebrew Bible. That isn't the start of a joke-it's the basis of a new book by Esquire editor at large Jacobs (The Know-It-All). Jacobs spends 388 days investigating how a 21st-century New Yorker can live the lifestyle outlined in the Old Testament. Repeatedly, he tries to follow literal meanings only to find that he has misinterpreted the ritual, moral, agricultural, and sacrificial laws. For example, he throws pebbles at a man in Central Park, intending to replicate a stoning, but after consulting with his team of religious advisers discovers that in biblical times, stoning actually meant pushing the victim off a cliff. Jacobs's discussions with his advisers and with men representing other religions make up the most thoughtful and insightful sections of the book. He concludes that people today practice "cafeteria religion," picking and choosing which rules to follow. Readers will cheer for this oddball who grows a beard, avoids wearing mixed-fiber clothes, and carries his own three-legged miniature seat onto the subway. Recommended for larger public libraries. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 6/15/07; optioned by Paramount Pictures and Plan B.-Ed.]-Joyce Sparrow, M.S.L.S., JWB Children's Svcs. Council, Pinellas Park. FL (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publishers Weekly Review
With the Bible in hand, Jacobs sets off to spend a year attempting to follow the innumerous laws of Scripture in order to achieve the supposed claim of fundamentalists who say the Bible should be taken literally. Many obstacles stand in the way of this Jewish Manhattan father with a wife expecting twins by year's end. Through his journey, Jacobs does experience a spiritual awakening of sorts that reminds him of the importance of religion. He also reveals the scriptural selectiveness practiced by even the most zealous fundamentalists. While the abridgment generally works in providing listeners with the highlights of Jacobs's year, there are times when it seems to refer to material not covered in the audio. Sometimes too, the entries are too abrupt or trimmed. Jacobs reads the audiobook with adequate tone, speed and emphasis. While his soft nasal voice isn't particularly compelling, what he has to say about his adventures in living biblically will certainly keep people listening. Simultaneous release with the S&S hardcover (Reviews, June 25). (Oct.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Booklist Review
"Jacobs does projects, not just books. For The Know-It-All (2004), he read the entire Encyclopaedia Britannica. For the follow-up, he tried for a year to observe the Bible's 700-odd rules for righteous behavior. He let his beard grow, wore only garments made of unmixed fibers, prayed regularly, essayed biblical disciplining (short of the physical) of his two-year-old son, and practiced the purity laws: no sex for awhile after his wife menstruated; no shaking hands; lots of washing; not eating this and eating that; et cetera ad infinitum, it seems. Informally counseled throughout by a clatch of Jewish and Christian advisors, he also queried members of such strict sects as the Amish, the Samaritans, and snake-handling Pentecostals. He maintained his staff-writer chores at Esquire and his domestic responsibilities, and he became the father of twins during the long experiment, which he reports in a continuum of journal-like summaries. If he starts out sounding like an interminable Ira Glass monologue, smarmy and name-dropping, he becomes much less off-putting as the year progresses, for he develops a serious conscience about such quotidian failings as self-centeredness, lying, swearing, and disparaging others. He may not be, he may never become, a moral giant, but he certainly seems to be a nicer guy."--"Olson, Ray" Copyright 2007 Booklist
Kirkus Book Review
Esquire editor-at-large Jacobs, who read the entire 2002 Encyclopedia Britannica for The Know-It-All (2004), embarks on his second lofty exploit: a year of living the Bible "as literally as possible." Like David confronting Goliath, Jacobs stood before his ex-girlfriend's Bible and pledged to spend the following 12 months (much of that time in New York City) exploring biblical literalism by living the good book as it was originally intended. The author attempted to follow many infamous biblical dictums--growing a beard (he does), eschewing menstruating women (he tries), accepting Creationism, keeping the Sabbath, praying three times a day, dancing before the Lord (and thus attending "the loudest, rowdiest, most drunken party of my life...with several hundred Hasidic men"), stoning blasphemers (a futile pebble toss at a pot-bellied, Sabbath-breaking Avis employee)--and learned in the process that living the Bible literally is baffling and often impossible. Rules like destroying idols and killing magicians, for example, are federally outlawed. Jacobs paid attention to both the Old and New Testaments, and received help from a board of spiritual advisors, "some conservative, some one four-letter word away from excommunication." His efforts at this daunting task are impressive and often tremendously amusing--though rarely deep or scholarly. The author's determination despite constant complications from his modern secular life (wife, job, family, NYC) underscores both the absurdity of his plight and its profundity. While debunking biblical literalism--with dinner party-ready scriptural quotes--Jacobs simultaneously finds his spirituality renewed. He discovers that "you can't immerse yourself in religion for 12 months and emerge unaffected...I didn't expect to fondle a pigeon egg...or find solace in prayer." A biblical travelogue--and far funnier than your standard King James. Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.