The Year of Living Biblically

The Year Of Living Biblically
by
A. J. Jacobs

Lauren reviewed this book last year...so I will make this one quick. I actually really liked this book - I listened to it on audiobook and I think that was a perfect fit. I could listen to him while driving or cleaning the house. It was a funny and eye opening experience for me and I felt inspired to dive into and explore my spirituality more - but without the beard.

The Year of Living Biblically: One Man's Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible

This was my Non-Fiction book for the challenge this month and I thoroughly enjoyed it! The author is agnostic but was raised Jewish and decides to find out for himself what the Bible's all about by living it to the letter for one full year. Not only are his experiences unique and hilarious (though never sacriligious), it is fascinating to learn the origins and meanings of so many religious traditions. All of Christianity and Judaism consider the bible (or at least parts of it) to be be sacred and a source of guidance in life but we tend to pick and choose what rules apply to us. Jacobs decides that to fully understand it, he must fully practice it (with a few exceptions, like beating unruly children and killing magicians). He grows a beard, wears only pure fabrics, practices tithing for the first time, keeps all sorts of funny chastity rules, is COMPLETELY honset with everyone, stones adulterers and so on. Along the way he consults and visits with practicers of many different "bible believing" religions, including an overnight stay in Amish country and a pilgrimage to Israel. His narratives are honest and hilarious - as well as astonishingly informative. And I found my testimony deepening as I learned more about the Bible and thought intently about what it means to be "a spiritual being having a mortal experience" as opposed to "a mortal being having spiritual experiences". This is a book I will never tire of picking up off the shelf when I need a good read.