4/100: The Year of Living Biblically, by AJ Jacobs

The Year of Living Biblically chronicles Esquire writer AJ Jacobs' year-long project to follow every single rule set forth in the Bible as literally as possible. I picked up the novel in a bookstore in a Metra station, which gives you a pretty good idea of what to expect from the book. It’s a quick read, chock-full of interesting anecdotes, has loads of historical nuggets, and I can personally testify that it’s entirely suitable for your morning or evening commute. However, enlightening it is not. Profound it is not.

Honestly, I found it pretty annoying at times. Now, after speaking with people who read the book and loved it, I’m pretty sure I’m in the minority with this opinion. After letting the book sink in for several weeks (I finished it back in October), I think I’ve finally pinpointed exactly what bothers me. It’s not that the book itself is bad, it’s just horribly misguided in what it tries to be.

The Year of Living Biblically has a fantastic premise. I mean, the mere idea of a secular New York journalist adhering to the most miniscule rules set down by the Good Book is comedy gold in itself. However, the full title of the book is The Year of Living Biblically: One Man’s Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible. Now, this book is anything but humble, and I mean that in the best possible way. It is obnoxiously self-indulgent. It is very funny – at times hilarious – because while Jacobs’ complies with the Bible’s rules, he does so with a knowing wink and a grain of irony. Whatever quasi-religious experiences he has are accompanied with witty ripostes – he never lets the reader forget that he is, above all, an Agnostic-Secular-Liberally-Educated-New York-Based-Journalist. Because of this, one knows that Jacobs isn’t actually absorbed in whatever religious fanaticism he’s studying at any given moment – and that cheapens the sacredness for those who do practice whatever respective religion he’s describing. The sincerity of him following the Bible is pretty questionable, because a majority of the time it seems like he’s in it for shits and giggles, as well as the book deal and presumed riches it will bring him.

I’m probably being too harsh of a critic. After all, nearly everything I’ve expressed here is at least partially mentioned in the book itself. However, even Jacobs’ self-critiquing seems a little odd; it's just a little too cute. I do recommend the book for the background it gives on Christianity and Judaism in the context of the 21^st century – it’s gives a nice over-view of things like theories as to how the Bible was written (the J and P traditions, etc, for those of you familiar with historical Biblical texts), and a lot of background regarding prominent laws that a lot of Jews and Christians still follow today. It’s nothing that a college Old Testament course wouldn’t cover, but still fascinating nonetheless. Jacobs is a very engaging and talented writer, and if questionable motives don’t inhibit your ability to enjoy a book, The Year of Living Biblically is definitely one to check out.