The Year of Living Biblically by A.J. Jacobs

He quickly realizes that every line from the bible is open to interpretation. Jacobs wakes up and is immediately overwhelmed, as every minor decision of his morning routine is guided by some sort of rule from the bible. He ends this section by admitting that many people think his idea is a bad one and that he himself has doubts about his course of action. He also assembles an advisory board of friends and family to help him make decisions. He decides that for the start of his project, he will follow New Testament rules. He also sets some ground rules for his project, including choosing which version of the bible to follow, a determination not to follow the literal words of a rule but to determine the original intent of the rule, and a consideration of the differences between the Old and New Testaments in terms of a “code” of rules to be followed. Jacobs describes the preparation he undertook, including purchasing several bibles and doing copious research in order to compile the list of rules he must follow. Jacobs lists his reasons for writing the book: he needs a follow-up to his last book he has a “god-sized” hole in his heart that he hopes immersing himself in religion will help fill he is fascinated by the millions of Americans who claim to take the bible literally, though he suspects they pick and choose the rules they follow. Jacobs credits his uncle Gil with the inspiration for the book Gil is a “spiritual omnivore” who once did, in fact, attempt to live literally according to the bible’s teachings. The book begins with a prologue in which Jacobs describes some of the irritating issues he’s had to deal with because of his project, and offers a brief glimpse of his spiritual upbringing in a secular Jewish household in New York City, which afforded him very little by way of strict religious teaching. Through this lens of experience, Jacobs interrogates religious faith and reevaluates his own attitude towards religion and spirituality.

Jacobs documents his attempt to live by a literal interpretation of every rule offered by the Bible.

In his book The Year of Living Biblically (2007), A.J.

The Year of Living Biblically by A.J. Jacobs