bible
I just completed a pretty amazing book: The Year of Living Biblically by A.J. Jacobs. 
I have to thank you deeply for this review. We had this book at the bookstore, and my bigotries against the "Year Of" themes that have become so popular in the last two years, along with my mistaken preconception of what this was about kept me from even reading the dust jacket. My coworker is an atheist, so I am the only person in the store who stocks and reads any of the religious titles, and I pride my self on being well read and well rounded - obviously my own ignorance bit me on this one.
After reading your review, I will restock the book and I will move it out of the Christian writings section and put it in general religion I think - Having not read the jacket I didn't realize that the writer was Jewish, but I don't think I want to put this in the Jewish section either... Hell, actually, if I'd have known or paid attention that this was the Encyclopedia guy I used to listen to on NPR every week I would have bought it right out the door.
Again, thank you so much. I will be reading this now thanks to you.
I'm glad my review helped in some way. 
If anything, the book skews towards Jewish -- but I, too, wouldn't classify it as such specifically. (He decides early on to focus on the Old Testament for nine months and the New Testament for three.) If there's a section dedicated to Biblical / Textual study in general, I would probably categorize it there.
I would also recommend heading over to his homepage (http://www.ajjacobs.com) to get a taste of his writing style.
-- S
If anything, the book skews towards Jewish -- but I, too, wouldn't classify it as such specifically. (He decides early on to focus on the Old Testament for nine months and the New Testament for three.) If there's a section dedicated to Biblical / Textual study in general, I would probably categorize it there. I would also recommend heading over to his homepage (http://www.ajjacobs.com) to get a taste of his writing style.
-- S
I haven't read it but I want to. That does sound like an intriguing challenge, anyway one looks at it. And having a talented writer chronicle the journey had to be entertaining.
That does sound like an intriguing challenge, anyway one looks at it. And having a talented writer chronicle the journey had to be entertaining.Secret revelation: I was hoping that you, specifically, would read this review and consider this book. As someone who not only demonstrates a great deal of knowledge of the Biblical texts but also as someone who has taught them on many levels (including here on Mindsay), I'm curious to discover what your thoughts are on his journey through attempted literalism.
I was racing through the end of the book on a deadline (as it's due back to the library tomorrow -- with a long waitlist!), but this afternoon socKs surprised me with a copy she purchased just for us. She knows me all too well -- as someone who likes to revisit books already finished. (And, I'm assuming, this will give her more time to read it as well.)
-- S
I was racing through the end of the book on a deadline (as it's due back to the library tomorrow -- with a long waitlist!), but this afternoon socKs surprised me with a copy she purchased just for us.
She knows me all too well -- as someone who likes to revisit books already finished. (And, I'm assuming, this will give her more time to read it as well.) -- S
Oh! Pick me! Me, too!
Well, yeah. Of course you too. Feel free to take a look at this book if you have a chance. Although his journey through the Bible isn't one which permanently reshapes all aspects of his life forever, he does come out of it a changed man -- which is something you've been through with your Bible study.
-- S
Feel free to take a look at this book if you have a chance. Although his journey through the Bible isn't one which permanently reshapes all aspects of his life forever, he does come out of it a changed man -- which is something you've been through with your Bible study. -- S
I'll have to check that out.
Thanks for the review.
Thanks for the review.
thanks for the recommendation.
i think the one question i really have is how to decide what a certain commandment or blessing says. As you know quite well, most commandments and such can have lots of different interpretations and thousands of years of study have been made to attempt to figure this stuff out.
did he pick an orthodox christian and an orthodox jewish group to follow?
where did he go to pray?
i guess i'll have to pick up the book to figure it out
His self-prescribed mandate was to follow the law as literally as possible. For him, it meant not following a specific group as much as it did shaping his own behavior under the guidance and with the assistance of religious folks from all walks of life.
Example: He saw the prohibition of mixing linen and wool together. He then consulted with an Orthodox Jewish shaatnez tester who helped by testing his clothes for mixed fibers. This mirrors a tradition shared by the Orthodox Jewish community today.
His Sabbath observance, however, was not one you would find in the Orthodox Jewish community. He decided not to do "work," as described specifically in the commandments pertaining to the Sabbath itself. It did not preclude the 39 actions which were interpreted through Rabbinic law to be prohibited as well -- because his experiment was not a study in the rabbinic tradition. He would blow a shofar (ram's horn) on the first of every month of the Gregorian (secular) calendar. And his praying, on the most part, was done on his own.
Pick up the book anyway -- it's a fascinating read.
-- S
Example: He saw the prohibition of mixing linen and wool together. He then consulted with an Orthodox Jewish shaatnez tester who helped by testing his clothes for mixed fibers. This mirrors a tradition shared by the Orthodox Jewish community today.
His Sabbath observance, however, was not one you would find in the Orthodox Jewish community. He decided not to do "work," as described specifically in the commandments pertaining to the Sabbath itself. It did not preclude the 39 actions which were interpreted through Rabbinic law to be prohibited as well -- because his experiment was not a study in the rabbinic tradition. He would blow a shofar (ram's horn) on the first of every month of the Gregorian (secular) calendar. And his praying, on the most part, was done on his own.
Pick up the book anyway -- it's a fascinating read.
-- S
i will get it.
the big question is: how the heck did he stay married!?
Not easily.
His wife, Julie, was a trooper throughout the book. And she became understandably upset at him for quite a few things. Example: the rules in Leviticus dealing with purity/impurity of a woman due to where she is on her menstrual cycle (Leviticus 15:20).
Per these rules (in the literal sense), he was not able to lie in a bed or sit in a chair where a menstruating woman has recently been. Now -- this became an issue for him on the subway because he had no idea who had sat it the seat before him. But it also wasn't a fun experience for him at home when he explained this to his wife. One day he came in and tried to sit somewhere -- and his wife informed him that she had sat down on every single chair in the house that day, leaving nowhere for him to sit. Payback...
As far as I know -- they're still married.
-- S
His wife, Julie, was a trooper throughout the book. And she became understandably upset at him for quite a few things. Example: the rules in Leviticus dealing with purity/impurity of a woman due to where she is on her menstrual cycle (Leviticus 15:20).
Per these rules (in the literal sense), he was not able to lie in a bed or sit in a chair where a menstruating woman has recently been. Now -- this became an issue for him on the subway because he had no idea who had sat it the seat before him. But it also wasn't a fun experience for him at home when he explained this to his wife. One day he came in and tried to sit somewhere -- and his wife informed him that she had sat down on every single chair in the house that day, leaving nowhere for him to sit. Payback...
As far as I know -- they're still married.
-- S
well, in my opinion, the whole lying or being near a woman during her cycle was created BY women. It was their way of saying, "Get the Fuck away from me, you horny SOB. I feel like crap, there's sand up my crotch and this desert air is killing me."
but i'm sure there are other things. like when his wife, Julie wanted him to do something around the house on Saturday and he said he couldn't.
or when he threw out all her bread and stuff during Passover...and she was trying to make an Easter dinner.
etc.
Let's just say that you're not the only one to interpret the reasons for the family purity laws like that -- it's covered when he visits a Samaritan community in Israel.
As for the clashes between his wife and his project -- let's just say that some of them were even more commonplace than the ritual holiday observances...
-- S
As for the clashes between his wife and his project -- let's just say that some of them were even more commonplace than the ritual holiday observances...
-- S
I really don't know how mankind lived with all those rules. On my quest as a young adult trying to finding out who G-d is, I picked up my KJV that my mother got me for Christmas (because she knew I was on a quest for G-d). I began to read from cover to cover and when I hit Leviticus, I settled in my heart that G-d was not this cruel, as I tossed the Book against the wall. Thank God, He's a good God and has redeemed us. Much much happier now in knowing Him.
About this book from AJ, it really would make an excellent movie. He seems like you in a sense. Inquisitive, intelligent, funny, now the long hair.
The cover makes it look like a film by Mel or Albert Brooks...
I wouldn't be surprised if this gets optioned as a film. Or a reality TV show. Or something like that. Apparently they were in talks for film rights to the book where he reads the Encyclopedia...
-- S
-- S
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