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The Year of Living Biblically

One Man's Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible
May 18, 2013modestgoddess rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
This one's a keeper - I'm going to buy my own copy. AJ Jacobs in part wanted to show how ridiculous it is to attempt to follow the laws of the Bible literally and to follow all of them. Over the course of the book, he realizes that absolutely no one - not even evangelical Christians - follows the Bible wholly and literally. Everyone who follows it, follows "Cafe Christianity" or "Cafe Judaism" - and is none the worse for it. As he decides, by the end, why not pick and choose the things that help you to live a better life? ("better" meaning more compassionate, more mindful, more honest etc) This book is full of interesting anecdotes, as Jacobs delves into a wide range of spiritual practices in search of enlightenment. (The snake-handling branch of Christianity is incredibly interesting, and I was intrigued to have a glimpse inside the creationist museum along with him and to learn about the egg ceremony and the dancing and....so many fascinating tales in this book!)