The Year of Living Biblically: One Man’s Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible
by A.J. Jacobs
The Year of Living Biblically: One Man's Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible by A.J. Jacobs holds a well received rating of 3.76 out of 5, based on 48.7K reader ratings. First published in 2007. The book spans 388 pages.
About The Year of Living Biblically: One Man's Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible
From the bestselling author of "The Know-It-All" comes a fascinating and timely exploration of religion and the Bible.Raised in a secular family but increasingly interested in the relevance of faith in our modern world, A.J. Jacobs decides to dive in headfirst and attempt to obey the Bible as literally as possible for one full year. He vows to follow the Ten Commandments. To be fruitful and multiply. To love his neighbor. But also to obey the hundreds of less publicized rules: to avoid wearing clothes made of mixed fibers; to play a ten-string harp; to stone adulterers.The resulting spiritual journey is at once funny and profound, reverent and irreverent, personal and universal and will make you see history's most influential book with new eyes.Jacobs's quest transforms his life even more radically than the year spent reading the entire "Encyclopedia Britannica" for "The Know-It-All." His beard grows so unruly that he is regularly mistaken for a member of ZZ Top. He immerses himself in prayer, tends sheep in the Israeli desert, battles idolatry, and tells the absolute truth in all situations - much to his wife's chagrin.Throughout the book, Jacobs also embeds himself in a cross-section of communities that take the Bible literally. He tours a Kentucky-based creationist museum and sings hymns with Pennsylvania Amish. He dances with Hasidic Jews in Brooklyn and does Scripture study with Jehovah's Witnesses. He discovers ancient biblical wisdom of startling relevance. And he wrestles with seemingly archaic rules that baffle the twenty-first-century brain.Jacobs's extraordinary undertaking yields unexpected epiphanies and challenges. A book that will charm readers both secular and religious, "The Year of Living Biblically" is part Cliff Notes to the Bible, part memoir, and part look into worlds unimaginable. Thou shalt not be able to put it down.
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Author | A.J. Jacobs |
| Published | 2007 |
| Pages | 388 |
| Genres | Non-Fiction, Religion & Spirituality, Biography & Memoir, Biography & Memoir, Religion & Spirituality |
| Average Rating | 3.76 / 5.00 |
| Total Ratings | 48,711 |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What genre is The Year of Living Biblically: One Man's Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible?
The Year of Living Biblically: One Man's Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible is categorized as Non-Fiction, Religion & Spirituality, Biography & Memoir, Biography & Memoir. Its primary genre classification is Biography & Memoir.
Is The Year of Living Biblically: One Man's Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible worth reading?
Based on 48.7K reader ratings, The Year of Living Biblically: One Man's Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible has an average score of 3.76 out of 5.00, which is considered "Well Received."
How many pages is The Year of Living Biblically: One Man's Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible?
The Year of Living Biblically: One Man's Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible has 388 pages.
Who wrote The Year of Living Biblically: One Man's Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible?
The Year of Living Biblically: One Man's Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible was written by A.J. Jacobs. It was first published in 2007.
What is the ISBN for The Year of Living Biblically: One Man's Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible?
The ISBN-13 for The Year of Living Biblically: One Man's Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible is 9780743291480.0.
Data sourced from community book ratings and reviews. Last updated: April 15, 2026
