The Year of Living Biblically One Man's Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible by A.J. Jacobs
I thought this book was really interesting. Not as funny as the encyclopedia one, though it did have its funny parts, this book was really thought provoking and educational. Which is really not the kind of book I usually read, but it was a good change.
In the first 2/3 or so of the book, the author attempts to follow the Old Testament rules. And I mean all the rules - he read the bible and wrote down everything that seemed like a rule. A lot of which seem kind of bizarre - wear white, build a hut, don't wear clothes of mixed fibers - but some that seemed really good - tithe and be thankful and pray. In the end of the book he focused more on the New Testament, which because I know it better than the Old was not as interesting to me, but I enjoyed his perspective on the things I know. The author is jewish, but identifies himself as agnostic, so although he is more familier with the Jewish tradition, he isn't 100% sold on it. He also spoke with many "spiritual advisers" from many different faiths. I thought their advice was all very thoughtful, no matter what religion they practiced. I thought his journey was very compelling - and I particularly enjoyed the progression of his beard, kind of amazing! I would totally recommend this book to anyone who is interested in religion or history.
The book didn't address every religion, but I was happy to note that Lutherans got a few mentions :)
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
No. 137: The Know-It-All
The Know-It-All: One Man's Humble Quest to Become the Smartest Person in the World by A.J. Jacobs
Okay, this book was awesome. Aside from having a great title, it was so so funny and interesting! Basically, this guy reads the entire Encylopaedia Britanica. (Any How I Met Your Mother fans out there? Encyclopaedia?) So every chapter is a letter and in he writes about funny or interesting entries from the encyclopedia and from his life (he tries to: join Mensa, become a contestant on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, have a baby, and use interesting encylopedia facts to impress people) . I would totally recommend this book for anyone - in fact some people might be getting it for Christmas. Hopefully not people that read this book though.
This is a library book, and some previous reader went through the book and corrected all the grammer and punctuation errors in the book (of which there were a suprising amount) and underlined in an ironic way, a line in the book about the importance of editing. Made the book a tiny bit funnier, but it was also a little annoying.
I have another book by this same guy that I am really looking forward to, where he tries to follow EVERY rule in the bible for a year. Sounds hysterical!
Okay, this book was awesome. Aside from having a great title, it was so so funny and interesting! Basically, this guy reads the entire Encylopaedia Britanica. (Any How I Met Your Mother fans out there? Encyclopaedia?) So every chapter is a letter and in he writes about funny or interesting entries from the encyclopedia and from his life (he tries to: join Mensa, become a contestant on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, have a baby, and use interesting encylopedia facts to impress people) . I would totally recommend this book for anyone - in fact some people might be getting it for Christmas. Hopefully not people that read this book though.
This is a library book, and some previous reader went through the book and corrected all the grammer and punctuation errors in the book (of which there were a suprising amount) and underlined in an ironic way, a line in the book about the importance of editing. Made the book a tiny bit funnier, but it was also a little annoying.
I have another book by this same guy that I am really looking forward to, where he tries to follow EVERY rule in the bible for a year. Sounds hysterical!
Friday, November 14, 2008
No. 136: Salvation in Death
Salvation in Death by J.D. Robb
I gave in and bought this book, even though I hate to buy hardcover books, and I don't really like to buy these books because I don't really re-read them. But it was 40% off so I bought it anyway. It was good, but definitely not the best in the series, not even close. I didn't think there was enough about the secondary characters - which is one of the best parts, not enough about Eve and Rourke's relationship - another best part, not enough yucky crime parts and the mystery was not that mysterious and it was kind of stuffed into the last few chapters. It was kind of whiney and too much remembering the bad past which, to be honest, has been kind of played out in this series. So I am disappointed by Nora again, this is the second new book of hers in a row that has been kind of lame. I hope her next book (the final of the Sign of Seven trilogy) is better.
I have two new exciting library books to read next! I can't wait!
I gave in and bought this book, even though I hate to buy hardcover books, and I don't really like to buy these books because I don't really re-read them. But it was 40% off so I bought it anyway. It was good, but definitely not the best in the series, not even close. I didn't think there was enough about the secondary characters - which is one of the best parts, not enough about Eve and Rourke's relationship - another best part, not enough yucky crime parts and the mystery was not that mysterious and it was kind of stuffed into the last few chapters. It was kind of whiney and too much remembering the bad past which, to be honest, has been kind of played out in this series. So I am disappointed by Nora again, this is the second new book of hers in a row that has been kind of lame. I hope her next book (the final of the Sign of Seven trilogy) is better.
I have two new exciting library books to read next! I can't wait!
Friday, November 7, 2008
No. 135: Foul Play
Foul Play by Janet Evanovich
This is a re-issue of one of her old books, before she got famous. I thought it was really cute, and funny, like all of her books. And a very quick read. Although for some reason I got it in my head that this was a Thanksgiving book so I kept waiting for the Thanksgiving part to start up. But there was nothing. The only part I didn't like was the FMC's reaction to stress (I don't want to spoil it and say what she did) but it was stupid, and the MMC totally forgave her and got over it without even talking about it. That was kind of weird because I would be super pissed! But the dialoge was funny and realistic. I really like Janet Evanovich's heroines because they are never too perfect and annoying, they seem like real people - unusually clumsy and magnets for trouble, but real.
This is a re-issue of one of her old books, before she got famous. I thought it was really cute, and funny, like all of her books. And a very quick read. Although for some reason I got it in my head that this was a Thanksgiving book so I kept waiting for the Thanksgiving part to start up. But there was nothing. The only part I didn't like was the FMC's reaction to stress (I don't want to spoil it and say what she did) but it was stupid, and the MMC totally forgave her and got over it without even talking about it. That was kind of weird because I would be super pissed! But the dialoge was funny and realistic. I really like Janet Evanovich's heroines because they are never too perfect and annoying, they seem like real people - unusually clumsy and magnets for trouble, but real.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
No. 134: Inside Delta Force
Inside Delta Force by Eric Haney
I checked this book out from the library to use as research for my awesome NaNoWriMo book. But I really really liked it as a story too. It seems like it would have been super cool to be in Delta Force in the 70's and early 80's because I guess everyone had sweet mustaches. (As an aside, the only kind of facial hair you can have in APD is a mustache. Aaron and I have an agreement, he is free to grow a mustache, but as long as he has it, he has to sleep on the couch.)
The book included a lot about the Delta selection and training programs which are totally hard and crazy and awesome. He also had many many stories about the missions he went on, including Beruit, Greneda, rescuing hijacked planes and other very cool things. There were also many things that were not cool - like his theory that the US government purposely left POWs in Vietnam, and that the Sandenistas were led by U.S. soldiers. Not good things, but really interesting. I might have to read this book again, after a little research, so I can get a better handle on the stuff he talks about.
I thought his writing style was very interesting. You can tell he is a soldier writing a book about being a soldier, and not a writer writing a book about being a soldier. The dialogue seemed really authentic and his descriptions had a unique point of view.
I am not sure if he has written anything else, but I did hear that the TV show "The Unit" was based on Delta Force as portrayed in this book. I guess technically Delta is a secret unit, even though everyone knows about them. Thanks to this book I guess, and the movie Black Hawk Down (the guy Hoot played by Eric Bana) which was a great movie.
I checked this book out from the library to use as research for my awesome NaNoWriMo book. But I really really liked it as a story too. It seems like it would have been super cool to be in Delta Force in the 70's and early 80's because I guess everyone had sweet mustaches. (As an aside, the only kind of facial hair you can have in APD is a mustache. Aaron and I have an agreement, he is free to grow a mustache, but as long as he has it, he has to sleep on the couch.)
The book included a lot about the Delta selection and training programs which are totally hard and crazy and awesome. He also had many many stories about the missions he went on, including Beruit, Greneda, rescuing hijacked planes and other very cool things. There were also many things that were not cool - like his theory that the US government purposely left POWs in Vietnam, and that the Sandenistas were led by U.S. soldiers. Not good things, but really interesting. I might have to read this book again, after a little research, so I can get a better handle on the stuff he talks about.
I thought his writing style was very interesting. You can tell he is a soldier writing a book about being a soldier, and not a writer writing a book about being a soldier. The dialogue seemed really authentic and his descriptions had a unique point of view.
I am not sure if he has written anything else, but I did hear that the TV show "The Unit" was based on Delta Force as portrayed in this book. I guess technically Delta is a secret unit, even though everyone knows about them. Thanks to this book I guess, and the movie Black Hawk Down (the guy Hoot played by Eric Bana) which was a great movie.
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