This book, the followup to his journey through the Encyclopedia Brittanica, was just as self-effacing, subtly humorous, and well-written. While his previous book expertly guides the unsuspecting reader into examining the meaning and value of intelligence in everyday life, this book centers on its investigation of religion and spirituality in a similar context.

I am a pastor's son who has done his share of soul-searching, and I was somewhat fearful that this book would be flippant and overcritical in an effort at being hip and humorous. What I found instead was a serious and surprisingly insightful look at the value, meaning, and purpose of religion in today's world. It is quite an accomplishment, given the obviously overzealous goal of following the Bible entirely literally. Such a quest is one that could easily result in a tedious, repetitive trudge through the scriptures on one hand, or a light, surface-level dismissal of their many contradictions and irrelevancies to modern life. Jacobs manages to walk down the middle without listing to one side of the other, seriously looking at the often archaic implications of the best-selling book of all time while keeping one foot solidly in modern-day New York. He manages to be respectful and reverent of the many beliefs that he comes across in his journey while still critically examining them. Maintaining such a balance is not a feat that should be ignored.

His writing is also surprisingly self-revealing, giving the reader a candid glimpse into his life and those around him. His struggles and triumphs in his personal life, relationships, work, and even writing the book itself are artfully woven into the main storyline, adding a personal dimension to the story that draws the reader in but manages to avoid distracting from the story as a whole.

A.J. Jacobs has a unique combination of wit, wisdom, and insight that make his books highly enjoyable, captivating, and capable of leaving the reader with plenty of substantial questions to ponder at the end. Definitely an enjoyable read, but also intellectually challenging if one looks for it.