Reviews and Comments

An absolutely beautiful book. Shane Claiborne has an incredible heart for his neighbor, and tells the story of his journey to a genuine discipleship of Christ in a disarmingly friendly, simple, witty, and humorous way. Don't let the tone fool you, however - this is a book that challenges the Church to re-examine what its core principles really are, why it is on this earth, and provides support for those disillusioned by the oppositional, self-centered Christianity that is too prevalent in Christendom today. He makes the radical suggestion that we follow Christ's teachings, fully and completely, regardless of how they may clash with capitalism, politics, religion, and life and relationships as we know it. It's a powerful idea in and of itself, but without an application, an idea is all it is. Shane's life offers a glimpse into what that idea looks like, lived out, and it is a beautiful, glorious, humbling, simple, and moving portrait of a man simply trying to follow in the footsteps of Christ. It is evident that society - including many Christians - regards his way of life as foolish and impractical. And it is, judging by the standard of the capitalistic, politically-charged perspective of America. Fortunately, that perspective is miles away from that of Christ.

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.

This book has a special place in my heart. Nearly a decade ago, someone pasted the entirety of The Hole Man in a comment on Slashdot, and I printed it out, read it on the bus, and loved everything about it. Looking for more, I originally picked up a copy of N-Space in some used book store in Seattle - probably Ophelia's - and was instantly fascinated. This was the book that really got me back into sci-fi, gave me a taste of what was possible, and fully introduced me to the inimitable Larry Niven and his Known Space. I've since read several more tales in Known Space and have several more on my shelf, and have launched out into many other worlds as well.

I've lost count of how many copies of this book I've bought - I snag a copy whenever I see one for cheap, because I love giving it to people to read, because this collection is a great place to jump in - the stories range from bite-size to excerpts from full novels. I'm sure I'll buy many more in the future.