Brown Grad/Best-selling Author AJ Jacobs in Providence
Friday, October 07, 2011
Brown grad and "stunt" author AJ Jacobs
In his book The Know-It-All: One Man's Humble Quest to Become the Smartest Person in the World, he read the entire Encyclopedia Britannica cover to cover, and then in The Year of Living Biblically: One Man's Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible, he spent one year living his life as if he were living in Biblical times, following all the moral codes set forth in the Bible. He is also editor-at-large for Esquire magazine, in addition to writing for other publications, including The New York Times and NPR.
Mr. Jacobs came back to his alma mater Wednesday night to speak about why he takes on such daunting projects, how they have changed his life, and how his time in Providence shaped his career. I was able to talk to him about his work before he came to town.
Have you been back to Providence recently?
No, and I miss it!
How do you think your time at Brown influenced your career today? Did the free-thinking atmosphere inspire you?
Absolutely. I majored in philosophy but my unofficial major was introductory courses. I loved getting a base in everything, which has helped stoke my curiosity.
What was the hardest part about The Year of Living Biblically (TYOLB)?
A couple of things. The Bible says not to covet, lie or gossip. I'm a journalist in New York, so that's pretty much 70 percent of my day. Also difficult: Stoning adulterers.
Anything you can share about the upcoming movie of TYOLB?
Actually, the movie is on hold while it's being developed as a reality show [The History Channel has bought the rights to it].
Did you get more positive or negative reactions to what you did in TYOLB? Please explain.
I was blessed to get mostly positive reactions. I think it was because I went into the project with an open mind, and wanted to learn about the Bible. Not to boast (which is a sin) but when the book came out, the book was on the cover of the evangelical magazine Relevant the same month it was featured in Penthouse. I'm a uniter not a divider!
What was the most interesting thing you learned from reading the Encyclopedia?
There were so many fascinating things in those 33,000 pages. To name just one of hundreds: The Bayer aspirin company invented heroin as a cough suppressant. Turned out it had some side effects, so they had to take it off the market.
How much of the Encyclopedia knowledge would you say you actually retained?
Probably 2 percent. But 2 percent of 44 million words is a lot better off than I used to be.
Do your various experiments burden your family?
Many readers send me emails that my wife is a saint. And I'm not going to argue with them.
Tell me a little about your latest project, The Healthiest Human in the World.
The new title is "Drop Dead Healthy" and it's about how I tried to perfect every single part of my body, from my head to my toes.
Are you trying to prove a point with your books? For example, Morgan Spurlock wanted to show how bad the food at McDonald’s is, so he made a hyperbole of himself in Super Size Me. Do you relate yourself to his work in any way?
I loved that movie. And I do relate to the idea of trying to entertain and educate at the same time. Also, putting myself through painful situations.
As a Jewish person, did you have any issue with following the rules in the New Testament? Or did you see it more as a moral experience than a religious one?
It was a challenge. But there were parts of the New Testament that I tried to adopt: One of the hardest was forgiveness. I usually forgive, but I forgive with an asterisk. I forgive, but file the info away for future use. Jesus says you have to wipe the slate clean. It's a fascinating and difficult exercise.
How long do you expect to keep writing these "stunt books," as they've been called?
I'm not sure. I haven't decided on my next book. It's all about getting a great idea.
Related Articles
- Well-Read: 5 Great Authors & Their Favorite Reads
- Well-Read: Favorite Authors Who Tweet
- Well-Read: Festival of Children’s Books & Authors Preview
- Well-Read: Summer Reading Picks of Best-Selling Authors
- “An Evening With Authors” to Feature Best-Selling Writers
- Soldier, Rhodes Scholar, Author & Youth Advocate Wes Moore to Speak in RI
Follow us on Pinterest Google + Facebook Twitter See It Read It