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Know-It-All: One Man's Humble Quest to Become the Smartest Person in the World
Know-It-All: One Man's Humble Quest to Become the Smartest Person in the World | A J Jacobs
Part memoir and part education (or lack thereof), The Know-It-All chronicles NPR contributor A.J. Jacobs's hilarious, enlightening, and seemingly impossible quest to read the Encyclopaedia Britannica from A to Z. 33,000 PAGES 44 MILLION WORDS 10 BILLION YEARS OF HISTORY 1 OBSESSED MAN To fill the ever-widening gaps in his Ivy League education, A.J. Jacobs sets for himself the daunting task of reading all thirty-two volumes of the Encyclopaedia Britannica. His wife, Julie, tells him it's a waste of time, his friends believe he is losing his mind, and his father, a brilliant attorney who had once attempted the same feat and quit somewhere around Borneo, is encouraging but unconvinced. With self-deprecating wit and a disarming frankness, The Know-It-All recounts the unexpected and comically disruptive effects Operation Encyclopedia has on every part of Jacobs's life -- from his newly minted marriage to his complicated relationship with his father and the rest of his charmingly eccentric New York family to his day job as an editor at Esquire. Jacobs's project tests the outer limits of his stamina and forces him to explore the real meaning of intelligence as he endeavors to join Mensa, win a spot on Jeopardy!, and absorb 33,000 pages of learning. On his journey he stumbles upon some of the strangest, funniest, and most profound facts about every topic under the sun, all while battling fatigue, ridicule, and the paralyzing fear that attends his first real-life responsibility -- the impending birth of his first child. The Know-It-All is an ingenious, mightily entertaining memoir of one man's intellect, neuroses, and obsessions, and a struggle between the all-consuming quest for factual knowledge and the undeniable gift of hard-won wisdom.
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Coleen
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Pickpick

I like A.J. Jacobs. He‘s funny and does a nice job mixing up more serious topics with anecdotal stories.

On a side note, do encyclopedias still exist in the traditional sense?

britt_brooke I love him! 4y
SW-T Love his books! 😻 4y
27 likes2 comments
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Shemac77
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Mehso-so

Meh. It was ok. Funny in spots. Finished reading in this beautiful spot by the lake.

Megabooks Beautiful! 5y
Cathythoughts Oh wow 👍🏻♥️✨ 5y
Buechersuechtling How wonderful. Makes one think that such a beautiful spot deserves a book one enjoyed more. 5y
JenReadsAlot Gorgeous! 5y
kspenmoll How beautiful! 5y
50 likes5 comments
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Shemac77
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Pre-night shift reading.

AlaMich Nice collection of Christopher Moore ya got there! 😊 5y
Shemac77 Adore Christopher Moore! @AlaMich 5y
AlaMich When I listened to Fool on audio, read by the amazing Euan Morton, I just about wet myself I laughed so hard. 🤣 5y
Suet624 Lamb! 5y
45 likes2 stack adds4 comments
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Bry
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This is the only book I‘ve read by AJ Jacobs but any of his would probably be a good #swissarmyrec by combining a bit of humour, general trivia and social experimentation.

#24in48 #Hour42

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Court7
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This was a great commute listen. I really enjoy AJ Jacobs works.

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Clwojick
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The last two I got from my #thriftstore today. 50 cents each! 💓💓

Photo 3/3

RebelReader Strout is wonderful! I love all her books, but this was the first one I read! 😍😍 7y
SarahSaysRead AN Jacobs books are usually really fun and interesting. 7y
90 likes2 comments
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Thndrstd
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An interesting article about the importance of reading and what you read https://qz.com/1104238/you-are-what-you-read/

britt_brooke Thanks for sharing. 👍🏻 7y
19 likes1 comment
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britt_brooke
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I love AJ Jacobs! In this book, he chronicles his year spent reading the entire Encyclopaedia Britannica. #MrKnowItAll #AugustGrrrl

His new book comes out November 7: https://www.amazon.com/Its-All-Relative-Adventures-Worlds/dp/1476734496

Cinfhen I've been curious about this book! Glad to hear it's good 7y
MarticaMustRead Love him!! And that's my fav of his too by far @britt_brooke - hysterical!!😆 7y
See All 8 Comments
britt_brooke @MarticaMustRead 🙌🏻💚😆 7y
LeahBergen This was a fun one. 👍🏻 7y
britt_brooke @LeahBergen Agree! That's a good way to describe his books - fun. 👍🏻 7y
mrp27 I enjoyed this book and I want to read his others! 7y
britt_brooke @mrp27 They're all fun reads! 💚 7y
88 likes6 stack adds8 comments
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Maude
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Pickpick

Love jeopardy? Random facts? Reading? Humor? This book had all my favorite things ❤ @Liberty #moreorless

Literaryunicorn I recently finished The Year of Living Biblically by the same author and really enjoyed it. I need to pick this one up! 8y
Maude @Literaryunicorn That one was really good too, I'm not sure which I liked better :) 8y
25 likes5 stack adds2 comments
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Riveted_Reader_Melissa
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The Peer Pressure! #BlameItOnLitsy

Looks like I've got more work to do..... I'm not sure how unless I move closer to a town with a bookstore, but I'm game.👍

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ThePurpleSponge
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After the siblings and niblings have moved on to their next christmas, it's time for me to curl up with a book! First I'm trying for a little humor with A.J. Jacobs (I loved A Year of Living Biblically a few years ago). Merry Christmas Litsy! 😍

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Nevermore1313
Pickpick

One of the only books I've ever laughed out loud at;- mans true life endeavor to read the encyclopedia while raising his first child and how he incorporates the mostly useless knowledge into lessons of parenthood.

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Leelee08
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Pickpick

I think anything by A.J. Jacobs is criminally under hyped. He's the Editor at Large for Esquire and used to write for Entertainment Weekly. He's hilarious and likes to document his adventures. He's read the entire Encyclopedia Britannica, lived the Bible for a year (he's agnostic), and even tried to get healthy using bizarre means. His books are awesome----informative AND funny. 😂📚 #augustphotochallenge #underhypedbook

Shortstack My boyfriend keeps telling me that I have to read the Year of Living Biblically. He was a huge fan of it! 8y
Leelee08 @Shortstack It's sooo good! Probably my favorite book he's written....🤓 8y
MrBook Nice review! And #nicestack! 8y
Leelee08 @MrBook Thank you!🤓👍🏻 8y
80 likes8 stack adds4 comments
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Riveted_Reader_Melissa
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I came home tonight to over 200 notifications and thought, WTH happened ! Litsy exploded???? But now I know why, and Challenge Accepted @BookishFeminist Other members I think should be followed on Litsy (and that I haven't seen on your or @brendanmleonard lists): @Gezemice @MeganMarieWrites @quirkyreader @Lindy @BestOfFates @Chessa @Ambrosnazzy @kammartinez @kmdartist @Lizpixie @Reese_Pearly.Pages @kissxxmyxxconverse @Johanna414 ...

brendanmleonard 👍🏻 love love love your suggestions! 8y
Yournewfriendsams This has been such a fun way to find great new people to follow! 8y
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BookishTrish Awwwww shucks 8y
BookishFeminist Sorry not sorry 😁😁 I love your suggestions and posts & I LOVE LITSY 💜💜💜 8y
Chessa Thanks for the shout out! Right back atcha! 😘 8y
LauraBrook Aw, I'm super chuffed that you mentioned me!! Your list is basically everyone I follow here, which cracks me up!! ❤️😘😘😘 8y
Alisnazzy I'm so honored. Thank you so much. This just made my entire week and it's only Tuesday. Thanks hon!!! 8y
Laura317 Thank you, sweet friend! You are right, Litsy is full of such wonderful people! I like your #LotsaLitsy! 8y
Merethebookgal Aw, shucks! Thanks for the tag, it means a lot 😊. I love your posts and all these great bookish people you've tagged as well! 8y
MeganMarieWrites Aw!!! Thanks so much! 8y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa @LauraBrook I know right! Just add @Sue @Trav @NatalieR @Bookzombie and a few others that I think were all mentioned in other people's posts today and you about cover my following list pre-today too! 8y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa @MeganMarieWrites I loved your Hamilton posts with the book quotes verses the lyrics! That was fantastic! 8y
Gezemice Oh thank you, you have also been a great Litsy friend to me and expanded my tbr :) And great suggestions for people to follow! Litsy is so awesome! 😊😊 8y
BarbaraTheBibliophage Thank you dahhhling! #LoveLitsyLove ❤️📚❤️📚❤️ 8y
NatalieR Ah, you're very sweet! Thanks for the tag!! 😍 8y
Coleen ❤️❤️❤️ 8y
Lizpixie ❤️❤️❤️❤️love you guys too❤️❤️❤️❤️ 8y
Bookzombie @Riveted_Reader_Melissa Thank you! I have so many people to go follow now. So exciting! 💕 8y
angrylilasian Haha! This is so fun!! 8y
Sue ❤️ 8y
Sammidnightsun And always entertained 😊😊😊 8y
kissxxmyxxconverse @Riveted_Reader_Melissa oh my goodness, thank you! I love seeing your thoughts on books too :) 8y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa @kissxxmyxxconverse You are so welcome! I love your posts too! 8y
Varshitha Thanks for mentioning me @Riveted_Reader_Melissa .. Love to see ur posts and interact with you guys in litsy💕 8y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa @johnnie_cakes You are very welcome! 8y
Jessisreading Thanks for the shoutout! I leave Litsy alone for a couple days and this happens! 8y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa @Jessisreading You are very welcome! 8y
61 likes31 comments
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Bkwurm
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The author of this book I'm reading spends a little bit of time talking about TAXONOMY, which I misread at first as TAXIDERMY. It was a very confusing few minutes before I realized my mistake.

Laura317 I'd forgotten this! This book was so good. 8y
Autumnscribe Loved this one. But A Year of Living Biblically is by far my favorite of his books (so far). It is HILARIOUS. 8y
Bkwurm @Autumnscribe I read The Year of Living Biblically earlier this year, and you're right, it's WONDERFUL! Loved it! 8y
15 likes4 stack adds3 comments
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Bkwurm
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This seems like a proper read for someone who's motto has always been "LEARN EVERYTHING." (And who eats her kid's leftover lunch chips out of Tupperware while drinking vodka tonics, but that's neither here nor there.)

TheWellReadOwl No judgement here 😉 8y
TheWellReadOwl And... "judgment" has no "e" but that's what I get for texting and shoving a spoonful of ice cream that I promised my kids was just for them. Ha. 8y
Bkwurm @TheWellReadOwl misspellings are perfectly justified when ice-cream is involved. Where's my bite? 🍦 8y
10 likes6 stack adds3 comments