In 'The Year of Living Constitutionally', A.J. Jacobs embarks on a year-long journey to understand the U.S. Constitution by living as closely as possible to its original meaning. He engages in various adventures such as carrying an 18th-century musket, asserting his right to free speech with handwritten pamphlets, and participating in Revolutionary War reenactments. The book delves into the debates between originalism and living constitutionalism, offering insights into the Constitution's impact on modern American life and the ongoing debates about its interpretation. Jacobs' experiences highlight the benefits and challenges of adhering to 18th-century laws in the 21st century, providing a fresh and entertaining perspective on the Constitution's role in American democracy.
In 'Drop Dead Healthy', A.J. Jacobs chronicles his epic endeavor to transform his body and become the healthiest person alive. After being hospitalized with tropical pneumonia and feeling ashamed of his middle-aged physique, Jacobs consulted a wide array of experts, including sleep consultants, sex clinicians, nutritionists, and dermatologists. He subjected himself to numerous workouts, such as Strollercize and Finger Fitness, and experimented with various diets, including raw foods, veganism, and extreme chewing. The book is a blend of memoir, adventure, and how-to manual, offering entertaining and scientifically sound advice on health and wellness. Jacobs' journey is marked by both humorous anecdotes and profound reflections on the pursuit of health and a well-lived life[1][3][5].
In 'Thanks a Thousand', A.J. Jacobs embarks on a global journey to thank every person involved in producing his morning cup of coffee. This deceptively simple idea transforms his life and highlights the benefits of gratitude, which include improving compassion, healing the body, and battling depression. Jacobs meets a diverse range of people, from Minnesota miners to Colombian farmers, and provides insights on how to focus on the positive aspects of daily life and practice gratitude effectively.
In this book, A.J. Jacobs embarks on a year-long experiment to live according to the Bible's rules as literally as possible. Raised in a secular Jewish family, Jacobs delves into the world of religion to understand its relevance in modern life. He follows over 700 biblical rules, from the well-known Ten Commandments to the lesser-known laws such as avoiding clothes made of mixed fibers and stoning adulterers. The book is a humorous and profound account of his journey, where he interacts with various religious groups, including Amish, Hassidic Jews, and evangelical Christians. Jacobs' experiment leads to surprising insights and personal growth, challenging his initial skepticism about religion and highlighting the complexities of biblical literalism[1][3][5].
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A counterintuitive way to become more clear, creative, and persistent, via a writer who calls himself a “human guinea pig.”
A.J. Jacobs is an author, journalist, podcaster, and human guinea pig. His new podcast “The Puzzler” is produced by iHeart and is in the Top 20 Apple Podcasts. He has written four New York Times bestsellers that combine memoir, science, humor and a dash of self-help. Among his books are “The Year of Living Biblically” and “The Know-It-All.” He has told several Moth stories, has given several TED talks that have amassed over 10 million views. His latest book is “The Puzzler,” which Booklist called “ridiculously entertaining,” and The New York Times called “a romp, both fun and funny.”
In this episode we talk about:
- The “puzzle mindset” and how it can change the way you approach your problems
- Creating a puzzle that will take billions of years to solve
- How puzzles can help us during dark times
- The dark side of the puzzling world
- How his gratitude project made him better at talking to himself
- Learning to appreciate everyday objects and people he sees all the time
- How pretending to be a good person helped him actually learn to be one – most of the time
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