The Jordan Harbinger Show 564: A.J. Jacobs | It’s All Relative
Sep 23, 2021
In this engaging discussion, A.J. Jacobs, a New York Times best-selling author known for his quirky experiments, shares his journey of building the world's largest family tree. He talks about what he learned from living by every biblical rule for a year and the profound connections we all share through ancestry. A.J. humorously explores the implications of DNA testing on familial ties, while emphasizing the importance of recognizing both the good and bad in our histories. He also dives into the creative process behind his unique ideas and the laughter that comes from life's absurdities.
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A.J.'s Non-Religious Upbringing
- A.J. Jacobs grew up without religion, identifying as Jewish "in the same way the Olive Garden is Italian."
- He only discovered his Jewish heritage at 13 when his mother pointed out his resemblance to relatives after he mentioned Hitler.
A Year of Living Biblically
- To understand the Bible, A.J. Jacobs lived biblically for a year, following every rule, including not shaving his beard's corners.
- This led to frequent airport security checks and unusual situations, like throwing pebbles at an adulterer.
Exposing Selective Fundamentalism
- A.J. Jacobs used his literal interpretation of biblical rules to highlight the selective nature of fundamentalism.
- By visually demonstrating the impracticality, he aimed to expose the flaws in claiming to live "by the book."
