The Know-it-All

I finished this book during Trigonometry. I figured, instead of just sitting there while he goes over problems I got right, I can finish this book so I can rush home and write a blog about it!

It's not much different from A.J. Jacobs' other book I have read, The Year of Living Biblically. It just has different content matter. Instead of acting out what a book tells him, he reads the entire Encyclopedia Brittanica with the hopes of becoming the smartest man in the world.

He succeeds at reading the encyclopedia, but not in being the smartest man in the world. A small portion of the book is dedicated to Jacobs' quest to find out what intelligence really is. I wish he would have focused a little more on that deeper aspect. With his combination of humour and thought provoking points, it could have been much better.

One thing I did notice is his use of sentence fragments. He's a journalist. Writer's arent' supposed to use sentence fragments. Sure, in some books, like A Million Little Pieces by James Frey, fragments are acceptable, but not here. He usually starts paragraphs with them too, describing that the encyclopedia entry was about with just one fragment, followed by more information.

Wow, I am tired of typing the word "Encyclopedia."

Eventually, Jacobs realizes, "Maybe it's better to be dumb and happy."

I'm not quite sure about my rating for this book.

Maybe 3 and three quarters out of five?

Great, will I rate the next book with an even freakier fraction?

2 7/16 / 5? Haha.

PS: I've also started Franny and Zooey by J.D. Salinger. Boy, does Salinger love to write about whiny rich teenage kids. At least I feel sorry for a few of them!

The Know-it-All: Begin

I started The Know-it-All by A.J. Jacobs two hours after I finished East of Eden. My brother was desperate for a book so I lent him this. Funny, since the library lent it to me. He finished it just in time for me to pick it up to read after my driving lesson.

I read A.J.'s other book, The Year of Living Biblically earlier and I quite enjoyed it. He's pretty funny, but this book is turning out to be a little more fun. Instead of making me think about deep stuff, I am learning a few silly facts and being entertained. After a long bout with East of Eden, it's nice to have a lighthearted book now. A.J. Jacobs is pretty ambitious/desperate to get a good story. He read the entire encyclopedia in this book and takes what the Bible says literally in the other!

But, I assure you, my next book will be more involved. I already have three ordered from the library! It'll be one of these three: The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, 1984 by George Orwell, or Franny and Zooey by J.D. Salinger.