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I’m not a fan of ‘write what you know.’ If you don’t know, find out. I knew nothing about the Bible before I started writing ‘The Year of Living Biblically.’ That was kind of the point – to learn.

A. J. Jacobs

The Bible talks a lot about thankfulness, and I’m more thankful than I ever was. I try to concentrate on the hundreds of things that go right in a day, instead of the three or four that go wrong.
A. J. JACOBS

Day Focus Myself Right Talk Thankful Wrong
I’m addicted to self-improvement. The thing is, there’s so damn much about myself to improve.
A. J. JACOBS

Addiction Improvement Myself
I know that knowledge and intelligence are not the same thing – but they do live in the same neighborhood. I know once again, firsthand, the joy of learning.
A. J. JACOBS
After a while, if you’re committed, you start to believe in the things in which you’re praying. It’s just cognitive dissonance. You can’t live a completely religious life and not start to have it sink in.
A. J. JACOBS

Believe Commitment Life Prayer Religious Start Yourself
More people die on a per mile basis from drunk walking than from drunk driving.
A. J. JACOBS

Death Drink Drive People
Its sort of my job to feel good.
A. J. JACOBS

Feeling Goodness Job Myself
I thought religion would eventually wither away and we’d all be worshiping at the altar of science.
A. J. JACOBS

Altars Bless Christ Donate Holy Humanity Love People Religious Surrounding
I have little shame, no dignity – all in the name of a better cause.
A. J. JACOBS

Cause Dignity Identity Image Little Name Reward Shame Think
I love to live things, so I wanted to immerse myself and get into the mindset – and sandals – of my forefathers.
A. J. JACOBS

Dream Explore Live Love Mindset Sandal Shop Wanted
My immune system has always been overly welcoming of germs. It’s far too polite, the biological equivalent of a southern hostess inviting y’all nice microbes to stay awhile and have some artichoke dip.
A. J. JACOBS

Immunity Invitation Polite Stay System Welcome Yourself
When I went to Israel, it was a little disorienting, because there are so many people who look crazy and were dressed like me. There, I was just one of the apocalyptic crowd.
A. J. JACOBS

Appearance Crazy Crowd Myself People
Very few people changed the world by sitting on their couch.
A. J. JACOBS
One of the interesting things to me is that God grows throughout the Old Testament. He evolves, sort of matures, and becomes kinder.
A. J. JACOBS

Evolution God Growth Interest Kindness Oneself
How do you gag the voice in your head that says, ‘You don’t have to [do it] today. There’s always tomorrow.’?
A. J. JACOBS
A 2002 Oxford study showed counting sheep actually delays the onset of sleep. It’s just too dull to stop us from worrying about jobs and spouses.
A. J. JACOBS

Delay Sheep Sleep Study
Since I was relatively new to the Bible, I was surprised by the Old Testament God. He’s wrathful, but at other times, He’s incredibly compassionate. He’s not a one-dimensional figure at all.
A. J. JACOBS
It comes back to the old question: How can the Bible be so wise in some places and so barbaric in others? And why should we put any faith in a book that includes such brutality?
A. J. JACOBS
I am officially Jewish, but I’m Jewish in the same way the Olive Garden is an Italian restaurant.
A. J. JACOBS

Garden Good Natural Positivity
It’s hard to be in a bad mood when you’re walking around looking like you’re about to play the semifinals at Wimbledon.
A. J. JACOBS

Bad Mood Play Sports Walk Yourself
Jealousy is a useless, time-wasting emotion that’s eating me alive.
A. J. JACOBS

Alive Eat Emotion Jealous Myself Time Wasted Time
I thought religion would make me live with my head in the clouds, but as often as not, it grounds me in this world.
A. J. JACOBS

Cloud Ground Head Live Religion World
The key to making healthy decisions is to respect your future self. Honor him or her. Treat him or her like you would treat a friend or a loved one.
A. J. JACOBS

Decision Friendship Health Himself Respect Treat
I was very good at sitting. But I just read so much research about how horrible sitting is for you. It’s like, it’s really bad. It’s like Paula-Deen-glazed-bacon-doughnut bad. So I now move around as much as possible.
A. J. JACOBS

Goodness Horrible Move Myself Possible Research
I thought religion would eventually wither away and we’d all be worshiping at the altar of science.
A. J. JACOBS

Myself Religion Science Worship
My reading list grows exponentially. Every time I read a book, it’ll mention three other books I feel I have to read. It’s like a particularly relentless series of pop-up ads.
A. J. JACOBS

Aware Book Country Grow Knowledge Person Read Reading Right Speak
Paintings! They’re like TV, but they don’t move.
A. J. JACOBS

Creation Idea Innovative Level Magic Moving Quality Technology Time TV
I’d recommend learning to accept rejection. Become friends with rejection. Be nice to rejection, because it’s a huge part of being a writer, no matter where you are in your career.
A. J. JACOBS

Acceptance Career Learning Recommend Rejection Writing Yourself

I’m not a fan of ‘write what you know.’ If you don’t know, find out. I knew nothing about the Bible before I started writing ‘The Year of Living Biblically.’ That was kind of the point – to learn.

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I’m not a fan of ‘write what you know.’ If you don’t know, find out. I knew nothing about the Bible before I started writing ‘The Year of Living Biblically.’ That was kind of the point – to learn.

Related Topics

Popular Authors

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