One Man's Humble Quest to Become the Smartest Person in the World
This is getting a little strange. As part of my plan to read for an hour a day, I'm reading a book by a guy who is reading the entire encyclopedia for four hours a day. I think I'm becoming derivative. I wonder if anyone out there is reading my blog as part of a project to read blogs about books for fifteen minutes a day.
In some ways, this is sort of like reading a Cliff Notes version of the encyclopedia. As Jon Stewart jokes in the cover blurb, "I've always said, why doesn't someone put out a less complete version of the encyclopedia. Well done, A.J." In some ways, this is an easy read because of all the short sections. In other ways, it's a struggle, thanks to the constant parade of information.
Still, there is a story here. Along with all the facts (Did you know they have a braille version of Scrabble?) we do get to see Jacobs grow, as his knowledge, facts, and possibly even wisdom expand. Jacobs' various attempts to use his newfound knowledge -- at a Mensa conference, taking on the Columbia Debate Team, even interviewing Alex Trebek -- are entertaining. The book is also part memoir, as he delves into his relationship with his father and his wife's struggle to get pregnant. A lot can happen in a year when you're reading the encyclopedia. You can even make it on "Who Wants to be a Millionaire?"
I have a nagging problem with the book. It just seems like too much of a stunt. Part of me wonders whether Jacobs got the book deal before or after deciding to read the encyclopedia. He has a similar book about living biblically for a year. When did he get a book deal for that? There is this whole type of stunt non-fiction, this "I'm going to do this wacky thing and write about it for a year" genre. These stories are always presented as personal journeys. I enjoy them, but they often seem a bit artificial, as if the goal of the book was just to write a book.
But really does it even matter? Perhaps I'm being unfair. Jaocbs is an entertaining and funny writer. The book is chock full of quirky facts, which I enjoyed. And by the end, he does seem to have broadened his mind, which was his goal. Still, at times, it does feel a little too staged. I probably worry about this more than others, because I would like to write one of these stunt books myself someday -- only ideally mine wouldn't be just a stunt. For the most part, I think this book is more than a stunt, though sometimes I'm not entirely sure.
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