Funny book - source of my favorite Alex Trebek quote: "I'm curious about everything; I'm even curious about things I'm not even interested in."

I really enjoy Jacobs' writing style. He is quite humorous and I really enjoyed the way he blended his stories with some of the information he has learned while reading the encyclopedia. I give this book 4 stars out of 5 ( )

I was probably six the first time I decided to read the encyclopedia, I made it maybe 10 pages into A. Through the years I decided to read it (the dictionary or the Bible) many more times with just about the same success.

When I saw the premise of Know-It-All I knew this book was for me, and it didn't disappoint.

The author juxtaposes amusing entries from the encyclopedia with anecdotes from his personal life during this intense encyclopedia reading year. Laugh out loud funny in parts I highly recommend it to all the book nerds out there who ever wanted to, but didn't read the encyclopedia. ( )

This was a book I picked up at a library sale on a whim. I don't read too much non-fiction, and generally prefer books in the fantasy genre. However, once I picked this one up, I couldn't put it down. It may not be anything life-changing, but it is a fun and often informative read, as we join Jacobs in his quest to read the entire Encyclopedia Britannica. There were many laugh-out-loud moments (my apologies to those sitting next to me on the plane), and I may have even learned a thing or two along the way. Highly recommended. ( )

As is apparently my custom, I failed to look at what format this book takes before checking it out from the local library (I was actually searching out his newer book about living “Biblically” but, as usual, this was unavailable). Essentially this is an Autobiography-by-Alphabet. His quest to read all 33,000 pages is presented to the reader through the structure of listing selected entries – A through Z. Within these entries he either regurgitates interesting factoids and/or he wanders off into the realm of “a day in the life” where he’s attempting to impregnate his wife, or chronically feeling intellectual envy towards his father, brother-in-law, etc. He also establishes assignments in conjunction with his quest. He competes with the Columbia debate team, has a one-on-one with a Rabbi, gets on Who Wants to be a Millionaire?. It’s all very SUPER SIZE ME (which, I suppose, was being produced around the same time).

As silly as it seems to read a person reading the Encyclopaedia Britannica, it sure beats reading some dude reading Derrida, which I occasionally get tricked into doing. I found much of it very entertaining. In my first sitting with this, I read his snarky quote regarding Keanu Reeve’s [lack of] acting ability. I had emailed a similar K.R. slam to a friend not two hours earlier and I haven’t even seen a movie starring that jack ass in a decade! I knew I’d like this book.

Additionally, I can relate to his quest of filling in the innumerable gaps within his knowledge/information database (assuming this was not simply an angle to get a book published). In contrast to his pockmarked intellectual landscape, my knowledge topography is something more akin to a mountain (or at least a sizable hill) of mostly boring architecture crap immediately bordering a Grand Canyon devoid of every other worldly thing that any given person would want to discuss over cocktails. So I’ve finally established a system of forgoing yet another Vidler book attempting to explain how modern architecture relates to inexplicable French theories to instead shovel books on Taxes, Baseball, Charles Lindberg, Neuroscience, Witch Hunts, and, of course, some guy reading EB into my prodigious mental abyss. ( )

Another great book, highly recommended etc. Nothing groundbreaking just interesting, funny, and "good fun."

Quotes in private comments.

Right now, I'm too tired and pissed off at LibraryThing and it's 200-books-only-for-free-people policy to write more. ( )

Jacobs makes the encyclopedia fun. I thoroughly enjoyed his quest from a-ak to zywiek and felt I was making the journey along the way with him (when someone asked how far he was and he said he was in the C's, I couldn't help but think "Me too!"). His sense of humor and his self-referential tendencies give you a sense of fun and excitement as he reads, tries to find his place in the intelligence world, and prepares for the coming of his first child. A great read. ( )

An encyclopedia-lite with daddy issues. This book was an enjoyable enough read, with an abundance of weird factoids to share with unlucky friends and family, but it wasn't terribly meaty. I particularly liked the ways in which the author tried to engage the topic of intelligence, such as trying out for Who Wants to be a Millionaire? or joining Mensa. Still, I felt as though the book had about as much depth as a copy of Esquire (Jacobs' regular writing gig). ( )

A good coming-of-age type memoir by the post-adolescent. The author develops a personal story of development through his coverage of Britannica entries as he reads them through the course of a year. At times, I was more interested in the Britannica entries than his family stories, though I can't say that's a bad thing. ( )

Having tried to read a 1957 set of Funk & Wagnall's at the age of 8 and a 1970 set of World Book Encyclopedias at the age of 10, I can understand the mindset of someone attempting to tackle the all encompassing Britannica. In my own case I don't seem to have made it past the Ds and consequently retain a lot of disjointed information about dogs and the goddess Diana, so I have to respect Mr. Jacob's effort to slog through from A-Z in the course of a year. He is an editor for Esquire magazine and brings a pop culture sensibility to his observations. The serendipity of the intersection of his real life as it meshes with his reading takes interesting and thought provoking turns as he humorously reflects on human nature, learning and he and his wife's pursuit of parenthood. Though not for everyone, The Know-it-All is a fun and enlightening read. ( )

Excellent read, for those in search of more than just common knowledge. It will help you throw away your accepted notion of ignorance in certain area of your life and therefore you shall thirst to be a more well rounded individual. ( )

This is a very funny AND interesting book. What a fun story about a guy who reads the Encyclopedia Britannica from cover to cover. ( )

A funny and sometimes touching book, AJ chronicles his reading of the 2002 edition of Encyclopaedia Brittanica. Written in a "shorter encyclopedia" style (every part of the book is related to an entry in the encyclopedia), the author relates his findings to his everyday life as a magazine editor, and seeker of knowledge.

Overall, an interesting read! Definitely learned somethings, and was entertained along the way :)

(Also, read up on the author more, and found an interesting piece he wrote for Esquire, which can be found here: http://www.esquire.com/ESQ0905OUTSOUR...) ( )

couldn't get through it--got as far as the Hs and had to call it a day. A young man's quest to know "everything" in the Encyclopedia Britannica can only hold one's attention for so long--in this case, to the letter H.

I loved A.J. Jacobs attempt to read the Encyclopedia Britanica and his attempt to become the samrtest person in the world. This book pushed me to read more (including the encyclopia and the dictionary) to be just as smart. ( )

http://radiergummi.wordpress.com/2009... ( )

Written by the same author as The Year of Living Biblically, this book chronicles A.J. Jacobs' attempt to read the entire Encyclopedia Britannica from cover to cover. The quest turns out to be more difficult and enlightening than the author ever anticipated, and it is a hoot to go along on his journey. Just as with his other book, you end up learning a lot but without having to work too hard (my favorite way to learn)! One of my favorite parts was when he tries out to be on "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?" Besides reading more about everything than anyone should, the book also documents the author's personal growth in his life and marriage. A fun and informative read! ( )

test ( )

Highly recommended! Hilarious, and you'll probably learn a thing or two. Jacobs is totally endearing, and has made himself one of my favorite authors. I hope he has something new on the way! ( )

Thoroughly awesome

Thoroughly awesome

This is a memoir written with an interesting twist. The author read the Encyclopedia Britannica from A-Z in one year, and mixed in with his interesting and often hilarious encyclopedic facts are insights into his life as a writer, father, husband and son. I laughed a lot and felt like I made a new friend, which I think is a sign of a great memoir. ( )

My favorite book of 2004 ( )

A very clever book... It's organized alphabetically - like the Encyclopedia Brittannica itself, which the narrator is committed to reading in its entirety. He comments on (a few of) the articles he reads, and a surprisingly personal picture of the author and his family emerge. ( )

Hilarious book about one man's "quest" to read the entire Encyclopedia Brittanica in one year. Made me laugh out loud... several times. ( )