A.J. Jacobs attempts to read the entire Encyclopedia Britannica, from A to Z, to become the smartest person alive. Over the course of 33,000 pages and 44 million words, he chronicles his experiences with chronic ocular fatigue and social isolation. The narrative tracks his progress alphabetically, weaving historical facts about the Byzantine Empire and the invention of the zipper into his daily life. Jacobs recounts trying to insert obscure trivia into casual conversations, testing his newfound intelligence against Mensa members, and competing on a televised game show.
This book is for curious readers who enjoy self-deprecating humor and factual trivia. It attracts people interested in the limits of human memorization and the difference between raw information and actual wisdom. The reader finishes the book with hundreds of peculiar anecdotes about philosophers, scientists, and historical oddities. More importantly, they gain a perspective on the absurdity of trying to master every field of knowledge and the realization that personal relationships often matter more than possessing an exhaustive mental database.
Outward-looking and clear-cut; an easy read.
Best for readers like The Practical Optimizer. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 2004
- Language
- EN
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