'Guinea Pig' is intelligent, insightful shtick

By Laurie Hertzel, Star Tribune

Last update: September 26, 2009 - 12:59 PM

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THE GUINEA PIG DIARIES

BY: A.J. JACOBS.PUBLISHER: SIMON & SCHUSTER, 206 PAGES, $25.

Review: The man who spent a year living according to the Bible now tries a variety of challenges -- no multitasking; emulating George Washington; outsourcing his life to India. The results are funny and surprisingly wise.

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Imagine your life as one big shtick. This is what A.J. Jacobs' life has become, starting five years ago when he decided to read the entire Encyclopedia Britannica. That experience became his first book, "The Know-It-All." Next, he chronicled his attempts to live according to the Bible; "The Year of Living Biblically" became his second bestseller.

Now, in "The Guinea Pig Diaries: My Life as an Experiment," he writes about a variety of experiments, some lasting a month, some just a few hours. One month of outsourcing his entire life (including arguments with his wife) to India. One month of living like George Washington. One afternoon of posing nude for a photographer. (There's actually a good reason for this one.)

His most interesting experiment: a month with no multitasking. No mindless chores while chatting on the phone. No checking e-mail in the middle of a work project. No television during dinner. I felt his pain most keenly with that chapter.

Jacobs comes across as sincere, and that's what makes the book work. There's an earnestness to his experiments, and you believe that he's not just in it for the yuks -- though there are plenty of yuks. (He's very funny.)

He has a curious, questioning mind and is always looking for larger meaning and consulting experts -- is it possible to live rationally, or is there a scientific reason for our fears and reactions? What do we gain by shunting our smallest obligations onto someone else, and what do we lose? What did I learn from this experiment? How can I change my life? Should I change my life?

This might be shtick, but it's intelligent shtick.

LAURIE HERTZEL

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Here are some of Books Editor Laurie Hertzel's favorite sites and blogs. Got a literary link to share? E-mail Laurie.

Twin Cities Literary Scavenger Hunt Home page for the scavenger hunt, which runs now through Dec. 26.
Reading Minnesota A blog that features Minnesota writers, illustrators, publishers, bookstores, and reviewers.
Talk of the Stacks An author series from the Library Foundation of Hennepin County.
Poets & Writers The website for Poets and Writers Magazine--podcasts, author interviews, and writing resources.
Creative Writing A place to keep apprised of writing competitions in the United States.
Gather Minnesota Readers The Website for Minnesota Public Radio's books blog.
The Loft Literary Center The Website for the Loft, a local place for writers and readers.
Good Reads A way to track what you're reading, and what your friends are reading.
Lost Manuscripts Just what it sounds like - a blog (sporadically updated) devoted to missing and destroyed manuscripts.
Maud Newton Very hip, reviews, links, a little attitude.
bookreporter.com A plethora of online book reviews and reading guides.
Rain Taxi Rain Taxi Review of Books.