A.J. Jacobs, bestselling author of The Know-It-All: One Man’s Humble Quest to Become the Smartest Person in the World
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Plus an announcement of the first ARIYNBF live show May 24 at UCB (special guest is Garfunkel & Oates).
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Executive producer: Alison Rosen
Producer: Gary Smith
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You had me at “stoning adulterers.”
You had me at “stoning adulterers.”
It’s not easy being green.
Finally, a Bunicula shoutout. Please, next week, try to work in a The White Mountains (anybody else remember the Tripod books, from elementary school?) reference.
Finally, a Bunicula shoutout. Please, next week, try to work in a The White Mountains (anybody else remember the Tripod books, from elementary school?) reference.
Great show today.
Great show today.
I've enjoyed (mostly) The Year of Living Biblically and The Know-It-All, but I never-ever-ever would have predicted seeing AJ Jacobs' name popping up on my iPhone app. So, this show was a treat, and great fun but, like AJ's books, just a tad unsatisfying. If you're looking for honest feedback, one thing bothered me. There was a point where you mentioned a “Joe Queenan moment” and a light popped on, because I thought you were going to go further into that. You've read AJ's stuff, so I'm sure you know the interesting relationship between Queenan and AJ Jacobs. Such similar styles, albeit different spheres of interest. Perhaps this is too far afield for the Aryan Boyfriend Show, but I thought you were going to get into, even briefly, the brilliant public Queenan-Jacobs fight in the pages of the NYT book review when Joe Queenan skewered AJ in his review of The Know-It-All. Credit to AJ Jacobs for answering it. Two sharp wits going at it. I can't help but think that Queenan saves a unique brand of venom for Jacobs because he sees AJ as someone stealing his shtick, and doing it with ten times the gusto. Queenan might be daring enough to be “Mickey Rourke for a day,” where AJ Jabobs will “live biblically for a year.” I'm getting off my point which, as much as anything, shows my frustration being teased with a Joe Queenan reference with no follow up. I was probably going to get around to reading Drop Dead Healthy eventually, and hearing him this morning, probably a bit sooner than I otherwise would have. Cheers on that. I owe you an Amazon banner click.
I just erased my cookies, and I'm switching my amazon book mark from Acepodcast to ARIYNBF. Yeah I know the money all stays in the family,but I still want to support the show!
I’ve enjoyed (mostly) The Year of Living Biblically and The Know-It-All, but I never-ever-ever would have predicted seeing AJ Jacobs’ name popping up on my iPhone app. So, this show was a treat, and great fun but, like AJ’s books, just a tad unsatisfying. If you’re looking for honest feedback, one thing bothered me. There was a point where you mentioned a “Joe Queenan moment” and a light popped on, because I thought you were going to go further into that. You’ve read AJ’s stuff, so I’m sure you know the interesting relationship between Queenan and AJ Jacobs. Such similar styles, albeit different spheres of interest. Perhaps this is too far afield for the Aryan Boyfriend Show, but I thought you were going to get into, even briefly, the brilliant public Queenan-Jacobs fight in the pages of the NYT book review when Joe Queenan skewered AJ in his review of The Know-It-All. Credit to AJ Jacobs for answering it. Two sharp wits going at it. I can’t help but think that Queenan saves a unique brand of venom for Jacobs because he sees AJ as someone stealing his shtick, and doing it with ten times the gusto. Queenan might be daring enough to be “Mickey Rourke for a day,” where AJ Jabobs will “live biblically for a year.” I’m getting off my point which, as much as anything, shows my frustration being teased with a Joe Queenan reference with no follow up. I was probably going to get around to reading Drop Dead Healthy eventually, and hearing him this morning, probably a bit sooner than I otherwise would have. Cheers on that. I owe you an Amazon banner click.
I just erased my cookies, and I’m switching my amazon book mark from Acepodcast to ARIYNBF. Yeah I know the money all stays in the family,but I still want to support the show!
Good interview, but the guy looks like the kid from Superbad and sounds like Jim Carolla
Good interview, but the guy looks like the kid from Superbad and sounds like Jim Carolla
Love the show, I enjoy how intimate your interviews are. We get to learn a lot more about your guests than just their projects, we get a real insight into who they really are, not just this episode but all of them. When A.J. mentioned that farting was healthy and you said that you 'were really healthy then” I laughed out loud and thought that was awesome (embrace your healthiness). Ignore the negative comments, people that really are your fans take the time to let you know, the trolls are going to sh!t on anything anybody does just to make themselves feel better. Keep doing a great job, I've been listening since episode 1 and look forward to each new episode.
Love the show, I enjoy how intimate your interviews are. We get to learn a lot more about your guests than just their projects, we get a real insight into who they really are, not just this episode but all of them. When A.J. mentioned that farting was healthy and you said that you ‘were really healthy then” I laughed out loud and thought that was awesome (embrace your healthiness). Ignore the negative comments, people that really are your fans take the time to let you know, the trolls are going to sh!t on anything anybody does just to make themselves feel better. Keep doing a great job, I’ve been listening since episode 1 and look forward to each new episode.
Interesting guy- he sounds a lot like Michael J. Fox… I was hoping he would bust out an exasperated “Mallory!” but sadly he did not. Oh well…
Interesting guy- he sounds a lot like Michael J. Fox… I was hoping he would bust out an exasperated “Mallory!” but sadly he did not. Oh well…
I also have issues with how to swallow sometimes! You mentioned that occurs while trying to take a bunch of pills that happens to me sometimes. I even have problems biting down all the way at the dentist's office when he tells me to.
I also have issues with how to swallow sometimes! You mentioned that occurs while trying to take a bunch of pills that happens to me sometimes. I even have problems biting down all the way at the dentist’s office when he tells me to.
Hi Jack. (I hope NSA isn't listening to that greeting). I like your commentary on this particular podcast. I was aware of Joe and AJ's books and unusual lifestyle experiments, but I wasn't aware of a feud in the NYT Book review – very interesting, I will have to look it up. I also associate Morgan Spurlock with this sort of endeavor although he is a documentarian, but of the same spirit of self-experimentation. I recall AJ being on Alison's Ustream show a while back and mentioning that he was developing a project with Morgan and I wonder if anything came of it. I am intrigued by this most recent experiment because I am currently very determined to adopt a healthy lifestyle, and it is hard to wade through all of the misinformation and hucksterism’s out there. I will have to get AJ's book from Amazon via clicking through the link on this page. Alison, can you interview Morgan Spurlock? He is a very interesting person like AJ.
Hi Jack. (I hope NSA isn’t listening to that greeting). I like your commentary on this particular podcast. I was aware of Joe and AJ’s books and unusual lifestyle experiments, but I wasn’t aware of a feud in the NYT Book review – very interesting, I will have to look it up. I also associate Morgan Spurlock with this sort of endeavor although he is a documentarian, but of the same spirit of self-experimentation. I recall AJ being on Alison’s Ustream show a while back and mentioning that he was developing a project with Morgan and I wonder if anything came of it. I am intrigued by this most recent experiment because I am currently very determined to adopt a healthy lifestyle, and it is hard to wade through all of the misinformation and hucksterism’s out there. I will have to get AJ’s book from Amazon via clicking through the link on this page. Alison, can you interview Morgan Spurlock? He is a very interesting person like AJ.
Yeah, Morgan Spurlock – that same brand of humorist. Different medium, though. Plus, I imagine he'd refer to himself more as a documentarian than anything else, and once you need to inject truth into things all the fun ends. But I agree, his stuff is great. And unique. He's like Michael Moore, but more talent and less agenda.
Yeah, Morgan Spurlock – that same brand of humorist. Different medium, though. Plus, I imagine he’d refer to himself more as a documentarian than anything else, and once you need to inject truth into things all the fun ends. But I agree, his stuff is great. And unique. He’s like Michael Moore, but more talent and less agenda.
Hey Alison, just wanted to let you know that I, too, have “forgotten” how to swallow. I had a period where it happened a couple of times and lasted to the point of panic that I was going to suffocate, until I realized that I could still breathe even if I temporarily couldn't swallow. I think it was a weird combo of head congestion and then getting into my head about it and panicking.
Also, you are an absolute delight. #podcrush
Hey Alison, just wanted to let you know that I, too, have “forgotten” how to swallow. I had a period where it happened a couple of times and lasted to the point of panic that I was going to suffocate, until I realized that I could still breathe even if I temporarily couldn’t swallow. I think it was a weird combo of head congestion and then getting into my head about it and panicking.
Also, you are an absolute delight. #podcrush
I've read The Year of Living Biblically and now I'm very interested to read A.J.'s other books. 🙂
It wasn't Mother's Day the year I was born, but my birthday does periodically fall on Mother's Day. It always sucks when two holidays coincide like that, and now that I'm a mom it's even more complicated. This year is no different…and I'm going to be 35. So happy birthday to us!
I love your podcast AND I love you on Adam Carolla's podcast (whom I love).
Also I love your intros. They always make me feel like you are, indeed, my new best friend. And full of love.
I’ve read The Year of Living Biblically and now I’m very interested to read A.J.’s other books. 🙂
It wasn’t Mother’s Day the year I was born, but my birthday does periodically fall on Mother’s Day. It always sucks when two holidays coincide like that, and now that I’m a mom it’s even more complicated. This year is no different…and I’m going to be 35. So happy birthday to us!
I love your podcast AND I love you on Adam Carolla’s podcast (whom I love).
Also I love your intros. They always make me feel like you are, indeed, my new best friend. And full of love.
I've read The Year of Living Biblically and now I'm very interested to read A.J.'s other books. 🙂
It wasn't Mother's Day the year I was born, but my birthday does periodically fall on Mother's Day. It always sucks when two holidays coincide like that, and now that I'm a mom it's even more complicated. This year is no different…and I'm going to be 35. So happy birthday to us!
I love your podcast AND I love you on Adam Carolla's podcast (whom I love).
Also I love your intros. They always make me feel like you are, indeed, my new best friend. And full of love.