Iโm not a fan of โwrite what you know.โ If you donโt know, find out. I knew nothing about the Bible before I started writing โThe Year of Living Biblically.โ That was kind of the point โ to learn.
A. J. JacobsA few weeks later, Iโm in a fluorescent-lit classroom in Chelsea awaiting the start of the official Mensa test. Iโm sitting next to a guy whoโs doing a series of elaborate neck stretches, like weโre about to engage in a vigorous rugby match. Heโs neatly laid out four types of gum on his Formica desk: Juicy Fruit, Wrigley Spearmint, Big Red, and Eclipse. I hate this guy. I hope to God heโs not a genius.
A. J. JacobsI found there were things about religion that I really loved; things like the sense of gratefulness that it brings.
A. J. JacobsThink of negative speech as verbal pollution. And that's what I've been doing: visualizing insults and gossip as a dark cloud, maybe one with some sulfur dioxide. Once you've belched it out, you can't take it back. As grandma said, if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all. The interesting this is, the less often I vocalize my negative thoughts, the fewer negative thoughts I cook up in the first place.
A. J. JacobsI'm all for cafeteria religion. I think there's nothing wrong with cafeterias - I've had some great meals at cafeterias. I've also had some horrible meals, so it's important to pick the right things. Take a heaping helping of compassion and mercy, and leave the intolerance on the table.
A. J. Jacobs