When I was with the serpent-handlers in Tennessee, it was the most bizarre method of worship I could think of. Yet when you sit with these people, you can kind of see how it makes sense.
A. J. JacobsI tried the paleo diet, which is the caveman diet - lots of meat. I tried the raw food vegan diet. And I tried the calorie restriction diet, which is the idea is that if you eat very, very little - if you're on the verge of starvation, you will live a very long time. Whether or not you want to, of course, is the idea.
A. J. JacobsThe key to making healthy decisions is to respect your future self. Honor him or her. Treat him or her like you would treat a friend or a loved one.
A. J. JacobsI found there were things about religion that I really loved; things like the sense of gratefulness that it brings.
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. Jacobs