The Know-It-All: One Man's Humble Quest to Become the Smartest Person in the World

Kliatt, July, 2005 by Nola Theiss

THE KNOW-IT-ALL: ONE MAN'S HUMBLE QUEST TO BECOME THE SMARTEST PERSON IN THE WORLD. A.J. Jacobs. 2004. Read by Geoffrey Cantor. Abridged. 6 cds. 7.5 hrs. HighBridge Audio. 1-56511-908-8. $29.95. Plastic; content notes. SA

Jacobs decided to read the entire Encyclopedia Britannica for two reasons: one, to feel smart again after his intelligence seemed to take a dip after college graduation; and two, because his father tried to do it and gave up. Fortunately for us, he takes the listener along for the journey from A-Z and we learn almost as much about the author as about abalone and Jefferson and the many rulers named Charles.

The book abounds with useless advice, like how to get into the Encyclopedia, with the two best routes being to go to the Arctic and discover something or becoming a mistress to royalty, but it is all amusing. Sprinkled in with stories from the book are nuggets from his life, especially the pursuit of a baby through infertility treatments. Jacobs sounds like a fun guy to know, at least in short bursts, and Cantor reads in a voice that so fits the book that it is hard to believe that he didn't write it. Nola Theiss, Sanibel, FL

S--Recommended for senior high school students.

A--Recommended for advance students and adults. This code will help librarians and teacher working in high schools where there are honors and advanced placement students. This also will help extend KLIATT's usefulness in public libraries.