Interview: A.J. Jacobs

Mon, Apr 20, 2009 by Charlie Pratt

Interviews

Not wanting to take up too much time for man who’s already neck-deep in multiple and highly-engaging projects, I thought it best to keep it this interview short and sweet for one of my favorite living writers. A.J. Jacobs is a bestselling author, Editor-at-Large for Esquire Magazine, and a contributing writer to numerous national publications, including The New York Times and Entertainment Weekly. I’m not saying you should check him out – I’m saying you should just go ahead and purchase his books (The Year of Living Biblically & The Know-It-All) straightaway, and trust me that I’m no fibber. Enjoy.

If you were to get into a fight with either a) a drunken grandmother or b) a manic toddler, which would it be?
Honestly, I’m most scared of the drunken toddlers.

In a pinch, A.J. Jacobs loves to lean on the word ______ to make himself feel smart.
Zywiec. It’s the last word in the Encyclopedia Britannica. It’s a town in south Poland, known for its beer.

Other than New York, ______ is the coolest city ever. Mostly because of the amazing _______ .
Sarasota, Florida. For its mini-golf courses. (I’m speaking on behalf of my five year old son)

Facebook vs. Twitter. Who ya got and why?
I have both. But I use Facebook more. I spend most of my time posting in the group “I want to spoon with George Clooney.” Actually, I was, in fact, a member of that group, but it was for an article. I swear.  Facebook A.J. | Twitter A.J.

Which Muppet had the worst transition back into normal life, post-The Muppet Show (and why)?
I spend more time with Sesame Street these days. The Cookie Monster will have trouble getting health insurance — I imagine he’s got a bunch of pre-existing conditions.

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For more, click below to watch AJ discuss his writing process. ››

2 Comments to “Interview: A.J. Jacobs”


  1. Ruth Says:

    This is so scary! My heart almost beats as one with A.J. I am halfway through my autobiography, similarly titled, “The Year of Living Hypothetically.” What’s more, his go-to word is Zywiec, mine happens to be Zwieback–the best antidote I know for mid-day teething pains.
    Great stuff!

  2. the millsey commentary Says:

    First of all, I’m getting the hip-hop bible just for fun at church on Sunday.

    Second of all, Cookie Monster is covered by the Employee plan. Haven’t you seen the Segment where they do the H-M-O dance?

    the millsey commentary’s last blog post..Supreme Court Tries Major Civil Rights Cases


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