The Year of Living Like Jesus

BOOK: The Year of Living Like Jesus: My Year of Discovering What Jesus Would Really Do
AUTHOR: Ed Dobson

Grade: C

In 2008, A.J. Jacobs published his bestselling narrative “The Year of Living Biblically” to much deserved critical acclaim. His year-long spiritual journey was a deeply fascinating and highly enjoyable read. Ed Dobson has produced what could appropriately be labeled as the Christian spin-off of Jacobs’ Jewish tale. He makes no bones about the fact that he took the idea from Jacobs and adapted it to his own circumstances (in fact, A.J. Jacobs penned the book’s introduction) as a Evangelical pastor for answers and a deepening of faith.

I loved "The Year of Living Biblically". While I didn’t dislike Dobson’s "The Year of Living Like Jesus", it paled in comparison to its’ predecessor. For me, it falls into that category of book that isn’t fabulous but also isn’t awful enough to not finish.

The most interesting area of exploration described here is the in-depth look at Jesus’ Jewish roots. I know that I personally tend to forget just how “Jewish” Jesus was. Dobson provides a superb account of Christianity’s Jewish roots. It was in this section of the book where I was most engaged with the text. It’s something I have been thinking about ever since and I am grateful to have had the history explained in such a reader-friendly manner.

Overall: Easy read. Mildly interesting. Pales in comparison to its’ inspiration.