Quotes by A. J. Jacobs

A. J. Jacobs

A few weeks later, I’m in a fluorescent-lit classroom in Chelsea awaiting the start of the official Mensa test. I’m sitting next to a guy who’s doing a series of elaborate neck stretches, like we’re about to engage in a vigorous rugby match. He’s 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 he’s not a genius.

Genius

Guy

Hate

A loud noise will get your fight-or-flight response going. This, over the years, can cause real cardiovascular damage.

Fighting

Real

Years

Behavior shapes emotions.

Behavior

Emotion

Shapes

I don’t believe that prayers actually change God’s mind – if there is a God – but I liked praying for people in need. It was like moral weightlifting. I tend to be self-obsessed, and it was nice to get out of my brain once in a while.

Believe

Nice

Prayer

I got a sense of the amazingness of ordinary life, and I became aware of the marvel that we’re around to begin with. I visited a lot of extreme communities, like the Amish, Hasidic Jews, and serpent-handlers. And I was proud, because I think I’m the first person to ever out-Bible-talk a Jehovah’s Witness. After four hours, he said, “Okay, I have to go.”

Community

Proud

Thinking

I have little shame, no dignity – all in the name of a better cause.

Causes

Littles

Names

I know that history is simultaneously a bloody mess and a collection of feats so inspiring and amazing they make you proud to share the same DNA structure with the rest of humanity. I know you’d better focus on the good stuff or you’re screwed.

Dna

Focus

History

I know that knowledge and intelligence are not the same thing – but they do live in the same neighborhood. I know once again, firsthand, the joy of learning.

Education

Joy

Neighborhood

I prefer the earlier birth control techniques, which ranged from the delicious (using honey as a spermicide) to the aerobic (jumping backward seven times after coitus).

Birth Control

Jumping

Technique

I thought religion would make me live with my head in the clouds, but as often as not, it grounds me in this world.

Clouds

This World

World

Follow The Behaviour University in order to get the greatest quotes from the greatest people of all time so that you can tap into your own greatness.

Alive

Baby

Bad Mood

Behavior

Believe

Birth Control

Body

Book

Boys

Brain

Causes

Chocolate

Christian

Clouds

Coffee

Committed

Community

Compassionate

Crazy

Dark

Decision

Dna

Doe

Education

Emotion

Europe

Fans

Fighting

Figures

Focus

Genius

Grandma

Guy

Hate

History

Ideas

Insane

Insight

Inspiration

Israel

Joy

Jumping

Keys

Littles

Lying

Mail

Miracle

Mistake

Moving

Names

The Future Blueprint

Tool

The Home Therapist: Anti Anxiety

Tool

The Autobiography

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The Behaviour Diary

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The Dating Diary

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The Relationship Therapist

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Quotes by A. J. Jacobs

A. J. Jacobs

A loud noise will get your fight-or-flight response going. This, over the years, can cause real cardiovascular damage.

Behavior shapes emotions.

I don’t believe that prayers actually change God’s mind – if there is a God – but I liked praying for people in need. It was like moral weightlifting. I tend to be self-obsessed, and it was nice to get out of my brain once in a while.

I have little shame, no dignity – all in the name of a better cause.

I know that history is simultaneously a bloody mess and a collection of feats so inspiring and amazing they make you proud to share the same DNA structure with the rest of humanity. I know you’d better focus on the good stuff or you’re screwed.

I know that knowledge and intelligence are not the same thing – but they do live in the same neighborhood. I know once again, firsthand, the joy of learning.

I prefer the earlier birth control techniques, which ranged from the delicious (using honey as a spermicide) to the aerobic (jumping backward seven times after coitus).

I thought religion would make me live with my head in the clouds, but as often as not, it grounds me in this world.

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Topics by A. J. Jacobs

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The Future Blueprint

The Home Therapist: Anti Anxiety

The Autobiography

The Behaviour Diary

The Dating Diary

The Relationship Therapist

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