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

Probably after some time has passed, it's an interesting journey through randomness.

It made me chuckle at multiple points. Not knowing what the next entry to be covered is makes for a highly entertaining read.

If you're looking for any substantial information or a concise, coherent story, this isn't your book. If you're interested in a lighthearted journey through the alphabetically arranged entries of the Encyclopedia Britannica, this is your book.

I found this book extremely informative and entertaining. The writer doesn't just list everything he read in the encyclopaedia.He recounts how the things he learned, directly affected his life. And he does so very well. His account is riddled with subplots and characters played by family members. I love how the knowledge he gains is put towards his desperate attempts to impregnate his wife. I enjoyed the effects this project had on his family and friends and even work colleagues. There is so much to learn from this book, a second read will help retain some of that knowledge. But the first time is very enjoyable none the less.
The writer has a great sense of humour, a little bit cheesy at times, but that's expected considering his career. And it's always great when the writer narrates his own work. Over enthusiastic at times, but it works for the piece. Very entertaining and informative. Lots of fun, very clever, well wrapped up in the end, and you'll get a lot out of it. Nice one.

I enjoyed it all the way through. Constantly learning something, and at the same time following his family drama. I was excited to hear about some of the intellectual clubs and his take on their personae. I think it will be funny and enjoyable for any reader, except of course that one that posted a review a few before myself criticizing the author's humour.

Loved following Jacobs and his neuroses on his long journey from A to Z. As enjoyable as other NPR alums like David Sedaris and Jonathan Goldstein. Cantor did an engaging reading. If only Audible would offer an encyclopedia...

My husband and I listened to this on a road trip. It was laugh out loud funny as well as extremely informative. Very good read!

It's true that there are laugh out loud moments. However I found myself disliking the author. Maybe it was partly due to the narrator who sounds kind of whiney, but the more I heard of the author's personal life (which was too much), the less I liked him and his family.

It's possible that there is someone in the world whose voice is more annoying than Geoffrey Cantor's... one of the animated chipmunks, perhaps, or Edith Bunker. But neither of them, notice, recorded audio books. Cantor's whining nasal voice, self-conscious delivery and frequent mispronunciations significantly impaired my tolerance for what was already a disappointing book. Author AJ Jacobs is a prat, and not in a good way. His writing tries hard for "I recognize and can laugh at my own failings" but instead comes off as "I'm so darn cute that even my flaws are adorable." I dare say to Mr. Jacobs' wife, adorable they may be...the rest of us would do better to save our time, disk space, and hearing for works by David Sedaris or Augusten Burroughs instead.

Enjoyed the journey. I feel like I've read the EB too. Didn't appreciate the bad language!

Maybe the book was meant to be whimsical. Unfortunately to me it came across as annoying and obnoxious. Didn't give "know-it-alls" a better rep.

Not interesting at all. Boring account of a man that no one would aspire to be as he reads the entire Encyclopedia Britannica, and his family, friends, and world renowned academics make fun of him. He lists random facts from the Britannica along the way but not in a way that you would remember any of them. Do yourself a favor and skip this one. I listened all the way through and wish I had cut my losses at the beginning.