A. J. Jacobs is known for humorous and reflective nonfiction, often exploring experiments like living biblically.The Year of Living Biblically and The Know-It-All are among his most popular works, offering unique insights in an entertaining manner.
If you enjoy reading books by A. J. Jacobs then you might also like the following authors:
Mary Roach has a funny, engaging way of writing nonfiction on quirky topics you probably wouldn't think of exploring. She brings humor and curiosity to her subjects, backed by plenty of thorough research.
Fans of A. J. Jacobs' personal experiments and offbeat focus might particularly enjoy Roach's book Stiff, an unusual and surprisingly entertaining exploration of what happens to bodies donated to science.
Bill Bryson is known for his humorous travelogues, anecdotal style, and cheerful curiosity about everything around him. Like Jacobs, he uses his personal observations and adventures to explore broader themes.
A Walk in the Woods, his funny and insightful journey along the Appalachian Trail, offers readers a combination of history, environmental reflection, and charming wit.
Jon Ronson writes about unusual people, shadowy worlds, and bizarre experiments, always in an engaging, curious voice sprinkled with humor. If you appreciate Jacobs' friendly exploration of peculiar human behavior, Ronson's work offers similar appeal.
His book The Psychopath Test humorously investigates psychology, psychiatry, and what it means to be "normal."
Sarah Vowell writes witty historical essays with a sharp sense of humor and personality. Her approach invites warmth and laughter as she explores American history from unusual angles.
Her book Assassination Vacation reflects her engaging style as she takes readers along on her journeys exploring sites related to presidential assassinations.
David Sedaris is a master storyteller, best known for humorous personal essays that are self-deprecating, relatable, and full of entertaining eccentricities.
Like A. J. Jacobs, Sedaris highlights the oddities of human behavior, but with a more personal, reflective, and comedic style.
His collection Me Talk Pretty One Day combines hilarious personal anecdotes with genuinely insightful observations about language, identity, and family dynamics.
Susan Orlean writes nonfiction in a curious, approachable style. She explores overlooked stories and everyday obsessions with humor and empathy, focusing on fascinating people behind unusual interests.
Her book The Orchid Thief takes readers deep into the strange, eccentric world of orchid collectors, highlighting passion, obsession, and the quirks of human nature.
Caitlin Doughty approaches uncomfortable topics—especially death and funeral practices—with humor, honesty, and warmth. Her engaging style fosters openness around difficult conversations, making death less taboo and more relatable.
In Smoke Gets in Your Eyes: And Other Lessons from the Crematory, she shares firsthand experiences and thoughtful insights from her time working in a crematorium, reshaping how we view mortality.
Sam Kean makes science entertaining by connecting detailed scientific concepts with surprising anecdotes and interesting historical figures. He explains complex ideas clearly, with easy-to-follow language and playful humor.
His book The Disappearing Spoon tells engaging stories about the periodic table, showing how chemistry influences history, human life, and even wars.
Chuck Klosterman is a witty, insightful commentator on pop culture, music, and sports. He writes conversationally, mixing thoughtful observations, smart humor, and playful critiques to delve into popular trends and media.
In his notable work, Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs, Klosterman analyzes the weird and funny ways pop culture shapes our relationships, attitudes, and daily life.
Gretchen Rubin writes about happiness, good habits, and self-improvement in a practical, approachable style. Her relatable voice and straightforward ideas encourage readers to try new things to improve their lives.
In The Happiness Project, Rubin explores easy-to-follow strategies for increasing personal happiness and fulfillment through manageable, everyday steps.
Michael Lewis writes nonfiction that makes complex topics clear and entertaining. His style is sharp and smart, blending great storytelling with vivid portraits of fascinating people.
In Moneyball, Lewis shows how baseball statistics changed the sport, offering a fresh look at bigger themes like innovation and unconventional thinking.
Erik Larson offers historical nonfiction that reads as smoothly as fiction. He provides vivid portraits of real-life events and characters, carefully weaving facts into suspenseful stories.
In The Devil in the White City, Larson shows how the Chicago World's Fair intersected with a dark string of murders, capturing readers with his combination of historical accuracy and narrative power.
Elizabeth Gilbert writes with honesty, wit, and warmth. Her nonfiction often features her personal experiences and explores self-discovery, adventure, and the search for meaning.
In Eat, Pray, Love, Gilbert describes traveling to Italy, India, and Indonesia as she seeks happiness and fulfillment, blending candid insights with humor and relatability.
J. Maarten Troost writes travel narratives with humor, charm, and an eye for absurdity. His books often describe adventures in unusual places and his own comical misadventures along the way.
In The Sex Lives of Cannibals, Troost relates his experiences living on a remote Pacific island, finding endless comedy and insight in the cultural surprises he encounters.
Tim Ferriss is known for practical nonfiction focused on productivity, personal improvement, and unconventional life strategies. His style combines concise explanations, humor, and advice that readers can apply immediately.
In The 4-Hour Workweek, Ferriss challenges traditional ideas about work and success, offering a fresh and accessible approach for readers seeking balance and productivity.