THE KNOW-IT-ALL

ESQUIRE editor A.J. Jacobs chronicles his yearlong project of reading the entire ENCYCLOPEDIA BRITANNICA, giving us tidbits of information and wisdom along the way, as well as a humorous view of his life as he struggles to become a father. Geoffrey Cantor's reading is funny, endearing, and pitch-perfect, except for his accents, which are mostly bad. The mock-British accent he uses for BRITANNICA excerpts is simply awful. Also annoying is Jacobs's continued insistence on confusing knowledge with intelligence. These quibbles aside, the book is interesting and fun, one the listener will be sorry to finish. W.M. © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine [Published: JUNE/JULY 05]