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A.J. Jacobs is known for taking on ambitious and quirky personal challenges. It’s All Relative is no exception. In this book, he sets out on a daunting, heartwarming, and often hilarious journey to explore his family tree. And oh boy, it’s a BIG tree.
This isn’t your run of the mill genealogical quest. Jacobs dives into tracing distant relatives, navigating awkward family reunions, and uncovering surprising family lineage secrets. He even discovered he is related to Barak Obama via his fifth great aunt’s husband’s brother’s wife’s seventh great nephew! They’re practically brothers. Here is my It’s All Relative book review:
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It’s All Relative Book Summary
In It’s All Relative, A.J. Jacobs explores the concept of family through the lens of genealogy. What starts as a personal quest to map his family tree evolves into a globe-spanning adventure to connect with distant relatives and host the (attempted) world’s largest family reunion.
Along the way, Jacobs uncovers fascinating (and often crazy) stories about his ancestors, navigates the complexities of modern DNA testing, and even ropes in celebrities to declare themselves his “cousins.” (See examples below!)
With his trademark humor and thoughtful insights, Jacobs examines what it truly means to be part of a family and how our shared connections can bring us closer together in a divided world.
Some quick themes from It’s All Relative:
Family Genealogy: A.J. Jacobs sets out to trace his family’s history and uncovers surprising connections.
Worldwide Relatives: The quest leads him to distant relatives across the globe.
Humorous Approach: Jacobs tackles the complexity of family dynamics with his signature humor.
DNA Testing: He explores the role of modern DNA testing in understanding family lineage and the science behind it.
Personal Reflection: Jacobs finds deeper meaning in the connections that bind us all, challenging his understanding of family, identity, and community. (And hopefully challenging the reader along the way.)
Some celebrities (and very extended cousins of Jacobs) endorsed the Global Family Reunion by holding an “I am a cousin” sign:
- Daniel Radcliffe
- John Legend
- Donny Osmond
- Ricky Gervais
- Olivia Wilde
- President George H. W. Bush
Now onto the rating! It’s All Relative Book Review:
My innovative system for rating humor books is explained here
Wholesomeness Score: 3.5/5
It’s All Relative stays clean with its exploration of family and genealogy. Jacobs’ humor doesn’t rely on crude jokes or controversial topics, making it a generally wholesome read. However, there are some awkward family dynamics and serious discussions about race and racism that are best suited for a mature audience.
Hilarity Score: 3.5/5
Jacobs delivers a funny book, particularly through his awkward encounters with distant relatives and his self-deprecating humor. His genealogical journey is amusing, and his ability to find humor in the most unexpected places (like DNA tests or family reunions) keeps the book consistently entertaining.
Overall Book Awesomeness Score: 4/5
It’s All Relative is filled with light, funny moments yet it also offers a deeper exploration of family and identity. Some readers may find parts of the genealogical exploration a bit dry. Those people just don’t like learning, I suppose. Give me some learning + humor any day! A.J. Jacobs is great at delivering complex concepts in an entertaining way.
Things I liked:
- Jacob’s self-deprecating style
- Jacobs explores deeper questions about family, identity, and belonging.
- Anecdotes about white supremacists who were distraught when they found out they weren’t “purely” white. HA ha!
- Jacobs used the “Global Family Reunion” to raise money to fight Alzheimer’s.
Things I didn’t like:
- Planning for the world’s biggest family reunion gave me anxiety
- Turns out, it wasn’t (or at least currently ISN’T) the world’s biggest family reunion. Oh well, he got close.
Other AJ Jacobs Books I’ve reviewed:
The Year of Living Biblically: One Man’s Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible
Conclusion: A Hilarious and Heartfelt Genealogical Adventure
It’s All Relative is a fun, quirky exploration of family, identity, and the weird ways our bloodlines connect us all. A.J. Jacobs delivers an excellent mix of humor and personal insight. He makes what could have been a dry exploration of genealogy into an engaging, enlightening, and entertaining journey. If you’re looking for a memoir that combines humor, learning, and a bit of heart, this one’s worth checking out. It left me a new fan of A.J. Jacobs.
Scott Johnson is a Midwestern humorist, author of Essays Out of Left Field, and the mind behind scottjohnsonauthor.com. He’s also a husband, dad of three, and Data Systems Administrator (whatever that is). Scott is on a mission to find and read all the funny books. He shares his thoughts on those books, author life, and other delightful randomness with his readers on his website.
