A.J. Jacobs’ new book, Drop Dead Healthy, chronicles his efforts to become as healthy as possible over the course of a year and provides plenty of laughs along the way. Jacobs, the author of previous best-sellers The Know-It-All and The Year of Living Biblically, recently spoke with RELEVANT and provided a revealing look at a man who’s learned nearly everything imaginable about improving one’s mental, physical and spiritual life—and isn’t afraid to share it.

Q The new book is a continuation of what you call “immersive journalism.” What does that mean to you?