The world of poetry can be quite pretentious. Many times, we will read prose from writers who would like us to believe they are not flawed. They talk to us about subjects as if they’ve mastered them all. Often, it actually seems some poets condescendingly “talk at” their audience instead of “talking to” us. “The Book of Jacob” does not fit that mold. This collection is a journey similar to what many of us have experienced in our lives.