Hi. You can preorder The Anthropocene Reviewed wherever books are sold or at bookshop: sites.prh.com/anthropocenereviewedbook p.s. Tag yourself in my vision board. I'm, "So is it just a whole book of tiny essays?" -Alice p.p.s. A new episode of the podcast comes out on Thursday. It's about Penguins of Madagascar and the smallpox vaccine. You can catch up on the podcast here: www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/anthropocene-reviewed -John
The Anthropocene Reviewed is about being an anthropologist who not only catalogues the human experience but understands that the act of cataloguing humans means you must include yourself
That's so good! (As I say in the book, so much of it was inspired by Sarah telling me, "In the Anthropocene, there are not disinterested observers. There are only participants.") -John
When I talk about it to other people I usually can’t get through an explanation without saying that it’s essays that “review facets of the human centered planet on a five star scale” because that phrase is just so attached to the title in my brain
No, you’re right. What even IS The Anthropocene Reviewed about? All I know is that your reviews of sunsets and Auld Lang Syne never fail to make me cry. Thank you, John, for giving me something I never knew I needed.
I like how you talk about how hard it is to elevator pitch your books and then immediately deliver a perfect two sentence summary of TATWD :D Turtles All the Way Down isn't really about the disappearance of a local billionaire. It's about mental illness and free will and how it feels to have your consciousness hijacked by intrusive thoughts.
Yeah, one of the weird things about writing a book for me is that I never know how to do that when I finish the book, and then I basically have to learn how to do it while talking about it to other people. If you go back and watch me in October of 2017, I am all over the place when talking about TATWD and now I sound like a well-drilled army. :) -John
@@vlogbrothers Seems like books are inherently hard to condense into an elevator pitch because their scope is so broad, but, on the other hand, if you can't narrow down the main focus of the book, it will probably doesn't have enough of a focus to make your point.
@@mikecmurphy I think it would be really disappointing to easily condense your book into an elevator pitch because that would come with the inherent realization that the book was completely unnecessary.
That’s right! I was literally thinking to myself “Has John always had that much space behind him? Did he move his desk up or something?” But it’s probably the lack of boxes haha
I started listening to the Anthropocene Reviewed when my brain first started falling apart. It’s been an incredibly helpful place to escape into when I need a moment of quiet. I am incredibly grateful for every word, thank you.
hahahaha I just wrote the policygenius ad for the episode that comes out on Thursday and I spent like four hours on it. I am way too devoted to policygenius ad writing. -John
@@robertofontiglia4148 , get it now while it is cheap for you - and don’t have it tied to your employer. (Speaking for the families of older farts who got laid off from jobs that provided life insurance and then hired by ones who don’t. Prohibitively more expensive now, and sets families up to really get screwed if breadwinner dies prior to retirement.)
@@robertofontiglia4148 +1 to the sibling comment here. Definitely take a look at life insurance while you're young and healthy. It's way cheaper now and there's even cash-value options that will allow you to dip into the funds if you're ever in a pinch later in life
“The truth resists simplicity” I don’t know if you stand by these words from a decade ago now, John. They’ve been a constant guiding light to how I view the world since I first came across them in 2012. I hope to others I’m the understanding, compassionate, and thoughtful person those words have inspired me to be.
i’ve been listening to the podcast for so long now that the thought of holding the physical book in my hands fills me with a level of excitement that i can’t even begin to explain
Anyone else pre-order the hardcopy and the Audio because they are slightly different. 😅 I'm so ready for this!! Am I going to cry? Absolutely but will it be worth it? Completely!
The audio contains three reviews the physical book does not, because there were a few that work in audio for me but not in print (most notably the Kauai o-o review). But the physical books also has some easter eggs / reviews-incorporated-into-the-bookmaking-process that are not in the audio. (Plus a long notes section that we didn't include in the audio, if you're into notes.) So they are slightly different! But only slightly! Nonetheless I am grateful for this double preordering!!! -John
@@RamenNoodle1985 screenshot it. I do this often when I see something I can't easily bookmark. This will explain why I have a million random screenshots of...random things. 😅
The Anthropocene Reviewed attempts to capture what it means to be human. It is both joyful and terribly sad, filled with light and darkness, levity and grief. It is sensational, and I am so grateful that you wrote it.
This is me jumping up and down in excitement waiting for my copy! The Anthropocene Reviewed is always heart-filled, and has left me battling tears in airport terminals and equestrian arenas. I can't wait to hold it in my hands!
"breathe again, ad inifinitum"- a more eloquent version of the best advice for stressful situations that my parents ever gave me, "don't cry, don't vomit, don't shit yourself: everything else is progress" 😅
The Anthropocene reviewed is Tralfamadorian literature, It is a collection of moments and thoughts out of time, carefully chosen by the author to impart a feeling to the reader.
@@vlogbrothers I'd buy the "Vonnegut is lurking throughout the book, especially in the review of Indianapolis, but also in lots of other places." elevator pitch too. :)
THERES CIRCLES!!!! OMG IM CRYING SEEING THE CIRCLES ! gosh It’s pretty clear who I am freaking out seeing circles lol. I can not wait to read it John seriously it’s driving me crazy having to wait so long. We’re so close.
Listening to The Anthropocene Reviewed has always felt like cracking open the skull of a New York writer and listening to their inner monologue. It is filled to the brim with existentialism and metaphor but also beautifully worded, with the unexpected and frequent power to move one to tears.
Trying to sum up a book in an elevator pitch is like someone asking you to talk about yourself in a job interview. Suddenly I have no idea who I am or what I’m about. “Uhhhh words. I am words.”
I used to do that: ask people, "Who are you?", and when they told me their name I said, "I didn't ask what you're called." Back in the day I thought this really clever and somewhat elevating. Until I noticed that I could not answer that question myself.
@@lonestarr1490 I’ve been able to answer that question for a while and boy does it feel good. Who am I? I’m a radio host, I’m a comedian, I’m a hard worker, I’m a friend. Once you find your answers it feels pretty good, and I recommend you give it some thought
@@lonestarr1490 I'm a mathematician packed with all the insanity you need to be one, I'm a helper who does worse myself to make others do better, I'm a programmer by hobby, and I'm full of oh so many insecurities where if I just took a step out of my narrow path in life and lived most would fade away. I guess after that I'm a consumer who never buys anything, maybe I'm a penny pincher, maybe it is a product of the lack of wealth I have.
John, just wanted to say thank you for creating this podcast and now book. I made a very close friend in college thanks to a discussion that we had during orientation about the episode on being a chaplain. They're now headed for divinity school and the podcast has helped inspire them to pursue that goal. Discussing episodes and vlogbrothers together has been a big part of our friendship.
In other news, nerdfighteria-sposnored AFC Wimbledon--desperately needing a draw to avoid relegation--scored on the last kick of the game to tie Rochdale 3-3. It was the best/worst thing I have ever seen in my life. I wept. Still not quite safe (we need one tie or win from our remaining two games, or for the teams below us to slip up), but at least according to 538, we only have a 1% chance of going down now. -John
Hi John , The aesthetics of the bookcover is amazing, you just wrote a new book so I got something to say that after your break and if you decide to wrote a book you should describe the life of a teenager like who is of 9th or 10th describing his life and then make it somewhat like looking for Alaska or paoer towns creatimg a mystery and then a whole viewpoint of it adding a thought creating a deep impact in the reader's mind . Do consider this meesage if you wanna write a book . Btw i am in 9th and have read three books of yours Looking for Alaska which was preferred by one of my friend and then after amazed by the vocab and the thought itself i read the other two books The fault in our Stars which brought tears in my eyes in the ending where Gus died and after that i read paper towns recently, loved the mystery and everything about it felt like i was Q and everything was happening just to me . Thanks for writing these fascinating and wonderful books 😀.
I perceive it as a soothing/reassuring yet truthful voice giving an insight into an individuals experience of existence while also opening the eyes of the readers to their own experiences of existence without us all really truly knowing what we are experiencing - but we can feel comfortable with it and everything and we can feel comfortable with being uncomfortable.
If anyone's Swedish and sad they can't get a signed copy, try The English Bookshop in Uppsala. They somehow had signed copies of Hank's latest book when it came out. Not sure what forbidden blood magic they used to get ahold of them, but it worked.
For me, TATWD was about the relationship between a daughter dealing with mental illness and her mom and how complicated feelings can be when impacted by others’ feelings which I thought was articulated so perfectly...anyway, I’m DRAGONS
@@vlogbrothers Not specifically about mental illness (although some trauma is definitely involved), but the graphic memoir The Best We Could Do by Thi Bui beautifully deals with child/parent/child relationships. I highly recommend it. It is very moving.
Hi John!!! The book looks amazing. I think it is not about the things you are reviewing, but about you, the way you, and others, think about, perceive, and appreciate the topics for review. It is not just your opinion, but about the ability to perceive. Edit: Barely a teenager, I am so happy to have seen this and to have seen that my feeble attempt at an answer got 7 likes, as opposed to the 0 likes most of mine have.
I pre-ordered the book about three weeks ago. I've never purchased a book with a similar description (or any compilation of essays really). I'm just happy to support you because of how much I admire the work you do. Thank you for everything and I can't wait to read the book!
I’m from Germany and it came out today. I got to the bookshop by bike and the woman there said I was the first one to buy this book. I went back home and it started raining and I ran inside and now I am sitting on my bed with wet hair and have this wonderful feeling in my chest. I really, really needed this book, especially during these times.Thank you so much for this John, I feel less alone .
the anthropocene reviewed has saved me in many ways. the podcast reminded me I could indeed still feel things. and that life is beautiful, especially the mundane. thank you, John
ok, this is the one that convinced me to preorder the hard cover. I love hearing your audio on the pod - you regaling the story of auld lang syne moves me to tears. But I have new bookshelves, and need beautiful things to fill them, and I'm looking forward to seeing this on my nightstand.
Side note John: I read through your cookbook perk from P4A and you did a great job! (Please don’t do this because you deserve a break) You should write a whole cookbook eventually because I can actually follow your recipes, enjoy reading about them, and think I’ll actually enjoy the food!
This is the only cookbook I have ever read aloud to my husband while hoping my children didn't come within earshot. It's also the only cookbook I have ever read aloud for any reason, but you know. It's absolutely fantastic.
John, I have found a beauty in things that cannot be described adequately in an elevator pitch. In today’s world of “summarize everything” and “instant gratification,” there is something to be said about being excited and interested enough in something that you are forced to sit down and fully immerse yourself in it, especially when that thing is more than a “snippet” of life. I can’t wait to read The Anthropocene Reviewed - not just to read it because it’s the “next book by John Green” or because “I know exactly what this book is about,” but to fully immerse myself in something that I am excited about and interested in precisely because I don’t fully understand what it’s about! I feel this way with most books the first time I read them and even about some books I’ve read many times before. The beauty of discovering something by fully immersing myself in it is something beyond words for me. I hope you can find some comfort in knowing that, at least for me, you don’t have to be able to give me an “elevator pitch” of your work, but rather know that I’m excited to immerse myself in it simply because it exists!
This might be one of my favorite vlogbrothers videos. John you somehow managed to say “I don’t know how to explain this” in a vulnerable way and also explain it perfectly and eloquently. From the script to the execution this whole video is *chefs kiss*. Crazy to think about how much John’s writing has evolved since I first watched a vlogbrothers video in 2008.
I loved you as a person before even knowing you as an author! I was a Hank student and then discovered your channel, you and then your books. The way you introduce people to new things (like last words in Looking for Alaska) is great. Keep it up John, there will always be a reader waiting for your books.
The other day I was trying to recommend a show to a friend, but I was really struggling to summarize it accurately. When I kept stumbling, she said "I'll definitely check it out! The highest quality stuff is usually the hardest to describe." The difficulty in explaining TAR, is the reason people should check it out. :)
The Anthropocene Reviewed podcast was something that got me through a really rough patch in my school career. When I didn’t have a place to respite because books took too much energy, because I read ALL the time, TAR was always just quiet enough, just engaging enough, and just lovely enough to do the trick. Thank you John. I’m excited to have your book in my hands once I pick it up from my local bookstore!
"...from a podcast I write..." this tense made me SUPER happy! Can't wait to get my book but also to continue the journey of TAR on the podcast. The last Thursday of the month isn't the same without the anticipation.
When I was in college I had to take Psychology for Education classes in which we studied Vygostky. This author proposes, among many other things, that words have 2 meanings, one is shared commonly by people and another that is exclusive to each person given their past experiences and cultural setting. To me, that's what TAR is about. It's about contrasting these two possibilities of meaning to mundane things. I know what diet dr pepper is. But I've never had any, we don't get those in Brazil, but even if I did have had it, I would never have had diet dr pepper like John Green has.
This is exactly right. I've heard Auld Lang Syne; it's a recognizable melody. But hearing John Green review it, that completely changed the meaning of it. There's a new meaning.
I just finished listening to the audiobook on a road trip with my sister and it was everything you said and more. We both loved it. Made me laugh, and cry, and think deeply about things I’d never really thought about before. 5/5
It's been such a privilege to hear and read your stories, real and imagined. I'm really looking forward to reading this book. Thank you for constantly bringing ideas and perspectives I can learn and grow from.
I ended up purchasing this book after watching this video and I also don't know how to describe it when I tell every single person I know that they need to read it. I read it in a few days and it was amazing. I couldn't help, as I read, leaving my own notes in the margins and doodling on the pages because it is a book that demands to be drawn in and engaged with. Even now, I do not know if this book changed me or simply made me aware that I had changed. It was absolutely stunning and I am sure I will reread it many times in years to come.
I guess you can say the book is like looking up at the sky...but for the first time really looking at it and realizing how beautiful it is. Just like everything in the entirety of human experience has a beautiful unique story to tell whether it be Halleys comet or a Hawaiian pizza.
I teach a hybrid class Tuesdays and Fridays and today my projector stopped working, IT didn't respond, the laptops from the laptop cart wouldn't turn on, and then the laptops didn't have Zoom installed, and then once class started to return to normal someone started drilling on the window from outside. So grateful to be able to watch vlogbrothers and see your vision boards after class! :) Thanks for your comforting videos and excellent timing.
I suggest combining all the things the book is with phrases like: "through the window of", "from which emerges", "collectively evoking", or "inspired by the journey through".
I love the circles! They have come to mean so much to me! I’ve tried to repetitively draw circles in order to help my brain function normally during times where I wasn’t able to consciously make that decision, and while circles didn’t work for me, repetitively writing certain words did. And I might have never escaped those moments if you hadn’t mentioned the circles in your videos. So thank you.
The podcast for me may be the closest to meditation and zen I can achieve. There is something so mesmerizing about the way you talk, convey passion and big feelings so well. It is one of my go to-s when I can't quiet my brain and relax. Thank you.
Potato seeds of Leningrad still breaks me. That level of self sacrifice sometimes keeps me awake, but most of all it keeps me grateful and forces me to recognize the many blessings we all have, even in this crazy time. Not to downplay the pandemic at all, but to add perspective, hope, and a powerful humbling.
I always feel that The Anthropocene Reviewed is about how tiny parts of the human experience (like Googling strangers or witnessing Halley's comet) can help us understand and deal with large parts of the human experience (like death and wonder).
I've been re reading all of your books for almost a decade now, Only good thing happened this year is that I've just received my first signed copy of your book!!! happyyy❤️❤️❤️
TAR is about honoring your lenses from which you see the world, letting yourself wonder and wander, but never forgetting that your lenses are not the full picture and they depend on who moves them
John, I find you to be one of the most insightful human beings I’ve ever had the pleasure of listening to... I have loved the podcast and I cannot wait for my copy of TAR.
I never knew I wanted a signed book until I got one! Anthropocene Reviewed is my first! Loving it so far. I can hear John’s voice in my head while reading each essay in the book. Easy read! More books like this, John!
I remember just bawling after 1 episode of the podcast where you talk about the movie Harvey: “in this world Elwood, you must be oh so smart, or oh so pleasant, well for years I was smart... I recommend pleasant.” And it was like, 2 maybe 3 years ago and it was after listening to a review about dinosaurs and pennies, prom, and super mario cart, and somehow that describes, at least the podcast for me.
At a surface level, I think Alice basically nails it on the vision board. On a deeper level, I'd say it's certain corners of humanity gathered into one place and marvelled at, considered thoughtfully and joked about.
The anthropocene reviewed is about finding a place in a world that is filled with so many billions of concepts and things and people and events, that each life seems insignificant. Yet each person is significant because each contributes to the things, people and concepts and events of this world.
“There's no such thing as an ordinary human. Do you know, in 900 years of time and space, I've never met anyone who wasn't important before.” - Doctor Who
John, you should publish a collection of your favorite quotes. You always have so many that you seemingly recall at will and they are beautiful. You've collected them, and I'd love to see that collection.
Just finished reading the book for a book club I am in. Really good book. You are a really gifted and talented writer. Very interesting and unique topics. I enjoyed it!
I once had a friend jokingly describe me as "notoriously self-aware", and after watching this video, I think that The Anthropocene Reviewed is notoriously self-aware. Maybe that's why I've always connected to it.
I found the podcast was a way of getting to know you a bit more, while knowing that you know very little about me. Thank you as always, spirals for instance helped me understand my partner’s experiences with OCD a bit more.
Sometimes I watch your videos purely for the effervescent flow of unique English vocabulary. It feels like the pop of a cool glass bottle on a sweltering August day.
The Anthropocene reviewed podcast is something that I subscribe to, but only judiciously listen to. For some reason, I find it very moving and at times it will move me to tears. I don't know if it's the honesty at which commonplace phenomenon are evaluated, or if the personal aspects of the reviews trigger something deep inside me, but in any case: don't stop doing what you are doing. It moves things inside others.
It's about humans and how we interact and perceive the world. It's about triumphs of the human spirit and our worst impulses. It's about our fascinations and our failings. It's about you and it's about me.
Some comments I like after a few words, and then love another part so much I try to like the comment again, accidentally unliking it. Your comment achieved the double like somehow even with only one sentence! (I did make sure it was liked 😅)
It is about how, if you dig deep enough into any subject, you will find things you never expected. There is joy, sorrow, loss, beauty and wonder in the things we take for granted each and every day.
Hi. You can preorder The Anthropocene Reviewed wherever books are sold or at bookshop: sites.prh.com/anthropocenereviewedbook
p.s. Tag yourself in my vision board. I'm, "So is it just a whole book of tiny essays?" -Alice
p.p.s. A new episode of the podcast comes out on Thursday. It's about Penguins of Madagascar and the smallpox vaccine. You can catch up on the podcast here: www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/anthropocene-reviewed -John
Definitely “manifest patient calm now”
i think i’m “DRAGONS”
I have 10 copies ordered one for me and the rest for friends and family
I’m “figure out what [insert assumption about reality here] is about, then pretend you knew ALL ALONG.”
I'm "DRAGONS"
dragons are made of awesome
A series of beautiful and intense, extended elevator pitches concerning the human experience.
I love that! -John
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He should review the elevator pitch so that it's elevator pitches all the way down.
@@vigilantcosmicpenguin8721 + to your comment 😍
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The Anthropocene Reviewed is about being an anthropologist who not only catalogues the human experience but understands that the act of cataloguing humans means you must include yourself
That's so good! (As I say in the book, so much of it was inspired by Sarah telling me, "In the Anthropocene, there are not disinterested observers. There are only participants.") -John
+1000
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@@vlogbrothers GOLLY Sarah is smart!
@@vlogbrothers So, basically, gonzo journalism? ;)
it’s about the human capacity to stop, take note, find joy or horror, remember what and who we are, and then get back to living.
I like that very much! -John
This is a beautiful description of the book and humanity
I really like this description.
Love this!
When I talk about it to other people I usually can’t get through an explanation without saying that it’s essays that “review facets of the human centered planet on a five star scale” because that phrase is just so attached to the title in my brain
It's also just a pretty good summary for what the Anthropocene Reviewed is.
SAME
I don't think there's a need for a better description than that.
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Me every time :D
I just started listening to the Anthropocene Reviewed, and I forgot how important it is to have beautiful words in my life. V grateful.
Thanks for listening! -John
What a perfect way to say this
The podcast for me was all about going for a run in the woods and end up crying while listening to a man reviewing academic decathlon
hahahaha that one ended up in the book! -John
@@vlogbrothers can't wait to read it!
Haha yes. Very accurate.
That was among my favorite reviews. I still listen to it and cry sometimes, it was just so, so heartfelt and well done.
It made me cry even more than I did from the Academic Decathlon itself!
No, you’re right. What even IS The Anthropocene Reviewed about? All I know is that your reviews of sunsets and Auld Lang Syne never fail to make me cry. Thank you, John, for giving me something I never knew I needed.
I like how you talk about how hard it is to elevator pitch your books and then immediately deliver a perfect two sentence summary of TATWD :D
Turtles All the Way Down isn't really about the disappearance of a local billionaire. It's about mental illness and free will and how it feels to have your consciousness hijacked by intrusive thoughts.
Yeah, one of the weird things about writing a book for me is that I never know how to do that when I finish the book, and then I basically have to learn how to do it while talking about it to other people. If you go back and watch me in October of 2017, I am all over the place when talking about TATWD and now I sound like a well-drilled army. :) -John
@@vlogbrothers Seems like books are inherently hard to condense into an elevator pitch because their scope is so broad, but, on the other hand, if you can't narrow down the main focus of the book, it will probably doesn't have enough of a focus to make your point.
@@mikecmurphy I think it would be really disappointing to easily condense your book into an elevator pitch because that would come with the inherent realization that the book was completely unnecessary.
It's strange not seeing stacks of boxes behind John lol.
weird for me too. But I do not miss them! -John
Why did my mind automatically apply this to children? "They're not there anymore, but I don't miss them!" How did I get this way.
@@serenalizinnqui8474 That's pretty much all we hear from my mom since we all moved out for college.
That’s right! I was literally thinking to myself “Has John always had that much space behind him? Did he move his desk up or something?” But it’s probably the lack of boxes haha
He should give away the boxes. Those are priceless artifacts.
To me its about how a steady gaze directed at any one thing, if held for long enough, can show you both the beauty and the horror of the Anthropocene.
That's much better than anything I said in the video! -John
…and, if you are brave and sincere enough, of yourself as a part of it.
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I started listening to the Anthropocene Reviewed when my brain first started falling apart. It’s been an incredibly helpful place to escape into when I need a moment of quiet. I am incredibly grateful for every word, thank you.
Thanks for giving it a seat at your table. I hope it can be helpful! -John
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I know it's not gonna happen, but I still hope that the book will also have ads for Policy Genius somewhere in there.
hahahaha I just wrote the policygenius ad for the episode that comes out on Thursday and I spent like four hours on it. I am way too devoted to policygenius ad writing. -John
@@vlogbrothers I mean I'm a single 28 year-old with no kids, I don't think I need life insurance ? But I enjoy the ads anyway !
Lol! These intro to the ads had some of my favorite parts of the podcast
@@robertofontiglia4148 , get it now while it is cheap for you - and don’t have it tied to your employer. (Speaking for the families of older farts who got laid off from jobs that provided life insurance and then hired by ones who don’t. Prohibitively more expensive now, and sets families up to really get screwed if breadwinner dies prior to retirement.)
@@robertofontiglia4148 +1 to the sibling comment here. Definitely take a look at life insurance while you're young and healthy. It's way cheaper now and there's even cash-value options that will allow you to dip into the funds if you're ever in a pinch later in life
The podcast is the only podcast to ever make me cry and laugh in the same minute. It is like the universe; it contains everything.
The Balance Arc finale from The Adventure Zone did that for me too.
“The truth resists simplicity” I don’t know if you stand by these words from a decade ago now, John. They’ve been a constant guiding light to how I view the world since I first came across them in 2012. I hope to others I’m the understanding, compassionate, and thoughtful person those words have inspired me to be.
I was wrong about a lot in 2012, but I think I was right that the truth resists simplicity! Thanks for the kind words. -John
I still think about this every day, this and (I think) Hank?s Imagine Others Complexly
i’ve been listening to the podcast for so long now that the thought of holding the physical book in my hands fills me with a level of excitement that i can’t even begin to explain
Unfortunately we'll lose John's voice reading it. Although all letters printed in the same tone of black may mimic the sensations!!! xD
@@FairMiles There is an audiobook with three extra reviews. So you can still have his voice, even if it's a perfectly scripted one.
The book is about how John always seems to have the perfect striking quote for every situation
THIS. Underrated quote machine ability.
It's about how you can find beauty in even the most mundane things by truly giving it your full attention if even for a moment.
Anyone else pre-order the hardcopy and the Audio because they are slightly different. 😅 I'm so ready for this!! Am I going to cry? Absolutely but will it be worth it? Completely!
The audio contains three reviews the physical book does not, because there were a few that work in audio for me but not in print (most notably the Kauai o-o review). But the physical books also has some easter eggs / reviews-incorporated-into-the-bookmaking-process that are not in the audio. (Plus a long notes section that we didn't include in the audio, if you're into notes.)
So they are slightly different! But only slightly! Nonetheless I am grateful for this double preordering!!! -John
@@vlogbrothers ooooh, good to know, cause I ordered both as well! Dammit, I wish I could bookmark this like reddit.
I'm only ordering a paper copy for myself, but best believe I'm going to make sure my library has the audiobook!
@@RamenNoodle1985 screenshot it. I do this often when I see something I can't easily bookmark. This will explain why I have a million random screenshots of...random things. 😅
I am getting both as well. I really wanna hear John's voice narrating the book, but I also really want to have a physical copy!
THE COVER IS SO NICE THE AESTHETIC IS 10/10
The Anthropocene Reviewed attempts to capture what it means to be human. It is both joyful and terribly sad, filled with light and darkness, levity and grief. It is sensational, and I am so grateful that you wrote it.
Alice's quote on the vision board is my favorite 😂
"About time passing.. and me with it" 🥲
“In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: It goes on.” -Robert Frost
This is me jumping up and down in excitement waiting for my copy! The Anthropocene Reviewed is always heart-filled, and has left me battling tears in airport terminals and equestrian arenas. I can't wait to hold it in my hands!
"breathe again, ad inifinitum"- a more eloquent version of the best advice for stressful situations that my parents ever gave me, "don't cry, don't vomit, don't shit yourself: everything else is progress" 😅
I would count crying as a possible form of progress. Not always, but also not never.
I’m stealing this advice but also acknowledging that tears are often important for growth
Another one stating that tears can be cathartic, but the other excretions of bodily fluids are a hard pass. 😅
Crying is also progress for me, but otherwise that sounds great
The Anthropocene reviewed is Tralfamadorian literature, It is a collection of moments and thoughts out of time, carefully chosen by the author to impart a feeling to the reader.
That's extremely kind. Vonnegut is lurking throughout the book, especially in the review of Indianapolis, but also in lots of other places. -John
@@vlogbrothers I'd buy the "Vonnegut is lurking throughout the book, especially in the review of Indianapolis, but also in lots of other places." elevator pitch too. :)
@@3countylaugh "Where's Vonnegut?" could be a fun book.
@@vigilantcosmicpenguin8721 *sung like the TV show* Where!? In the World!? Is!? Best-selling author Kurt Vonnegut!?
THERES CIRCLES!!!! OMG IM CRYING SEEING THE CIRCLES ! gosh It’s pretty clear who I am freaking out seeing circles lol. I can not wait to read it John seriously it’s driving me crazy having to wait so long. We’re so close.
fun update. I am in fact crying over circles.
The area of a circle pi times the radius squared. You already knew this, but I wanted to say it anyway.
Listening to The Anthropocene Reviewed has always felt like cracking open the skull of a New York writer and listening to their inner monologue. It is filled to the brim with existentialism and metaphor but also beautifully worded, with the unexpected and frequent power to move one to tears.
Trying to sum up a book in an elevator pitch is like someone asking you to talk about yourself in a job interview. Suddenly I have no idea who I am or what I’m about. “Uhhhh words. I am words.”
I used to do that: ask people, "Who are you?", and when they told me their name I said, "I didn't ask what you're called."
Back in the day I thought this really clever and somewhat elevating. Until I noticed that I could not answer that question myself.
@@lonestarr1490 I’ve been able to answer that question for a while and boy does it feel good. Who am I? I’m a radio host, I’m a comedian, I’m a hard worker, I’m a friend. Once you find your answers it feels pretty good, and I recommend you give it some thought
I recheck my Birthdays while registering for new things, I don’t want to be in Job interviews
@@lonestarr1490 I'm a mathematician packed with all the insanity you need to be one, I'm a helper who does worse myself to make others do better, I'm a programmer by hobby, and I'm full of oh so many insecurities where if I just took a step out of my narrow path in life and lived most would fade away. I guess after that I'm a consumer who never buys anything, maybe I'm a penny pincher, maybe it is a product of the lack of wealth I have.
@@bradenpittman1801 I like you answer, too, mostly because it's not just one thing. Humans are multifaceted and never static.
John, just wanted to say thank you for creating this podcast and now book. I made a very close friend in college thanks to a discussion that we had during orientation about the episode on being a chaplain. They're now headed for divinity school and the podcast has helped inspire them to pursue that goal. Discussing episodes and vlogbrothers together has been a big part of our friendship.
In other news, nerdfighteria-sposnored AFC Wimbledon--desperately needing a draw to avoid relegation--scored on the last kick of the game to tie Rochdale 3-3. It was the best/worst thing I have ever seen in my life. I wept.
Still not quite safe (we need one tie or win from our remaining two games, or for the teams below us to slip up), but at least according to 538, we only have a 1% chance of going down now. -John
Hi John , The aesthetics of the bookcover is amazing, you just wrote a new book so I got something to say that after your break and if you decide to wrote a book you should describe the life of a teenager like who is of 9th or 10th describing his life and then make it somewhat like looking for Alaska or paoer towns creatimg a mystery and then a whole viewpoint of it adding a thought creating a deep impact in the reader's mind . Do consider this meesage if you wanna write a book . Btw i am in 9th and have read three books of yours Looking for Alaska which was preferred by one of my friend and then after amazed by the vocab and the thought itself i read the other two books The fault in our Stars which brought tears in my eyes in the ending where Gus died and after that i read paper towns recently, loved the mystery and everything about it felt like i was Q and everything was happening just to me . Thanks for writing these fascinating and wonderful books 😀.
I perceive it as a soothing/reassuring yet truthful voice giving an insight into an individuals experience of existence while also opening the eyes of the readers to their own experiences of existence without us all really truly knowing what we are experiencing - but we can feel comfortable with it and everything and we can feel comfortable with being uncomfortable.
If anyone's Swedish and sad they can't get a signed copy, try The English Bookshop in Uppsala. They somehow had signed copies of Hank's latest book when it came out. Not sure what forbidden blood magic they used to get ahold of them, but it worked.
+ so more Swedish people can see this
Those endless tiny purple circles on the end papers are a vibe.
I know, right? And they also relate to the book in big ways, since so much of it is about recursive thinking and obsesive mark-making. -John
@@vlogbrothers Will the paperback have them too? I have pretty bad trypophobia. 🤦♀️
the irony is that you just gave us a (successful?) elevator pitch
"Okay, John, you've got to write and elevator pitch and a video for this week."
*why not both meme*
There's no better way to explain it than by explaining the futility of trying to explain it.
The Anthropocene Reviewed: One man's attempt to understand the world around him with close, careful, and considerate attention.
we live in a society
For me, TATWD was about the relationship between a daughter dealing with mental illness and her mom and how complicated feelings can be when impacted by others’ feelings which I thought was articulated so perfectly...anyway, I’m DRAGONS
ahhh thanks. That is definitely a big thing I wanted to write about in the book. I think about it all the time, both as a child and as a parent. -ohn
@@vlogbrothers Not specifically about mental illness (although some trauma is definitely involved), but the graphic memoir The Best We Could Do by Thi Bui beautifully deals with child/parent/child relationships. I highly recommend it. It is very moving.
Hi John!!! The book looks amazing. I think it is not about the things you are reviewing, but about you, the way you, and others, think about, perceive, and appreciate the topics for review. It is not just your opinion, but about the ability to perceive.
Edit: Barely a teenager, I am so happy to have seen this and to have seen that my feeble attempt at an answer got 7 likes, as opposed to the 0 likes most of mine have.
I got emotional when I saw the end papers omg
Me too. It's a really personal book, and it was so lovely to see this drawing I made turned into beautiful endpapers. -John
The endpapers are perfect because they're uninherently meaningful - the circles have value because we've decided they do.
I pre-ordered the book about three weeks ago. I've never purchased a book with a similar description (or any compilation of essays really). I'm just happy to support you because of how much I admire the work you do. Thank you for everything and I can't wait to read the book!
I haven’t been this excited to read a new book in a while
I'm just really happy John found a space he could write in again.
I’m from Germany and it came out today. I got to the bookshop by bike and the woman there said I was the first one to buy this book. I went back home and it started raining and I ran inside and now I am sitting on my bed with wet hair and have this wonderful feeling in my chest. I really, really needed this book,
especially during these times.Thank you so much for this John, I feel less alone .
And this has made me even more excited to read the book. Also, that cover is amazing! Love seeing so much color on a nonfiction book.
the anthropocene reviewed has saved me in many ways. the podcast reminded me I could indeed still feel things. and that life is beautiful, especially the mundane. thank you, John
It's a collection of essays where you explore the way you see the world by linking your thought process to concrete ideas and experiences
ok, this is the one that convinced me to preorder the hard cover. I love hearing your audio on the pod - you regaling the story of auld lang syne moves me to tears. But I have new bookshelves, and need beautiful things to fill them, and I'm looking forward to seeing this on my nightstand.
Side note John: I read through your cookbook perk from P4A and you did a great job! (Please don’t do this because you deserve a break) You should write a whole cookbook eventually because I can actually follow your recipes, enjoy reading about them, and think I’ll actually enjoy the food!
Thanks! I loved writing it! -John
This is the only cookbook I have ever read aloud to my husband while hoping my children didn't come within earshot. It's also the only cookbook I have ever read aloud for any reason, but you know. It's absolutely fantastic.
John, I have found a beauty in things that cannot be described adequately in an elevator pitch. In today’s world of “summarize everything” and “instant gratification,” there is something to be said about being excited and interested enough in something that you are forced to sit down and fully immerse yourself in it, especially when that thing is more than a “snippet” of life. I can’t wait to read The Anthropocene Reviewed - not just to read it because it’s the “next book by John Green” or because “I know exactly what this book is about,” but to fully immerse myself in something that I am excited about and interested in precisely because I don’t fully understand what it’s about! I feel this way with most books the first time I read them and even about some books I’ve read many times before. The beauty of discovering something by fully immersing myself in it is something beyond words for me. I hope you can find some comfort in knowing that, at least for me, you don’t have to be able to give me an “elevator pitch” of your work, but rather know that I’m excited to immerse myself in it simply because it exists!
This might be one of my favorite vlogbrothers videos. John you somehow managed to say “I don’t know how to explain this” in a vulnerable way and also explain it perfectly and eloquently. From the script to the execution this whole video is *chefs kiss*.
Crazy to think about how much John’s writing has evolved since I first watched a vlogbrothers video in 2008.
I loved you as a person before even knowing you as an author! I was a Hank student and then discovered your channel, you and then your books. The way you introduce people to new things (like last words in Looking for Alaska) is great. Keep it up John, there will always be a reader waiting for your books.
The other day I was trying to recommend a show to a friend, but I was really struggling to summarize it accurately. When I kept stumbling, she said "I'll definitely check it out! The highest quality stuff is usually the hardest to describe." The difficulty in explaining TAR, is the reason people should check it out. :)
The Anthropocene Reviewed podcast was something that got me through a really rough patch in my school career. When I didn’t have a place to respite because books took too much energy, because I read ALL the time, TAR was always just quiet enough, just engaging enough, and just lovely enough to do the trick. Thank you John. I’m excited to have your book in my hands once I pick it up from my local bookstore!
It's about us, being here, because we're here.
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"...from a podcast I write..." this tense made me SUPER happy! Can't wait to get my book but also to continue the journey of TAR on the podcast. The last Thursday of the month isn't the same without the anticipation.
And it CAME!!!! BEST Thursday for months!!!!
When I was in college I had to take Psychology for Education classes in which we studied Vygostky. This author proposes, among many other things, that words have 2 meanings, one is shared commonly by people and another that is exclusive to each person given their past experiences and cultural setting.
To me, that's what TAR is about. It's about contrasting these two possibilities of meaning to mundane things.
I know what diet dr pepper is. But I've never had any, we don't get those in Brazil, but even if I did have had it, I would never have had diet dr pepper like John Green has.
THIS!!!
This is exactly right. I've heard Auld Lang Syne; it's a recognizable melody. But hearing John Green review it, that completely changed the meaning of it. There's a new meaning.
I just finished listening to the audiobook on a road trip with my sister and it was everything you said and more. We both loved it. Made me laugh, and cry, and think deeply about things I’d never really thought about before. 5/5
Oh my god the circles , and the colors are on point !!! I love this so much ❤️
I do too! So much! -John
It's been such a privilege to hear and read your stories, real and imagined. I'm really looking forward to reading this book.
Thank you for constantly bringing ideas and perspectives I can learn and grow from.
Alice Green's blurb should appear on the book. Her and Anna Sale, and that's it.
Have you seen people’s comments yet? These are totally back cover-worthy
Wait, I think I’ve heard this before... Still excited. I’m very excited. Shaking. Crying. I always look forward to what you do!
I mean this so literally: I cannot wait for my library to send me the notice that my copy is ready
Thanks for requesting it from your library!!!! -John
I'm requesting one from my library too! But if I'm being honest with myself, I will probably end up purchasing a copy too.
I ended up purchasing this book after watching this video and I also don't know how to describe it when I tell every single person I know that they need to read it. I read it in a few days and it was amazing. I couldn't help, as I read, leaving my own notes in the margins and doodling on the pages because it is a book that demands to be drawn in and engaged with. Even now, I do not know if this book changed me or simply made me aware that I had changed. It was absolutely stunning and I am sure I will reread it many times in years to come.
I guess you can say the book is like looking up at the sky...but for the first time really looking at it and realizing how beautiful it is. Just like everything in the entirety of human experience has a beautiful unique story to tell whether it be Halleys comet or a Hawaiian pizza.
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I teach a hybrid class Tuesdays and Fridays and today my projector stopped working, IT didn't respond, the laptops from the laptop cart wouldn't turn on, and then the laptops didn't have Zoom installed, and then once class started to return to normal someone started drilling on the window from outside. So grateful to be able to watch vlogbrothers and see your vision boards after class! :) Thanks for your comforting videos and excellent timing.
I suggest combining all the things the book is with phrases like: "through the window of", "from which emerges", "collectively evoking", or "inspired by the journey through".
I really enjoy how deep and beautiful this commentary was along with the comments about the commentary
"the more you think about humans the weirder we get" mood
Agreed! Also, love your profile pic!
@@starpasta @ninjaturtlesallthewaydown and your username!
I love the circles! They have come to mean so much to me! I’ve tried to repetitively draw circles in order to help my brain function normally during times where I wasn’t able to consciously make that decision, and while circles didn’t work for me, repetitively writing certain words did. And I might have never escaped those moments if you hadn’t mentioned the circles in your videos. So thank you.
It’s about unelevator pitching the topics it covers and allowing the readers to the think deeper about life and things in it.
The podcast for me may be the closest to meditation and zen I can achieve. There is something so mesmerizing about the way you talk, convey passion and big feelings so well. It is one of my go to-s when I can't quiet my brain and relax. Thank you.
Potato seeds of Leningrad still breaks me. That level of self sacrifice sometimes keeps me awake, but most of all it keeps me grateful and forces me to recognize the many blessings we all have, even in this crazy time. Not to downplay the pandemic at all, but to add perspective, hope, and a powerful humbling.
Pre-ordered it months ago. It looks amazing! I love the podcast, cannot wait for more episodes. On another note, hello to all my fellow nerdfighters
I always feel that The Anthropocene Reviewed is about how tiny parts of the human experience (like Googling strangers or witnessing Halley's comet) can help us understand and deal with large parts of the human experience (like death and wonder).
And how the seemingly unimportant things we do help connect us so that we can make meaning from our shared experiences.
I've been re reading all of your books for almost a decade now, Only good thing happened this year is that I've just received my first signed copy of your book!!! happyyy❤️❤️❤️
Woah that's an aesthetically pleasing book.
(Also, John I don't wanna clog up your inbox so I'll say it here thank you!)
I can't get over how beautiful the cover is!! And the circles are such a nice touch. Come on May 18, I am so ready to sob.
TAR is about honoring your lenses from which you see the world, letting yourself wonder and wander, but never forgetting that your lenses are not the full picture and they depend on who moves them
John, I find you to be one of the most insightful human beings I’ve ever had the pleasure of listening to... I have loved the podcast and I cannot wait for my copy of TAR.
For me, the Anthropocene Reviewed is the sense of really looking *at* something, and not just through it.
I never knew I wanted a signed book until I got one! Anthropocene Reviewed is my first! Loving it so far. I can hear John’s voice in my head while reading each essay in the book. Easy read! More books like this, John!
John Green never fails to fascinate me. Its beautiful how he manages to articulate his thoughts so precisely.
I preordered my copy of The Anthropocene Reviewed back in September! It's been a long wait and I'm so excited to finally read it. Great work, John.
I remember just bawling after 1 episode of the podcast where you talk about the movie Harvey: “in this world Elwood, you must be oh so smart, or oh so pleasant, well for years I was smart... I recommend pleasant.” And it was like, 2 maybe 3 years ago and it was after listening to a review about dinosaurs and pennies, prom, and super mario cart, and somehow that describes, at least the podcast for me.
That cover image and the circle drawings are so wonderful. Looking forward to reading it
At a surface level, I think Alice basically nails it on the vision board. On a deeper level, I'd say it's certain corners of humanity gathered into one place and marvelled at, considered thoughtfully and joked about.
The anthropocene reviewed is about finding a place in a world that is filled with so many billions of concepts and things and people and events, that each life seems insignificant. Yet each person is significant because each contributes to the things, people and concepts and events of this world.
“There's no such thing as an ordinary human. Do you know, in 900 years of time and space, I've never met anyone who wasn't important before.” - Doctor Who
"Hopefully, it is often funny." John, your sense of humour literally gives me life.
John, you should publish a collection of your favorite quotes. You always have so many that you seemingly recall at will and they are beautiful. You've collected them, and I'd love to see that collection.
I can't wait for mine to come in the mail! I'm so excited! 💜
Just finished reading the book for a book club I am in. Really good book. You are a really gifted and talented writer. Very interesting and unique topics. I enjoyed it!
I once had a friend jokingly describe me as "notoriously self-aware", and after watching this video, I think that The Anthropocene Reviewed is notoriously self-aware. Maybe that's why I've always connected to it.
I found the podcast was a way of getting to know you a bit more, while knowing that you know very little about me.
Thank you as always, spirals for instance helped me understand my partner’s experiences with OCD a bit more.
"who the eff is hank?" "hank is a group of in-depth yelp reviews in the form of a memoir available for pre-order now!"
"what the eff is John's new book about?"
Sometimes I watch your videos purely for the effervescent flow of unique English vocabulary. It feels like the pop of a cool glass bottle on a sweltering August day.
"I mean, I dunno, it's a book?" -John Green, New York Times bestselling author, Michael L. Printz Award recipient
The Anthropocene reviewed podcast is something that I subscribe to, but only judiciously listen to. For some reason, I find it very moving and at times it will move me to tears. I don't know if it's the honesty at which commonplace phenomenon are evaluated, or if the personal aspects of the reviews trigger something deep inside me, but in any case: don't stop doing what you are doing. It moves things inside others.
It's about humans and how we interact and perceive the world. It's about triumphs of the human spirit and our worst impulses. It's about our fascinations and our failings. It's about you and it's about me.
just preordered. thank you for allowing us to go on this journey with you
It’s about the footnotes of your previous books come to life, this time to tell your story.
Some comments I like after a few words, and then love another part so much I try to like the comment again, accidentally unliking it. Your comment achieved the double like somehow even with only one sentence! (I did make sure it was liked 😅)
I like this one so much!
It is about how, if you dig deep enough into any subject, you will find things you never expected. There is joy, sorrow, loss, beauty and wonder in the things we take for granted each and every day.