I misread the title of this video as "How to SING your name 150,000 times", and for a split second I expected John to sit in front of a sound looping machine.
I remember going to USC’s book festival and not having bought a copy of TFIOS yet. Your signing was officially wrapping up, but you waited for me as I stood in line to buy the book. You waiting for me and signing my copy really did brighten my day. Thank you, John! Looking forward to getting my copy of The Anthropocene Reviewed.
Thanks for sharing that memory, Alison. I really appreciate you standing in line. I remember that day at the book festival and it was a bit chaotic, so I hope it wasn't too rushed. -John
I honestly never saw the point in having a signed copy of a book until John and Hank started documenting their side of the story on this channel and made me see how personal this repetative process still is. Considering the author and reader may never meet, it's kind of like the internet where we don't get to personally see the whole audience one reaches. Now I see that these signitures are a way for me to know that even through the books are manufactured en masse, there's a real person behind the book and I truly love that, so thank you!
Would the book be more meaningful if John hand-wrote every copy? Sure, but far fewer people would get to experience the book. Yes the physical books are manufactured, but what you enjoy reading is the words, ideas, and concepts, not the medium. I'd prefer less signing if it meant more/better content.That might just mean that they get to take the time they would for signing to just relax or whatever self-care.
"Sometimes, you'll think about the signatures themselves, the little imperfections that you can't seem to rid yourself of, even after all this practice..." Well, gosh, John, if you signed your name perfectly every single time, then that wouldn't be much better than stamping or printing your signature over and over again. The imperfections are what makes it special.
Jacob Dunning right?!?! Wow I never expected to see these two channels collide. (Also, I was thinking the same thing: that John's left arm could be doing a lot less work and repetition)
I remember when I got my copy of Turtles All The Way Down and saw that both John and Hank had signed it. I’ve watched vlogbrothers (and nearly all of the complexly channels from the very beginning) and have loved this community for a long time. It made me ridiculously happy. That is a hard book for me to read (it reminds me a lot of what it is for me to struggle with mental illness although mine isn’t OCD and mostly that is good and makes me feel less alone but sometimes it’s hard). I’ve never been able to attend events or been very active in the community but those signatures make me feel very special and like I belong.
This community isn't about being able to go to events or talking to others in the community, it's about feeling like you belong in this amazing community, whether if you've been to events or you haven't. This also reminds me of running to barns and noble the day turtles all the way down came out and going through the copies looking at the signatures and trying to find one with not just john's signature but something else in it. I ended up with one that says dftba!
@@Painted_Owl it's a format of video the vlogbrothers do. The camera isn't pointed at them, it's pointed at their environment and they voice over with interesting thoughts
@@Painted_Owl There is a whole vlogbrothers playlist of videos where John and Hank talk about the places they have visited and what they think about. Some of my favourite videos! I don’t know how to link them on mobile but I think one of them is called Attacked by Squirrels and Neoclassicism, which is a personal favourite!
I love how this is so instructional. Like I'll never need to apply this step-by-step process in MY life, but it's nice to know what the steps would be.
So, I'm curious about this. Why do people say something is a serotonin boost? Wouldn't saying something is a dopamine boost be more apt considering serotonin is more for stabilizing emotions than boosting them?
@@chris-hayes In each case, it would be a different story. It could be that their brain was chemically inbalanced prior (i.e. mental illnesses/disorders) and needed stabilising. Something grounding like "Good morning Hank, it's Tuesday" would help those people's serotonin levels. There are of course, some people who mean to say dopamine, but that word is correllated strongly with usage of illicit drugs in most people's minds. If we're talking about the "why," (assuming they *are* using it incorrectly) then I'd attribute that to the recent rise in awareness of mental illnesses. More people now realise the significance of serotonin compared to previously, and with less stigma compared to that which was around in the 1950's, people are more open to talk about their experiences. This means that more people hear about serotonin, and all of a sudden it's in a large amount of people's vocabulary.
You may already have discovered it, but Julia Garbe has created a beautiful hour long lofi video where John signs pages, incorporating excerpts from the Anthropocene Reviewed episode on Auld Lang Syne and collaborative music tracks from other nerdfighters. The video is called "lofi lang syne beats - 1 hour version" and can easily become ten hours when looped accordingly. :)
The Anthropocene Reviewed book comes out on May 18th, 2021. Every copy of the first printing of the U.S. edition will be signed. I'm about 55,000 signatures in. Only a couple hundred hours to go, then. You can preorder it wherever books are sold. www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/672554/the-anthropocene-reviewed-signed-edition-by-john-green/ This video contains a clue. The clue leads to an unlisted livestream. Part of the clue is in the video. The other part of the clue is , world. -John
This was a beautifully-crafted essay in video form, so thanks for that, John. Also, I've been a nerdfighter since 2008ish and watch every video when it comes out, but it's only been in the last year or so that I've come to understand how much the comment section brings to the experience. How delightful and welcoming this place is, that there are so many people connecting with each other while observing the third thing that is this channel. I am so grateful to every person who actively works to make this space as nurturing as it is. Thanks y'all!
@@vlogbrothers Well, it doesn't have to be a competition. :) Also, thank you for the reminder to pay attention to what I pay attention to. Noticing my time in the comments section is just one of many ways that reminder has affected me recently.
I normally never even look at UA-cam comments; internet comment sections are typically awful, but most of the time YT comments don't just scrape the bottom of the barrel, they rot it out... from below. There are a handful of channels that buck this trend or outright reverse it -- a bare and very precious handful. Of which Vlogbrothers has become my #1.
I'll never forget the book tour for Paper Towns in 2008. I was a senior in high school and Paper Towns had absolutely blown me away. You did your little spiel at the Racine Public Library in Wisconsin but weren't originally going to be signing books. I remember you saying that technically you weren't supposed to take pictures or sign anything at the library. All that was supposed to be done later at a second location. But apparently you knew a bunch of people weren't going to be able to make that second location, and I was one of them. It meant the world to me that you took the time to talk with us and sign books and take pictures. I was the first person whose books you signed, and somehow I managed to have you sign each of my books EXCEPT Paper Towns lol. Then, in the spring of 2009 I semi-panicked during the AP Lit exam when it asked us to write about some sort of symbolism. I'd read plenty of books in the class, but somehow my mind was blank. So I wrote about Paper Towns. Because I knew I'd thought more critically about that book than perhaps any other book I'd ever read. So thank you for teaching 18-year-old me about the strings, and the vessels, and multi-faceted nature of people. That unsigned copy of Paper Towns is full of sticky notes and is literally falling apart. The blue cover is certainly battered. For a long time it was my favorite book to travel with, and I brought it on countless plane rides. Now I have an ebook version that's always downloaded on my Kindle and phone.
Wow, this comment brought me so much joy. I remember that day in Racine so well, and the long ride in the minivan to get there. This just absolutely made my day. I'm so grateful you gave that book a place in your life. Thank you. -John
It says "John Green's #1 Marker" and it was given to me by Sharpie. They gave me like 200 of them, and I am slowly working my way through the pile. -John
There was a thread on the nerdfighter subreddit about a week ago where people discussed which specific Pantone shades of green they would assign to John and Hank.
@@crazykenna I disagree with having 200 #1s being too silly, after all, all those other sharpies will get their turn, most likely, and the ones that have been spent, well, they aren't exactly the #1, having been used up. one could probably make an analogy there, to people, their work, and when they're no longer capable of it, but it might be a little bit too pointed for some people.
John: Signing your name surpasses monotony into presentness and meditation. Also John: Relives the traumatic childhood experience of being denied an autograph of beloved author because he was too poor to buy a hardback
Mkay, now I want a signing stream - scribbly paper asmr and repetitive motions to watch would be lovely. John, if you need some variation in those 300 hours, please consider this!!
@@omarabdelkadereldarir7458 I will gladly say that watching vlogbrothers has made me a better person. Maybe that's weird to say about UA-cam videos and a lot of pressure to put on people who have never met me, but John and Hank Green are among the most influential people on my life.
John, that story about the author signing made me cry. I’ve had that experience with plenty of people I admire, but never with you and Hank. Thank you for acknowledging the emotional attachment and weight you bring to your readers and fans.
I remember how excited I was exactly three years ago today when I went to the St. Louis TATWD event and I got my first-ever signed copy of a book. Such a great feeling!
@@FootballPsychoPS3T Click Through Ratio ("How many of the ppl seeing the thumbnail / title click the video") It's one of the more important metrics on UA-cam at the moment, if you want to grow.
@@FootballPsychoPS3T Given the nature of the video, I assumed the “CT” must be “Carpal Tunnel”, but the only “CTR” I could find is apparently “Carpal Tunnel Release”. I guess that is the name of (potentially) the type of surgery that they’d need after signing so many sheets for their readers. Wow o_O
I remember getting my signed copy of turtles all the way down a few years ago and just being so excited. It was one of many thousands of pieces of paper signed but it still feels special to have it on my bookshelf :)
Nobody: Me, and engineering student: Watching this video, trying to determine the best automated design for streamlining this process. Also me: No, that destroys the purpose of book signing and would bring the world one tiny step closer to commercialism.
I wanted to like this but you’re at 42! The answer to life, the universe, and everything! Hopefully this comment can provide a replacement for the like that I wanted to give.
You could use a spinning/rotating table top. Would require another persons help tho. Stack piles of the blank sheets around the circumference, sign and spin. Have a friend remove the signed sheets as you go. The friend might also need to spin the table, to not affect your ch’i.
@@vlogbrothers I think you are wasting a second or two each time you separate the topmost sheet from the others, you should separate a hundred or so and keep them in a stair like manner. I think that will speed it up.
"You’re not a machine, which is one of the primary lessons of this endeavor." This seems to me a very important lesson in being a person as well. Easy to think efficiency is all that matters.
John, I just finished listening to The Anthropocene Reviewed (again, it is turning into the best driving soundtrack). I am repeatedly struck by how much I can connect with your explanations around your mental health, to the point that I feel like I finally have the words to be able to explain how I'm feeling, and that I know I'm not the only one. (I first listened to your review of "Harvey" the night before I defended my PhD, and had to pull over because it hit me so hard while driving.) I absolutely love repetitive tasks and find them incredibly soothing, from stuffing envelopes to alphabetizing files, to baking hundreds of cookies, to grading multiple choice exams. It is the same rationale behind my long distance running. There is some sort of freedom in feeling so focused that you don't have to focus on anything else. I have never pre-ordered a book before, but I know that this book in particular is worth changing that. *On a separate note, what order would you read your books if you were seeing them for the first time? By popularity? By publication date? And in the cases of book vs screen: better to start with the book or the screen?
Better to start with the book :) If you're interested in the mental health side of things, Turtles All the Way Down is about a person with severe OCD and anxiety. I'd probably start there or with The Fault in Our Stars. I am really glad that my work has been a point of connection and unaloneness for you. Thanks for listening to TAR! -John
Perfect timing, I was just thinking about possibly signing my name 150,000 times and now I have this wonderful tutorial to follow! But in all seriousness, it's your dedication to the seemingly "small" things like this that show us how much you really care about all of us in Nerdfighteria. Thank you for everything!
John, in every one of these voice over videos there is always a message you convey through your reserved eliquence that really resonates with me. When I was in high school watching this channel (2011-2015) I was always looking towards hanks videos, but as I started going to college and then ultimately into the unkowable abyss of adulthood your videos really started to strike a chord with me. The way you articulate your own feelings helps me realize that I’m not alone and that my own mental illness does not define all of who I am. Thank you for putting this world into words.
These kinds of short, thoughtful, and calming videos are always really nice during school semesters... I'm in a COVID version of art school right now which is like the normal version minus all days off to compensate for the semester shortening, and so stress is higher than normal. (And, to be clear, stress is normally very, very high.) I'm watching this after nearly fainting an hour ago because I forgot to drink water for two days, and all I could think about is how that time to recover caused me to lose project time before I watched this. Videos like these sort of feel like anxiety breaks and manage to calm me, and remind me to be introspective and thoughtful. They're short enough where I can let myself watch them, too. I'm glad Hank and John still do short videos. Thanks for this one, John. (Also, as an artist... the review on how to not destroy your hand/wrist was ALSO a good reminder, lol.)
Love this... I order all your (and Hank's) hardcover first editions! I love having a signed book from someone I know cares this much about their audience. Cheers John!
I genuinely enjoy videos with John delivering a monologue, unraveling an aspect of life in a new way. I find these videos to be relaxing & calming. I’d love to see a looping video of John signing someday.
Once, a few years ago, I went to a Fault in our Stars signing and I asked the people hosting the event if I could have you sign my book in a more custom spot. They allowed it. Expecting them to say no, I hadn’t thought past that point, so I flipped to a random page and it happened to be the end of a chapter. You signed it in that custom spot and then Hank signed it in a less custom spot, but it bled through onto the receipt I still had in the book. Seeing this video and that first signing experience you had made me value my unique experience even more. I’ve been to other signings for other authors since then, but that one is my favorite because I was allowed to bend the rules and I got some sweet keepsakes out of it. It also showed me the kind of author I want to be someday if I’m ever in that position. So, thanks, John. Keep being awesome.
@@vlogbrothers It only took me a couple minutes to chop up those vegetables while the rest of dinner was cooking, but unfortunately, those couple minutes took half an hour.
It kinda reads as the introduction to one or all of either: 1) xkcd / What If? -- Randy Munroo stuff 2) Terry Wossname / Discworld story 3) Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy -- Dougles Addy 4) Anthropocene Reviewed -- Johnny boy
i liked listening to the sharpie and paper. Almost like ASMR. like sitting quietly next to a parent or friend while they're working and just zoning out
I’ve been copying down old family recipes into my new cookbook for the last few weeks and it’s amazing how closely some of what you says matches how I feel about the process. Seeing recipes in my great grandmothers’ handwriting reminds me why I cook in the first place and I think about how someone might look at my recipes many years down the road. I give John signing papers 4.5 stars ⭐️
THIS is why I still follow this channel after all these years. Because of the beautiful, thoughtful and poetic ways in which a person I don't know but feel like I do explains a very mundane task and brings into the conversation a perspective I haven't previously considered. It's like he didn't forget to be awesome, yet again.
so, somebody tell me how this works... these "signed pages" get BOUND IN to the first edition? or they are just blown in like advertising cards in magazines? or what??
Yeah, so I have to finish all the signing before they start printing the books. As they print the books, a signed sheet is bound into each book (technically books are not really "bound" anymore, but that's the best verb I can find for how it works). This is called a "tip-in" sheet because it is "tipped in" to the book during the printing process. It's the page after the endpapers and before the first title page. -John
@@vlogbrothers "It's the page after the endpapers and before the first title page" wait, are you saying the endpapers are in the front of the book? THEN WHY ARE THEY CALLED ENDPAPERS?!
Same here! I never imagined that John's office was bigger than what we always see. I feel like the vlogbrothers fourth wall (or... wall behind the camera?) has been broken.
I remember John staying hours late at a LeakyCon signing in 2014 to get through the whole line of fans. If I remember right, he also was jetlagged, came down with viral meningitis (the next day??), and was struggling a lot with his mental health at the time. I am so so grateful for my memory of that day, and also to know in videos like these that John is speaking to his health and taking care of himself as first priority ❤️
I used to have this problem too! One thing that helped me, other than practicing mindfully, was switching up how I hold the writing utensil. For instance, when I am writing with more pressure (for like a pencil) I essentially grip it between my thumb and fourth finger. I wanted to try out writing with a fountain pen (which is the enemy of pressure) so I tried resting it between my thumb and third finger. This little change just slightly changed the muscles I used so it was easier to make a new habit of being gentle. (Also, you can try shifting to moving your arm at the elbow or shoulder when you write, instead of your wrist, to try a similar thing.)
How can John even make me cry while signing papers? The amount of times a little part of my soul I didn’t realize was being ignored pops in for attention due to John’s words. Something so simple, can be so moving. Thank you.
I got mine today! My brother asked how many copies you signed, so I looked up this video again and rewatched it. Looking at you signing all those pages and seeing the green marker "John" exactly like them in my own copy made me tear up. That page was there with you and now it's here in my home and my hands. It's strangely touching to feel that sense of connection. I don't know if you'll see this after so long, but thank you for doing this.
I guess he already has one. Because otherwise the tendons from the flexor group of his forearm muscles and the median nerve would have no space to pass through.
The beauty of your prose in these little video essays, where you seem to muse idly about nothing of great cosmic significance, is consistently one of my favourite things on the Internet.
Just because the anthropecene reveiwed is taking hiatus doesn't mean john will stop sharing high quality essays with us, thank you john, this was beautiful💜
This was the FIRST vlogbrothers video I have watched in over a year and I have to say thank you for always and never changing (if that makes any sense). This brought back so many memories of videos that helped me through dark times and reminded me that I am stronger than I think.
The feeling I get after watching every single one of John's video makes my heart feel so full. I get so emotional with his words. I recently received a signed copy of "the fault in our stars" and it's my most prized possession. I kept hugging the book knowing that in some way a part of him will live in it forever.
I think a lot about states of flow and memory when I'm knitting. I find that it soothes me when I'm anxious but also interestingly makes me remember things more, and feel emotions which I didn't really think were there. So weird. And then I came across EMDR therapy which of course has its skeptics but takes the same sort of ideas about flow at its core. I wonder if that's why it's helpful for you, john.
thank you for this, john green. i love the comparison between now and your first memory of an author. you've made buying all of your books that much more special, at least for me. the excitement of finding out what color sharpie, or if there's an extra drawing. and just being able to cherish each book that much more. anyway, thanks.
In a recent yoga teacher training, we discussed how rather than just sitting still, some people need to meditate while doing something repetitive and simple (such as walking, knitting, signing your name 50,000 times).
I own one of those sheets now. I got my signed edition of the anthropocene reviewed in the mail yesterday and just looking at the signature brought tears to my eyes. It’s quite likely the closest I’d ever get to John (since we live 5000 miles apart), I can never tell him in person how much I love his work and how his words still linger in my mind many years after I’ve read them. I think it’s one of my most valuable possessions so thank you for taking the time to do this, I smile every time I look at the first page of my book
@@lonestarr1490 It's "J-n" -- it's a cursive J, stylized with the top half being much larger than the bottom half. The 'n' is unmistakable with the up-down-swoosh motion -- I do my n's the same way.
@@lonestarr1490 No... because that's just the way you write an 'n' in cursive. You start with a downward motion from the previous letter to write the first leg, then you curve up & over to create the body of the n. With an 'r' you start with an upward motion from the bottom of the line -- therefore it doesn't fit his motion of writing. You simply cannot write a lowercase cursive 'r' by starting with a downward motion. When you're writing a signature & the n comes at the end of the signature, natural tendency is to elongate that up & over curve in a much quicker motion which ends up producing a swoosh with a longer tail. Plus it _looks_ like an 'n'... It doesn't look like an 'r'.
I hope I don’t sell many of my first novel since this made my hand so sore. I’ve never considered the signing part. But watching is so soothing. Thank you John for writing books that kept me alive to begin my own first manuscript. I’ve made a scenario in my mind since I began years ago and in it, I meet you, and I get to ask to hug you to thank you that you’re a reason I’m still here and get to get married in 6 days and see my son grow. I’m still alive. I’m on a roller coaster that only goes up, my friend. It’s my daily reminder on my wrist and it has been for many years. So, you may not see this, but thank you with my whole heart. I’ve made it and I still can. I hope my book(s) will be on someone’s shelf and keep them going one day too. DTFBA.
Me: oh I bet the anthropocene reviewed book will be like a coffee table book John on episode 183 of the pod: coffee books are dumb Listening to old episodes of the pod when I drive to visit my mom. I started watching the video and was like "that's a weird shaped page for a coffee table book." Now it all makes sense
I love that John Green takes the time to do this, getting my signed copy of The Anthropocene Reviewed made me so happy. I bought it 4 days after it was released (because I couldn’t make it to the store until Saturday) and thought all the signed copies would be gone. This is my first autographed book and it just felt so special.
Thank you for a lovely video! You happened to upload this right before I took a nerve-wracking test. Watching and listening lessened my nerves enough that I could take the test without excess stress. Thank you and bon voyage for finishing the rest!
John drops little pieces of his life, which I am able to feel and it somehow satisfies my want of connection. It soothes me when I am stressed and I can't think him enough for being.
I appreciate how much time you and Hank put into signing your books, John. I also really appreciate how I was able to scroll through 200+ comments without finding anything negative. Hooray for positive discourse amongst the Nerdifghters!
This video was way more fascinating and deep than I expected (you’d think I’d learn than most of your videos have this effect by now). It seems that a repetitive task like this is the perfect antidote to the torment of writing a book. Here, you know exactly what to do and don’t have to question or doubt yourself too much. Post-book mind hibernation!
You're one of the only two authors I have signed work from (the other being Hank) and they do bring me happiness. So thank you for my small part of your 300 hours.
How John make something as mundane as signing autographs so profound? He has such an amazing quality of being able to perceive the world in such a unique way.
You are hands down among one of the greatest writers of the 21st century sir. Before reading Fault in Our Stars, I mostly read the classics. (A list of authors far Too innumerable to list in a youtube fanboy comment I'm afraid.) and was preferential towards primarily darker themes. My gf at the time actually gave me her twice-read copy that sat around the house for several months. Then one day while cleaning I said "why not?" and decided to browse through it a bit while taking a break. I didn't put it down until finished, and was overwhelmed with so many different GENUINE emotions that I thought I was having a Men With Butterfly Nets moment. I realize such a thing is entirely subjective, but the only other novel which has illicited such a response in me (albeit for entirely different reasons) was Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men. You bring good things into this world Mr. Green. And do so with such humility and sincere concern for others that I cannot help but wish to emulate that in my own existence somehow. Even if it's something as simple as opening the door for an elderly gal. Or complimenting a self conscious stranger on their appearance to make them smile. Major Depression runs in my family. (my brother committed suicide in 2013 .) And alot of days it's hard for me not to be cynical, and misanthropic..yet a lot of times I'll hop on youtube and watch one of you or your brothers videos and find myself truly AWED. That there are still truly decent human beings in the world trying to make a difference. And..life sucks a little bit less because of it..so THANK YOU SIR. J.s.h.
I can only equate the feeling of scoring a doodled-on signed book to winning a golden ticket. that being said, my pre-order has been secured, regardless :)
I was at the TFiOS show in Dublin when I was 13/14, I had just started secondary school. I'm now 21 and in my final year of college. I still have my signed copy of the TFiOS and I brought my dog-eared and read-to-pieces copies of all your other books, and couldn't believe it when you actually signed them all. You were especially nice to my parents, who had brought four of us to see you. They have thought highly of you ever since! I didn't care much for signatures until I got to your books to be honest, but now I treasure them. Thank you for all your hard work!
I love how he uses a green pen to represent his last name. He only writes John, but his full name is all there John Green.
I didn't even notice that. That is cool 😊
Being a colorblind I would never realize why John Red signed mine.
@@superqwat8618 oh no I did not want to find this funny 😂
John in Green !
300 IQ play by John right there
i’ve been watching vlogbrothers for 6 years and i am blown away by the realization that there exists more room past john’s little corner
SAME HERE
It's like when Hank pulled back the camera those few times to show us the rest of his office-garage-type-place! Wild
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holy cow it didn't even fully register. thanks for pointing it out!
thank you for making this tutorial, I was just thinking of signing my name 150,000 times but didn't know how to go about it
You're welcome. Never let it be said that vlogbrothers content is useless! :) -John
This is funny but this present tense presence exists in many other facets of our life. And I for one welcome our new sharpie overlords.
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Hi just wanted to say I love moomins too
I misread the title of this video as "How to SING your name 150,000 times", and for a split second I expected John to sit in front of a sound looping machine.
that should be the next video
@Kat The Nerdfighter Daft Punk p:
@Kat The Nerdfighter thats wht nowhere means, you moron!
Let me ask you...how long did that split sec. Go huh ? :))))
For a moment I thought this video would be a sign language tutorial. My brain is definitely tired.
You could say the sheets start coming and they don’t stop coming.
Oh god don't bring it back oh god no oh god. -John
Hahaha😂😂
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Back to the pen and I hit the page running
Didn't make sense not to write for fun
I remember going to USC’s book festival and not having bought a copy of TFIOS yet. Your signing was officially wrapping up, but you waited for me as I stood in line to buy the book. You waiting for me and signing my copy really did brighten my day. Thank you, John! Looking forward to getting my copy of The Anthropocene Reviewed.
Thanks for sharing that memory, Alison. I really appreciate you standing in line. I remember that day at the book festival and it was a bit chaotic, so I hope it wasn't too rushed. -John
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@@vlogbrothers I don’t remember it being rushed; I was grateful for the time :)
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I honestly never saw the point in having a signed copy of a book until John and Hank started documenting their side of the story on this channel and made me see how personal this repetative process still is. Considering the author and reader may never meet, it's kind of like the internet where we don't get to personally see the whole audience one reaches. Now I see that these signitures are a way for me to know that even through the books are manufactured en masse, there's a real person behind the book and I truly love that, so thank you!
Wow that's such a good analogy. I hadn't thought of it that way before, but that's really true. -John
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Would the book be more meaningful if John hand-wrote every copy? Sure, but far fewer people would get to experience the book. Yes the physical books are manufactured, but what you enjoy reading is the words, ideas, and concepts, not the medium. I'd prefer less signing if it meant more/better content.That might just mean that they get to take the time they would for signing to just relax or whatever self-care.
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"Sometimes, you'll think about the signatures themselves, the little imperfections that you can't seem to rid yourself of, even after all this practice..."
Well, gosh, John, if you signed your name perfectly every single time, then that wouldn't be much better than stamping or printing your signature over and over again. The imperfections are what makes it special.
Exactly! When I get a signed copy of the book, I can look at it and know that my book is the only one in existence with that exact scribble on it.
@@sarahp6512 you should apply to be a ballot counter in the usa general election.
@@vladtepes97 One problem with that: I'm Canadian.
@@sarahp6512 that's not a problem. That's a blessing. Oskee wee wee, baby.
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Alternative title: How John Meditates
very true! -John
Fantastic insights! We could automate the paper handling and get you up to 4000 an hour. Fewer paper cuts, but not as beautifully serene sounding.
For some reason I feel like that defeats the point
@@danielgysi5729 Have you watched AvE? LOL
hahahaha thanks for watching this! I have a lecgtrojogger from the 1960s but I bet you could seriously upgrade my signing and sorting speeds! -John
I've never seen AvE in the vlogbrothers comments before but I'm glad that there is some world where their interests collide.
Jacob Dunning right?!?! Wow I never expected to see these two channels collide. (Also, I was thinking the same thing: that John's left arm could be doing a lot less work and repetition)
I would pay good money for a white noise machine with a setting for "John Green signs his name 150,000 times"
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Same.
Time stamp 3:48 is where the voiceover ends.
Maybe someone can take this information & make a looping video?
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There's a 15min video of Hank signing sheets for his first book on hankschannel. Very similar sound. Maybe you could loop that
I remember when I got my copy of Turtles All The Way Down and saw that both John and Hank had signed it. I’ve watched vlogbrothers (and nearly all of the complexly channels from the very beginning) and have loved this community for a long time. It made me ridiculously happy. That is a hard book for me to read (it reminds me a lot of what it is for me to struggle with mental illness although mine isn’t OCD and mostly that is good and makes me feel less alone but sometimes it’s hard). I’ve never been able to attend events or been very active in the community but those signatures make me feel very special and like I belong.
You do belong. :)
Of course you belong. There is no requirement.
This community isn't about being able to go to events or talking to others in the community, it's about feeling like you belong in this amazing community, whether if you've been to events or you haven't. This also reminds me of running to barns and noble the day turtles all the way down came out and going through the copies looking at the signatures and trying to find one with not just john's signature but something else in it. I ended up with one that says dftba!
you're right where you should be. in our hearts and in our thoughts. good to have you here!
This is like a COVID safe “thoughts from places” I love it
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"Thoughts during activities"
Ooh, what is that? It sounds interesting
@@Painted_Owl it's a format of video the vlogbrothers do. The camera isn't pointed at them, it's pointed at their environment and they voice over with interesting thoughts
@@Painted_Owl There is a whole vlogbrothers playlist of videos where John and Hank talk about the places they have visited and what they think about. Some of my favourite videos! I don’t know how to link them on mobile but I think one of them is called Attacked by Squirrels and Neoclassicism, which is a personal favourite!
I... I think... thats... 300 HOURS of signing?
Still easier than living in a tree :) -John
OF COURSE John watched #kurtisinatree
@@vlogbrothers I feel like I’m missing a reference.
@@coena9377 Kurtis lived in a tree for a week to stop a pipeline from being built ua-cam.com/video/D3hXMsJbt3c/v-deo.html
only 9,700 more to go and he can say he's achieved Mastery level of it.....
The last four minutes have been the calmest I have felt in week. Thank you John.
DFTBA
I love how this is so instructional. Like I'll never need to apply this step-by-step process in MY life, but it's nice to know what the steps would be.
Hearing “Good morning Hank, it’s Tuesday” is my weekly instant serotonin boost
So, I'm curious about this. Why do people say something is a serotonin boost? Wouldn't saying something is a dopamine boost be more apt considering serotonin is more for stabilizing emotions than boosting them?
@@chris-hayes In each case, it would be a different story. It could be that their brain was chemically inbalanced prior (i.e. mental illnesses/disorders) and needed stabilising. Something grounding like "Good morning Hank, it's Tuesday" would help those people's serotonin levels.
There are of course, some people who mean to say dopamine, but that word is correllated strongly with usage of illicit drugs in most people's minds.
If we're talking about the "why," (assuming they *are* using it incorrectly) then I'd attribute that to the recent rise in awareness of mental illnesses. More people now realise the significance of serotonin compared to previously, and with less stigma compared to that which was around in the 1950's, people are more open to talk about their experiences. This means that more people hear about serotonin, and all of a sudden it's in a large amount of people's vocabulary.
THis is so tru om
@@loreleihillard5078 great dissection thanks
@Lucy and equally so the "Good morning, John" mmm
Someone needs to make a 10 hour lo-fi music session of John signing for his books.
Love that idea! -John
I also love that idea! -Not John
@@sci_pain3409 I too love that idea! -Most Definitely Not John
You may already have discovered it, but Julia Garbe has created a beautiful hour long lofi video where John signs pages, incorporating excerpts from the Anthropocene Reviewed episode on Auld Lang Syne and collaborative music tracks from other nerdfighters. The video is called "lofi lang syne beats - 1 hour version" and can easily become ten hours when looped accordingly. :)
The Anthropocene Reviewed book comes out on May 18th, 2021. Every copy of the first printing of the U.S. edition will be signed. I'm about 55,000 signatures in. Only a couple hundred hours to go, then. You can preorder it wherever books are sold. www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/672554/the-anthropocene-reviewed-signed-edition-by-john-green/
This video contains a clue. The clue leads to an unlisted livestream. Part of the clue is in the video. The other part of the clue is , world. -John
thanks john. could your drop the preorder link?
I wish I was big brain enough to find these clues. Though I guess the first step is actually trying.
Anyone found the clue?
why dont just stream the whole process?
Hey I am Douaa from algeria . 12 y.o I love the fault in our stars. But why u kill hem 😭😭😭💔 thank u for this cute book 😭💔
This was a beautifully-crafted essay in video form, so thanks for that, John. Also, I've been a nerdfighter since 2008ish and watch every video when it comes out, but it's only been in the last year or so that I've come to understand how much the comment section brings to the experience. How delightful and welcoming this place is, that there are so many people connecting with each other while observing the third thing that is this channel. I am so grateful to every person who actively works to make this space as nurturing as it is. Thanks y'all!
I so agree! The comments section is always the best part of the video around here :) -John
@@vlogbrothers Well, it doesn't have to be a competition. :) Also, thank you for the reminder to pay attention to what I pay attention to. Noticing my time in the comments section is just one of many ways that reminder has affected me recently.
I normally never even look at UA-cam comments; internet comment sections are typically awful, but most of the time YT comments don't just scrape the bottom of the barrel, they rot it out... from below. There are a handful of channels that buck this trend or outright reverse it -- a bare and very precious handful. Of which Vlogbrothers has become my #1.
Ah yes, gotta love the practical and applicable advice from John Green
We may be done making All star video, but we are not done making content for extremely niche audiences. ;) -John
I'll never forget the book tour for Paper Towns in 2008. I was a senior in high school and Paper Towns had absolutely blown me away. You did your little spiel at the Racine Public Library in Wisconsin but weren't originally going to be signing books. I remember you saying that technically you weren't supposed to take pictures or sign anything at the library. All that was supposed to be done later at a second location.
But apparently you knew a bunch of people weren't going to be able to make that second location, and I was one of them. It meant the world to me that you took the time to talk with us and sign books and take pictures. I was the first person whose books you signed, and somehow I managed to have you sign each of my books EXCEPT Paper Towns lol.
Then, in the spring of 2009 I semi-panicked during the AP Lit exam when it asked us to write about some sort of symbolism. I'd read plenty of books in the class, but somehow my mind was blank. So I wrote about Paper Towns. Because I knew I'd thought more critically about that book than perhaps any other book I'd ever read. So thank you for teaching 18-year-old me about the strings, and the vessels, and multi-faceted nature of people.
That unsigned copy of Paper Towns is full of sticky notes and is literally falling apart. The blue cover is certainly battered. For a long time it was my favorite book to travel with, and I brought it on countless plane rides. Now I have an ebook version that's always downloaded on my Kindle and phone.
Wow, this comment brought me so much joy. I remember that day in Racine so well, and the long ride in the minivan to get there. This just absolutely made my day. I'm so grateful you gave that book a place in your life. Thank you. -John
John, your voice over the years, has become really calming. I feel calm after listening to this.
YOU HAVE A SUPERPOWER!!!!!!!!!!!
I hoard his podcast episodes for this very reason
@@kadeecramer God! Me too. 🤩
Yeah that's the best part of the anthropocene reviewed. The auld Lang syne episode always gets me
Me too
Does his sharpie say John Green?
Actually I wonder if people have found and labeled different shades of green for John and Hank, that would be fun.
It says "John Green's #1 Marker" and it was given to me by Sharpie. They gave me like 200 of them, and I am slowly working my way through the pile. -John
@@vlogbrothers I mean, they should probably say "John Green's #2 Marker"; "John Green's #3 Marker"; etc. Having 200 #1's is just silly.
There was a thread on the nerdfighter subreddit about a week ago where people discussed which specific Pantone shades of green they would assign to John and Hank.
Finally, the Sharpie sponsorship we deserve.
@@crazykenna I disagree with having 200 #1s being too silly, after all, all those other sharpies will get their turn, most likely, and the ones that have been spent, well, they aren't exactly the #1, having been used up. one could probably make an analogy there, to people, their work, and when they're no longer capable of it, but it might be a little bit too pointed for some people.
This has TAR meets DH&J energy and I am here for it: the narrative cadence and depth of TAR, but the dubious advice of DH&J
how is the advice from The Anthropocene Reviewed dubious?
@@omarabdelkadereldarir7458 the TAR advice isn't dubious the advice from DH&J is.
@@kf10147 oh ok thanks
John: Signing your name surpasses monotony into presentness and meditation.
Also John: Relives the traumatic childhood experience of being denied an autograph of beloved author because he was too poor to buy a hardback
Something about this is strangely calming, and with the week I'm having, I need calm. So thanks, John
Wishing you more calm in the days to come. -John
Mkay, now I want a signing stream - scribbly paper asmr and repetitive motions to watch would be lovely. John, if you need some variation in those 300 hours, please consider this!!
My wife needs this in her life
Brandon Sanderson does this on his youtube channel sometimes. He talks about his books and writing while he signs, and it is freaking awesome.
Hank changed it up when the watermarks on the pages he signed animated, and Hank filmed his time-lapse.
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This is what I do: watch vlogbrothers instead of working on schoolwork and writing the books I should be writing. Do I regret this? No.
Who would regret watching vlogbrothers in the first place?
Second half is me as well in aboutttt, checks watch, twelve days. \o/
@@omarabdelkadereldarir7458 I will gladly say that watching vlogbrothers has made me a better person. Maybe that's weird to say about UA-cam videos and a lot of pressure to put on people who have never met me, but John and Hank Green are among the most influential people on my life.
@@garyermann I think so too honestly. Their videos have so much wonderful things to say.
@@garyermann no one this deep into the comments section is gonna think that's weird cuz ain't that the truth
John, that story about the author signing made me cry. I’ve had that experience with plenty of people I admire, but never with you and Hank. Thank you for acknowledging the emotional attachment and weight you bring to your readers and fans.
That story hit me harder than I expected as well...
I remember how excited I was exactly three years ago today when I went to the St. Louis TATWD event and I got my first-ever signed copy of a book. Such a great feeling!
That was such a lovely evening. Thanks for being there! -John
I was there too! It was so great!
CTR: 99.9%
I'm not entirely sure what this comment means (my mind jumps to Crash Team Racing) but I really enjoy your videos!
@@FootballPsychoPS3T Click Through Ratio ("How many of the ppl seeing the thumbnail / title click the video")
It's one of the more important metrics on UA-cam at the moment, if you want to grow.
@@Fs3i I see. Thanks for sharing!
@@FootballPsychoPS3T Given the nature of the video, I assumed the “CT” must be “Carpal Tunnel”, but the only “CTR” I could find is apparently “Carpal Tunnel Release”. I guess that is the name of (potentially) the type of surgery that they’d need after signing so many sheets for their readers. Wow o_O
And here I know CTR as Choose the Right 😂 from church so he must be CTR-ing 99% of the time
I was expecting to hear at the end "I give signatures 3 1/2 stars"
I remember getting my signed copy of turtles all the way down a few years ago and just being so excited. It was one of many thousands of pieces of paper signed but it still feels special to have it on my bookshelf :)
i searched through the entire inventory of my local bookstore to find a rare one according to johns charts. it’s my favorite book on my shelf 💕
I really love Johns observational videos. They’re such a beautiful insight into his mind.
Nobody:
Me, and engineering student: Watching this video, trying to determine the best automated design for streamlining this process.
Also me: No, that destroys the purpose of book signing and would bring the world one tiny step closer to commercialism.
I mean if you do have any ideas for how I could speed it up a little. I'm definitely listening :) -John
I wanted to like this but you’re at 42! The answer to life, the universe, and everything! Hopefully this comment can provide a replacement for the like that I wanted to give.
You could use a spinning/rotating table top. Would require another persons help tho. Stack piles of the blank sheets around the circumference, sign and spin. Have a friend remove the signed sheets as you go. The friend might also need to spin the table, to not affect your ch’i.
There's a surprisingly old machine called an "autopen" that mimic's a signature. Apparently this problem has been around for quite a while :)
@@vlogbrothers I think you are wasting a second or two each time you separate the topmost sheet from the others, you should separate a hundred or so and keep them in a stair like manner. I think that will speed it up.
MrBeast signing 68K shirts: Finally! A worthy opponent! Our battle will be legendary
Mr. Beast is an expert in monotonous endeavors. I find that part of his work fascinating! -John
@@vlogbrothers I can’t quite tell if this comment is a subtle burn or a genuine compliment and I love it.
@@samreid6010 why can't it be both simultaneously?
@@munjee2 Both? Both? Both. Both is good.
"You’re not a machine, which is one of the primary lessons of this endeavor." This seems to me a very important lesson in being a person as well. Easy to think efficiency is all that matters.
‘You are and this is” - I will try to remember that.
John, I just finished listening to The Anthropocene Reviewed (again, it is turning into the best driving soundtrack).
I am repeatedly struck by how much I can connect with your explanations around your mental health, to the point that I feel like I finally have the words to be able to explain how I'm feeling, and that I know I'm not the only one. (I first listened to your review of "Harvey" the night before I defended my PhD, and had to pull over because it hit me so hard while driving.)
I absolutely love repetitive tasks and find them incredibly soothing, from stuffing envelopes to alphabetizing files, to baking hundreds of cookies, to grading multiple choice exams. It is the same rationale behind my long distance running. There is some sort of freedom in feeling so focused that you don't have to focus on anything else.
I have never pre-ordered a book before, but I know that this book in particular is worth changing that.
*On a separate note, what order would you read your books if you were seeing them for the first time? By popularity? By publication date? And in the cases of book vs screen: better to start with the book or the screen?
Better to start with the book :) If you're interested in the mental health side of things, Turtles All the Way Down is about a person with severe OCD and anxiety. I'd probably start there or with The Fault in Our Stars.
I am really glad that my work has been a point of connection and unaloneness for you. Thanks for listening to TAR! -John
The tutorial I never needed but always wanted.
The story of 9 year old you not being able to get your book signed brought me to tears. So sad to picture a heartbroken baby John!
Perfect timing, I was just thinking about possibly signing my name 150,000 times and now I have this wonderful tutorial to follow!
But in all seriousness, it's your dedication to the seemingly "small" things like this that show us how much you really care about all of us in Nerdfighteria. Thank you for everything!
John, in every one of these voice over videos there is always a message you convey through your reserved eliquence that really resonates with me. When I was in high school watching this channel (2011-2015) I was always looking towards hanks videos, but as I started going to college and then ultimately into the unkowable abyss of adulthood your videos really started to strike a chord with me. The way you articulate your own feelings helps me realize that I’m not alone and that my own mental illness does not define all of who I am. Thank you for putting this world into words.
These kinds of short, thoughtful, and calming videos are always really nice during school semesters... I'm in a COVID version of art school right now which is like the normal version minus all days off to compensate for the semester shortening, and so stress is higher than normal. (And, to be clear, stress is normally very, very high.) I'm watching this after nearly fainting an hour ago because I forgot to drink water for two days, and all I could think about is how that time to recover caused me to lose project time before I watched this. Videos like these sort of feel like anxiety breaks and manage to calm me, and remind me to be introspective and thoughtful. They're short enough where I can let myself watch them, too. I'm glad Hank and John still do short videos. Thanks for this one, John.
(Also, as an artist... the review on how to not destroy your hand/wrist was ALSO a good reminder, lol.)
Wow, that sounds super stressful. Please take care of yourself and drink water! I hope you have a good experience, overall.
Love this... I order all your (and Hank's) hardcover first editions! I love having a signed book from someone I know cares this much about their audience. Cheers John!
I genuinely enjoy videos with John delivering a monologue, unraveling an aspect of life in a new way.
I find these videos to be relaxing & calming.
I’d love to see a looping video of John signing someday.
Once, a few years ago, I went to a Fault in our Stars signing and I asked the people hosting the event if I could have you sign my book in a more custom spot. They allowed it. Expecting them to say no, I hadn’t thought past that point, so I flipped to a random page and it happened to be the end of a chapter. You signed it in that custom spot and then Hank signed it in a less custom spot, but it bled through onto the receipt I still had in the book. Seeing this video and that first signing experience you had made me value my unique experience even more. I’ve been to other signings for other authors since then, but that one is my favorite because I was allowed to bend the rules and I got some sweet keepsakes out of it. It also showed me the kind of author I want to be someday if I’m ever in that position. So, thanks, John. Keep being awesome.
The first thing to know, is that its going to take a while
Could apply to just about anything
One of the defining features of being human is that everything takes longer than you think it will. -John
@@vlogbrothers Or that things take less time than you expect. I'm a junior in high school, and I'm baffled just about every time I say that aloud.
@@vlogbrothers It only took me a couple minutes to chop up those vegetables while the rest of dinner was cooking, but unfortunately, those couple minutes took half an hour.
It kinda reads as the introduction to one or all of either:
1) xkcd / What If? -- Randy Munroo stuff
2) Terry Wossname / Discworld story
3) Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy -- Dougles Addy
4) Anthropocene Reviewed -- Johnny boy
i liked listening to the sharpie and paper. Almost like ASMR. like sitting quietly next to a parent or friend while they're working and just zoning out
I’ve been copying down old family recipes into my new cookbook for the last few weeks and it’s amazing how closely some of what you says matches how I feel about the process. Seeing recipes in my great grandmothers’ handwriting reminds me why I cook in the first place and I think about how someone might look at my recipes many years down the road.
I give John signing papers 4.5 stars ⭐️
THIS is why I still follow this channel after all these years. Because of the beautiful, thoughtful and poetic ways in which a person I don't know but feel like I do explains a very mundane task and brings into the conversation a perspective I haven't previously considered. It's like he didn't forget to be awesome, yet again.
I’m most impressed by how consistently he gets his finger under just one page!
Right!!!
Lots of practice. :) -John
How many papercuts😱
so, somebody tell me how this works... these "signed pages" get BOUND IN to the first edition? or they are just blown in like advertising cards in magazines? or what??
Yeah, so I have to finish all the signing before they start printing the books. As they print the books, a signed sheet is bound into each book (technically books are not really "bound" anymore, but that's the best verb I can find for how it works). This is called a "tip-in" sheet because it is "tipped in" to the book during the printing process. It's the page after the endpapers and before the first title page. -John
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@@vlogbrothers "It's the page after the endpapers and before the first title page" wait, are you saying the endpapers are in the front of the book? THEN WHY ARE THEY CALLED ENDPAPERS?!
jobriq5 They’re on both ends of the book.
@@UltimateKyuubiFox oh like bookends. It all makes sense now.
I wasn't ready for this setting change
Same here! I never imagined that John's office was bigger than what we always see. I feel like the vlogbrothers fourth wall (or... wall behind the camera?) has been broken.
Same! I was very surprised by the type of table (and how empty it is) as well as the placement of the sofa. But also like my schema to be widened.
@Mary M oh this isn’t his office! there’s a video where John tells us this is his basement (I think the video is titled Framing) :)
@@esha61 I think I knew that and yet I'm still baffled haha
I remember John staying hours late at a LeakyCon signing in 2014 to get through the whole line of fans. If I remember right, he also was jetlagged, came down with viral meningitis (the next day??), and was struggling a lot with his mental health at the time. I am so so grateful for my memory of that day, and also to know in videos like these that John is speaking to his health and taking care of himself as first priority ❤️
I always grip my writing utensils way too hard, and press onto the paper too hard so my hand cramps 😭
Let the pen do the work! Best advice I ever got. (...related to pen usage) -John
Thanks John, I should try that
Me too Emily. I am a pencil crusher and it all plays out in my neck and back.
@@Hippopotalust on the up side, "pencil crusher" sounds like a bad-ass kind of pseudonym :)
I used to have this problem too! One thing that helped me, other than practicing mindfully, was switching up how I hold the writing utensil. For instance, when I am writing with more pressure (for like a pencil) I essentially grip it between my thumb and fourth finger. I wanted to try out writing with a fountain pen (which is the enemy of pressure) so I tried resting it between my thumb and third finger. This little change just slightly changed the muscles I used so it was easier to make a new habit of being gentle. (Also, you can try shifting to moving your arm at the elbow or shoulder when you write, instead of your wrist, to try a similar thing.)
How can John even make me cry while signing papers? The amount of times a little part of my soul I didn’t realize was being ignored pops in for attention due to John’s words. Something so simple, can be so moving. Thank you.
This feels like a thoughts from places video, just that the place is the same...well, almost
So...a thoughts from place?
I got mine today! My brother asked how many copies you signed, so I looked up this video again and rewatched it. Looking at you signing all those pages and seeing the green marker "John" exactly like them in my own copy made me tear up. That page was there with you and now it's here in my home and my hands. It's strangely touching to feel that sense of connection. I don't know if you'll see this after so long, but thank you for doing this.
Alternative title: How to get carpal tunnel
He won't, he got occupational therapy long time ago,
I guess he already has one. Because otherwise the tendons from the flexor group of his forearm muscles and the median nerve would have no space to pass through.
@@lonestarr1490 I love you, stranger on the internet!
Preordered my copy, can't wait!! It's my favorite podcast and all your hard work signing these copies will be greatly appreciated
This guy can make a completely monotonous task seem kind of beautiful.
...and that’s the kind of thing that keeps me coming back
The beauty of your prose in these little video essays, where you seem to muse idly about nothing of great cosmic significance, is consistently one of my favourite things on the Internet.
Seriously one of the things that helps my anxiety is watching John sign things
Such respect for you signing all these, shows how much you respect your fans/readers by you doing this!
Just because the anthropecene reveiwed is taking hiatus doesn't mean john will stop sharing high quality essays with us, thank you john, this was beautiful💜
This was the FIRST vlogbrothers video I have watched in over a year and I have to say thank you for always and never changing (if that makes any sense). This brought back so many memories of videos that helped me through dark times and reminded me that I am stronger than I think.
He didn't once lick his finger to move the paper and that is what I am thankful for today
If there's one thing you can count on me for, it's never ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever licking my fingers. -John
The feeling I get after watching every single one of John's video makes my heart feel so full. I get so emotional with his words. I recently received a signed copy of "the fault in our stars" and it's my most prized possession. I kept hugging the book knowing that in some way a part of him will live in it forever.
I think a lot about states of flow and memory when I'm knitting. I find that it soothes me when I'm anxious but also interestingly makes me remember things more, and feel emotions which I didn't really think were there. So weird. And then I came across EMDR therapy which of course has its skeptics but takes the same sort of ideas about flow at its core. I wonder if that's why it's helpful for you, john.
thank you for this, john green. i love the comparison between now and your first memory of an author. you've made buying all of your books that much more special, at least for me. the excitement of finding out what color sharpie, or if there's an extra drawing. and just being able to cherish each book that much more. anyway, thanks.
LMAO I GET IT BC JOHN IN GREEN INK. John Green 😂
Knitting is like this for me, you just get lost in the motions of whatever you're creating. Thank you for sharing this John ❤️
I pre-ordered my copy the other day! I'm so excited!
Like so many of your videos, this calms, comforts and teaches me. Thank you for years of content like this. Truly.
There is something so soothing about watching John calmly signing his name.
This has got to be the most inspiring yet simultaneously surreal content in these recent times...... Hat's off Green Bros
In a recent yoga teacher training, we discussed how rather than just sitting still, some people need to meditate while doing something repetitive and simple (such as walking, knitting, signing your name 50,000 times).
I own one of those sheets now. I got my signed edition of the anthropocene reviewed in the mail yesterday and just looking at the signature brought tears to my eyes. It’s quite likely the closest I’d ever get to John (since we live 5000 miles apart), I can never tell him in person how much I love his work and how his words still linger in my mind many years after I’ve read them. I think it’s one of my most valuable possessions so thank you for taking the time to do this, I smile every time I look at the first page of my book
he's using the green marker, probably just signing 'John'.
Looks more like a "Gr-----" to me
@@lonestarr1490 It's "J-n" -- it's a cursive J, stylized with the top half being much larger than the bottom half. The 'n' is unmistakable with the up-down-swoosh motion -- I do my n's the same way.
J Scribble all the way!!!
@@dr.zoidberg8666 I do my n's completely different, therefore that cannot be an 'n'.
You see the problem with your argument?
@@lonestarr1490 No... because that's just the way you write an 'n' in cursive. You start with a downward motion from the previous letter to write the first leg, then you curve up & over to create the body of the n. With an 'r' you start with an upward motion from the bottom of the line -- therefore it doesn't fit his motion of writing. You simply cannot write a lowercase cursive 'r' by starting with a downward motion.
When you're writing a signature & the n comes at the end of the signature, natural tendency is to elongate that up & over curve in a much quicker motion which ends up producing a swoosh with a longer tail.
Plus it _looks_ like an 'n'... It doesn't look like an 'r'.
I hope I don’t sell many of my first novel since this made my hand so sore. I’ve never considered the signing part. But watching is so soothing. Thank you John for writing books that kept me alive to begin my own first manuscript. I’ve made a scenario in my mind since I began years ago and in it, I meet you, and I get to ask to hug you to thank you that you’re a reason I’m still here and get to get married in 6 days and see my son grow. I’m still alive. I’m on a roller coaster that only goes up, my friend. It’s my daily reminder on my wrist and it has been for many years. So, you may not see this, but thank you with my whole heart. I’ve made it and I still can. I hope my book(s) will be on someone’s shelf and keep them going one day too. DTFBA.
Me: oh I bet the anthropocene reviewed book will be like a coffee table book
John on episode 183 of the pod: coffee books are dumb
Listening to old episodes of the pod when I drive to visit my mom. I started watching the video and was like "that's a weird shaped page for a coffee table book." Now it all makes sense
I love that John Green takes the time to do this, getting my signed copy of The Anthropocene Reviewed made me so happy. I bought it 4 days after it was released (because I couldn’t make it to the store until Saturday) and thought all the signed copies would be gone. This is my first autographed book and it just felt so special.
Teachers & professors: The author used a green marker to represent himself and his name
The author: I used green because I lost my other markers
Thank you for a lovely video! You happened to upload this right before I took a nerve-wracking test. Watching and listening lessened my nerves enough that I could take the test without excess stress. Thank you and bon voyage for finishing the rest!
Never knew I needed this video and I’m never going to use it for anything but still enjoyed it
John drops little pieces of his life, which I am able to feel and it somehow satisfies my want of connection. It soothes me when I am stressed and I can't think him enough for being.
Sometimes the best conversations with ourselves come from doing activities on autopilot.
I appreciate how much time you and Hank put into signing your books, John.
I also really appreciate how I was able to scroll through 200+ comments without finding anything negative. Hooray for positive discourse amongst the Nerdifghters!
ASMR: John tells you about his childhood disappointment while a felt pen scratches on paper
This video was way more fascinating and deep than I expected (you’d think I’d learn than most of your videos have this effect by now). It seems that a repetitive task like this is the perfect antidote to the torment of writing a book. Here, you know exactly what to do and don’t have to question or doubt yourself too much. Post-book mind hibernation!
My hands would cramp
Hi! You are everywhere LOL love your music!
You're one of the only two authors I have signed work from (the other being Hank) and they do bring me happiness. So thank you for my small part of your 300 hours.
I'm sitting here thinking, one of those sheets will be in my copy. Ahhhhhhhh, so excited!!!
How John make something as mundane as signing autographs so profound? He has such an amazing quality of being able to perceive the world in such a unique way.
I'll sign my name 150000 times, and then I'll get to writing that book to put those in.
You are hands down among one of the greatest writers of the 21st century sir.
Before reading Fault in Our Stars, I mostly read the classics. (A list of authors far Too innumerable to list in a youtube fanboy comment I'm afraid.) and was preferential towards primarily darker themes.
My gf at the time actually gave me her twice-read copy that sat around the house for several months. Then one day while cleaning I said "why not?" and decided to browse through it a bit while taking a break.
I didn't put it down until finished, and
was overwhelmed with so many different GENUINE emotions that I thought I was having a Men With Butterfly Nets moment. I realize such a thing is entirely subjective, but the only other novel which has illicited such a response in me (albeit for entirely different reasons) was Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men.
You bring good things into this world Mr. Green. And do so with such humility and sincere concern for others that I cannot help but wish to emulate that in my own existence somehow. Even if it's something as simple as opening the door for an elderly gal. Or complimenting a self conscious stranger on their appearance to make them smile.
Major Depression runs in my family. (my brother committed suicide in 2013 .) And alot of days it's hard for me not to be cynical, and misanthropic..yet a lot of times I'll hop on youtube and watch one of you or your brothers videos and find myself truly AWED. That there are still truly decent human beings in the world trying to make a difference. And..life sucks a little bit less because of it..so THANK YOU SIR.
J.s.h.
I can only equate the feeling of scoring a doodled-on signed book to winning a golden ticket. that being said, my pre-order has been secured, regardless :)
I was at the TFiOS show in Dublin when I was 13/14, I had just started secondary school. I'm now 21 and in my final year of college. I still have my signed copy of the TFiOS and I brought my dog-eared and read-to-pieces copies of all your other books, and couldn't believe it when you actually signed them all. You were especially nice to my parents, who had brought four of us to see you. They have thought highly of you ever since! I didn't care much for signatures until I got to your books to be honest, but now I treasure them. Thank you for all your hard work!