The Anthropocene Reviewed
2019
- nyt:combined-print-and-e-book-nonfiction=2021-06-06
- culture
- human ecology
- miscellanea reviews
- science
- essays
- composition
- creative writing
- developmental english
- literature
The story
The Anthropocene is the current geologic age, in which humans have profoundly reshaped the planet and its biodiversity. In this remarkable symphony of essays adapted and expanded from his groundbreaking podcast, bestselling author John Green reviews different facets of the human-centered planet on a five-star scale—from the QWERTY keyboard and sunsets to Canada geese and Penguins of Madagascar. Funny, complex, and rich with detail, the reviews chart the contradictions of contemporary humanity. As a species, we are both far too powerful and not nearly powerful enough, a paradox that came into sharp focus as we faced a global pandemic that both separated us and bound us together. John Green’s gift for storytelling shines throughout this masterful collection. The Anthropocene Reviewed is a open-hearted exploration of the paths we forge and an unironic celebration of falling in love with the world.
What it’s like
Short, tender essays read like lamplit late-night conversations, each one a small, precise rating of something ordinary or vast: a keyboard, a sunset, a pandemic, a Canada goose. The voice is warm, wry and earnest in equal measure, with sentences that turn quickly from a joke to a lump in the throat and back again. The sensory world on the page is domestic and planetary at once, full of concrete detail (hallways, grocery aisles, weather, the hum of machines) set against deep time and climate. Each piece is brief enough to read in one sitting, so the rhythm is loose and conversational, easy to dip into and pause. Emotionally the register is gentle, reflective and hopeful without being naive, with grief and wonder sitting side by side. Intensity is low: no violence or gore, only occasional mentions of illness and death handled with care. It suits a quiet Sunday, a bedtime read, or a long train ride, and fits readers who want to feel curious, consoled and a little more awake to the world.
More books like The Anthropocene Reviewed
Closest in mood, pacing and theme. Tell us why you loved The Anthropocene Reviewedand we’ll explain which ones fit you.
