The Anthropocene Reviewed: Essays on a Human-Centered Planet | John Green

The book is a collection of deeply personal, witty essays reviewing various facets of our human-centered planet (the Anthropocene). Using a humorous and direct online-review paradigm, the author rates diverse aspects of our shared world—from Halley's Comet and the QWERTY keyboard to scratch-and-sniff stickers and human capacity for wonder—on a strict five-star scale.

Yes. This book is a heavily adapted and expanded print iteration of John Green's critically acclaimed, chart-topping podcast of the same name. While several essays originated as audio episodes, the book features significant rewrites, deep archival expansions, and over a dozen entirely unreleased essays written specifically for this volume.

No. John Green is globally celebrated for his iconic YA fiction blockbusters like The Fault in Our Stars and Looking for Alaska. The Anthropocene Reviewed marks his very first full-length work of non-fiction, written explicitly for an adult and general cross-generational audience.

Written and compiled largely during the isolation of the global pandemic, the book functions as a profound defense of human connection. It dives deeply into themes of chronic anxiety, grief, historical resilience, climate change, and how to actively practice noticing and appreciating beauty in a deeply flawed, hyper-connected world.

First Edition hardcover printings of this book are highly distinct because John Green hand-signed the entire initial US print run. The author spent months signing over 250,000 blank tip-in sheets, making verified first-impression copies highly sought after by book collectors.

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