John Green, a notable author and educator who is best known for his award-winning books The Fault in Our Stars and Looking for Alaska makes a notable change from his Young Adult Fiction genre of writing in the book The Anthropocene Reviewed: Essays on a Human-Centered Planet.
The author originally produced the book as a series of podcast episodes over three years, from January 29, 2018, to August 26, 2021, before publishing it as a book in 2021. The book features an unconventional approach to writing by publishing a series of essay-style ‘reviews’ on different aspects of human life on a five-star scale.
The term Anthropocene refers to the current geological age in which humans have had a significant impact in the shaping of our planet. Throughout this book, Green reflects on exactly that– what it means to be human in our ever changing world.
Green kicks off the book by reviewing the viral song “You’ll Never Walk Alone”, discussing the virality and then zooming in on his personal experiences singing it as a Liverpool fan, and then diving into the history of the song and meaning behind the lyrics before final assigning a rating out of five stars to the song.
Similar to this review, each essay begins with a seemingly insignificant subject — from Diet Dr. Pepper to Disney’s Hall of Presidents attraction, to Canadian Geese migration, and so much more — and zooms in on something deeper. Green’s ability to find connections between unsuspecting aspects of life and a deeper sense of culture, history, and vulnerability reminds the reader how unique the human experience is.
One recurring theme in the book Green explores is the often overlooked impact humans have on the world. In his review of air conditioning, Green dives into his time growing up in the Arizona hot summer days, then the environmental and cultural impacts of air conditioning.
While each review features a five-star rating after the essay, these reviews serve as much more of a commentary on the human experience than the topics they claim to review.
What makes this book so unique is Green’s vulnerability. He discusses openly his struggles with obsessive compulsive disorder, feelings of uncertainty during the COVID-19 pandemic, reservations about raising children in a changing world, and more. His openness and willingness to share personal experiences and anecdotes from his life encourages the reader to reflect on their own lives and human experience.
Ultimately, The Anthropocene Reviewed: Essays on a Human-Centered Planet succeeds in its mission to make readers think more deeply about the world around them. In a time where life moves so fast, Green’s collection of essays reminds us to slow down, reflect, and find meaning in every aspect of life. This book is more than a review of the world — it’s a thoughtful reflection on what it means to be alive in it.
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