Essential videos
A reading list of the channel's idea-dense essays. Every video was given a words matter level while it was read: high when the ideas are the point (an argued essay, a dense explainer, a statement of values), medium when ideas share the video with logistics, stories or bits, low when it is mostly chatter, performance or announcements. The level judges the ideas only; how funny a video is counts separately. Every high video is listed here, with its thesis and a one-line reason.
- 697 of 2,523 videos are high (1066 medium, 760 low).
- By main speaker: John 390, Hank 304, Hannah Hart 1, Maureen Johnson 1, Rosianna Halse Rojas 1.
- Entries marked lower-confidence reading come from a wave read with less checking; the level is still a judgement, not a measurement — "medium" videos can hold a single strong idea.
By year
Share = high videos as a share of that year's uploads: how much of the channel was essay.
| year | videos | high | share | John | Hank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 258 | 8 | 3% | 6 | 2 | read 2007 |
| 2008 | 130 | 9 | 7% | 7 | 2 | read 2008 |
| 2009 | 185 | 20 | 11% | 18 | 2 | read 2009 |
| 2010 | 157 | 27 | 17% | 15 | 11 | read 2010 |
| 2011 | 155 | 32 | 21% | 18 | 14 | read 2011 |
| 2012 | 111 | 25 | 23% | 15 | 10 | read 2012 |
| 2013 | 107 | 34 | 32% | 17 | 17 | read 2013 |
| 2014 | 114 | 37 | 32% | 23 | 14 | read 2014 |
| 2015 | 115 | 38 | 33% | 19 | 19 | read 2015 |
| 2016 | 114 | 49 | 43% | 27 | 20 | read 2016 |
| 2017 | 113 | 41 | 36% | 24 | 17 | read 2017 |
| 2018 | 109 | 43 | 39% | 23 | 20 | read 2018 |
| 2019 | 110 | 50 | 45% | 29 | 21 | read 2019 |
| 2020 | 108 | 44 | 41% | 29 | 15 | read 2020 |
| 2021 | 106 | 36 | 34% | 16 | 20 | read 2021 |
| 2022 | 108 | 45 | 42% | 24 | 21 | read 2022 |
| 2023 | 107 | 36 | 34% | 20 | 16 | read 2023 |
| 2024 | 114 | 38 | 33% | 21 | 17 | read 2024 |
| 2025 | 107 | 44 | 41% | 22 | 22 | read 2025 |
| 2026 | 95 | 41 | 43% | 17 | 24 | read 2026 |
By topic
| topic | high videos | first | latest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Internet & YouTube | 100 | 2010 | 2026 |
| Global development | 98 | 2007 | 2026 |
| US politics & society | 93 | 2007 | 2026 |
| Philosophy & meaning | 85 | 2009 | 2026 |
| Science & nature | 60 | 2010 | 2026 |
| Books & writing | 54 | 2007 | 2026 |
| Health | 45 | 2009 | 2026 |
| Everyday life | 32 | 2011 | 2026 |
| World affairs | 31 | 2007 | 2022 |
| Economics | 24 | 2009 | 2026 |
| History & curiosities | 23 | 2010 | 2025 |
| Nerdfighteria | 16 | 2007 | 2025 |
| Pop culture | 13 | 2009 | 2024 |
| Personal life | 9 | 2013 | 2024 |
| Projects | 7 | 2013 | 2026 |
| Sports | 7 | 2009 | 2026 |