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The Physics of Book Clubs and Vidcon

2012-07-03 · letter vlog · John · 2:59 · watch on YouTube

Topic: Books & writing (also: Internet & YouTube, Projects) · mode: Personal essay · tags: on location, community lore, self promotion

John recaps VidCon 2012, sets the Nerdfighter Book Club's first Fahrenheit 451 assignment (Part One by next Tuesday), and argues that reading together is like VidCon: one person starts it, but it becomes real only when shared, even though each experience stays unique.

What is said

The parts of the video and what is said in each (★ — how much it matters to the video).

00:00:00 — Arriving at VidCon early: expo hall, DFTBA booth, bouncy castle, the stage; backstage 'I have to pee' clip

  • ★★ John says he got to VidCon before the 7,120 other attendees to see the expo hall, the DFTBA booth, the food, the bouncy castle and the stage. — 00:00:03 · VidCon, DFTBA Records
  • ★ After a backstage clip in which Hank says he has to pee, John says about 98% of the time those are Hank's last words to him before they go on stage. (playful) — 00:00:03 · Hank Green

00:00:37 — VidCon 2012 recap: Hank with Felicia Day and George Watsky, Megan Tonjes' song, the Monty Hall discussion with Vi Hart, Brady and Derek, the boy-born-on-Saturday puzzle, thousands singing Hank's particle-physics song

  • ★★ John recaps VidCon: Hank performed with Felicia Day and George Watsky before thousands, Meghan Tonjes sang about John's book, they met nerdfighters, discussed educational video, watched a Gregory Brother hula-hoop. — 00:00:37 · Nerdfighteria, VidCon
  • ★★ John's VidCon highlight was an hour away from the craziness discussing the Monty Hall problem with Vi Hart, Brady and Derek. — 00:00:37 · VidCon
  • ★★ John says he learned that if you have two children, both born on a weekend, and one is a boy born on a Saturday, the other is most likely a girl. — 00:00:37
  • ★★ John says what blew his mind most was several thousand people joining Hank in singing a song about particle physics. — 00:01:07 · Hank Green

00:01:36 — On vacation with Sarah's family at the beach; Nerdfighter Book Club: Fahrenheit 451, Part One by next Tuesday; both brothers will make videos

  • ★ John is on vacation at the beach with the Yeti's (Sarah's) family. — 00:01:36 · Sarah Urist Green
  • ★★★ John says the Nerdfighter Book Club is reading Fahrenheit 451; the first assignment is to finish Part One, 'The Hearth and the Salamander', by next Tuesday (10 July 2012). — 00:01:36
  • ★★ John says both brothers will read Fahrenheit 451 and make videos about it; their readings will probably differ, letting the community discuss how and why we read and what is fulfilling. (hedged) — 00:01:36 · Nerdfighteria

00:02:05 — Reading together is like VidCon: Bradbury's novel becomes real when read; alone together; thanks to Hank, VidCon staff and volunteers; sign-off and ice-cream outtake

  • ★★★ John says what he loves about reading together is what he loves about VidCon: Hank started VidCon but everyone makes it happen, as Bradbury wrote his novel but it becomes real only when read. — 00:02:05 · VidCon
  • ★★★ John adds that even amid shared experience we are still alone, since every VidCon and every reading is unique, but sharing readings and experiences is a comfort: we are lucky to be alone together. — 00:02:05 · VidCon
  • ★★ John thanks Hank for starting VidCon, and thanks the VidCon staff and all the volunteers who made it happen. — 00:02:34 · VidCon, Hank Green

In the description and comments

  • ★★ In the description John asks viewers who were at VidCon to say so in comments and share their favorite moments. — video description · VidCon
  • ★★ John notes that USA Today has profiled the Nerdfighter Book Club. — video description
  • ★ John lists the YouTubers seen in the VidCon footage: Watsky, Felicia Day, Vi Hart, Derek, Brady of Numberphile, Meghan Tonjes, the Gregory Brothers and WheezyWaiter. — video description · Craig Benzine, VidCon

Threads in this video

Where the stories that moved here went next

Mentioned

Central: Fahrenheit 451 · Nerdfighter Book Club · VidCon

Also: People: Brady Haran · Derek Muller · Felicia Day · George Watsky · Meghan Tonjes · Ray Bradbury · Sarah Urist Green · Vi Hart

Projects: DFTBA Records

Works: Strange Charm

Groups: The Gregory Brothers

Terms: French the llama

Concepts: Boy or Girl paradox · Monty Hall problem · reader-response criticism

Only in the description or credits: Craig Benzine · USA Today

Also centred on Fahrenheit 451: Flinching in the Shower · Feeling More Alive: Fahrenheit 451's The Hearth and the Salamander · An Army of Mindless Drones · Existential Airport Anxiety

Also centred on Nerdfighter Book Club: Brotherhood 2.0: January 8, 2007 · Week 2 Condensed Highlight Reel · March 22nd: Book Club and Business Cards · September 6th: The Book Club Returns · Flinching in the Shower · Walking the Red Carpet: Thoughts from Los Angeles

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