You Did It!

2018-09-25 · letter vlog · John · 3:26 · watch on YouTube

Topic: Books & writing (also: Internet & YouTube) · mode: Comedy & performance · tags: self promotion, timely hook

On the publication day of Hank's An Absolutely Remarkable Thing, John reports its warm reception, offers a string of 'Boot Too Big' joke poems from the subreddit to ease Hank's stress, and congratulates him on a moment he has long dreamt of.

What is said

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

00:00:00 — Hank's book is out: reception, the Associated Press review, tonight's New York launch at the Town Hall

★★★ It is September 25th, so Hank's book An Absolutely Remarkable Thing is out in the world. — 00:00:00 · An Absolutely Remarkable Thing, Hank Green
★★ The book has had a lovely reception: people send John updates and photos of themselves reading it, and the reviews are great. — 00:00:00 · An Absolutely Remarkable Thing
★★ The Associated Press called the book a thrilling journey that takes a hard look at the power of fame, which John agrees it is. — 00:00:00 · An Absolutely Remarkable Thing
★★ Tonight they celebrate the book in New York City at the Town Hall, one of John's favorite places in the world, and then go on tour. — 00:00:00 · New York City

00:00:29 — Gratitude and release stress; the Boot Too Big subreddit and a string of its joke poems; Back to the Future's book moment

★★ John is so happy that last night he started crying for no reason except gratitude. — 00:00:29
★★ John imagines it is also stressful for Hank: what he worked on for more than five years is now read by many people, exciting but scary. (hedged) — 00:00:29 · Hank Green
★★ When John feels that way he finds comfort and joy in the Boot Too Big subreddit, which he shares with Hank. (playful) — 00:00:29 · Boot Too Big, Reddit
★ John lightly edited the first poem because his kids watch Vlogbrothers now. — 00:00:58 · Vlogbrothers
★★ John doesn't know why he finds the joke construction completely irresistible. (unsure) — 00:00:58 · Boot Too Big
★★ John guesses the meter of 'Roses are red' calms some reptilian part of his brain, though the poem itself is terrible. (speculative) — 00:00:58
★★ John says the poems remind him how lovely the world can be if you pay extremely close attention. — 00:01:56 · Boot Too Big
★ John is not much for puns but offers one because Hank loves a dad joke. (playful) — 00:01:56 · Hank Green
★★ As a kid John often dreamt of the moment at the end of Back to the Future when George McFly opens a box of finished copies of his book. — 00:02:26

00:02:55 — Congratulations to Hank; the book in stores, the Discord, the launch and tour

★★★ Hank worked on the book for more than five years but dreamt of this moment far longer; John congratulates him and is excited for everyone to read it. — 00:02:55 · Hank Green, An Absolutely Remarkable Thing
★★ John tells Nerdfighteria the book is in libraries and bookstores everywhere, with a Discord for discussing it while reading. — 00:02:55 · Nerdfighteria
★★ John looks forward to seeing many viewers tonight at the New York launch and on the rest of the tour. — 00:02:55 · New York City

In the description and comments

★★ The description says viewers can get tickets to see Hank, and sometimes John, on tour at hankgreen.com. — video description

Humor (dominant)

John's first Boot Too Big poem: 'Roses are red, sugar is sweet'. — 00:00:58

“his boot too big for his gosh darn feet”
John breaks down laughing before finishing 'Roses are red, I'm not a hero'. — 00:01:27

“Gas leak at Cyber Goth Rave kills zero.”
A wordless Boot Too Big pun, offered because Hank loves dad jokes. — 00:01:56

“if you're happy and you know it, clamp your ham.”
'Roses are red, hakuna matata'. — 00:02:26

“life is a party, and I'm the piñata.”

Threads in this video

outcome · An Absolutely Remarkable Thing: announcement and publication of Hank's first novel (2017) — It is September 25th, so Hank's book An Absolutely Remarkable Thing is out in the world. (00:00:00)
progress update · John: join Hank on the An Absolutely Remarkable Thing tour in six cities (2018) — John looks forward to seeing many viewers tonight at the New York launch and on the rest of the tour. (00:02:55)
reminder · John asks viewers to get tickets for Hank's An Absolutely Remarkable Thing tour at hankgreen.com (2018) — The description says viewers can get tickets to see Hank, and sometimes John, on tour at hankgreen.com. (video description)
update · Hank writes An Absolutely Remarkable Thing, his first novel (2014) — Hank worked on the book for more than five years but dreamt of this moment far longer; John congratulates him and is excited for everyone to read it. (00:02:55)
launched · An Absolutely Remarkable Thing book tour (2018) — Tonight they celebrate the book in New York City at the Town Hall, one of John's favorite places in the world, and then go on tour. (00:00:00)

Where the stories that moved here went next

John: join Hank on the An Absolutely Remarkable Thing tour in six cities (2018) — kept; last: recalled, 2019-12-17
An Absolutely Remarkable Thing: announcement and publication of Hank's first novel (2017) — completed; last: looked back, 2025-12-09
An Absolutely Remarkable Thing book tour (2018) — last documented in 2018 (looked back on in 2019)
Hank writes An Absolutely Remarkable Thing, his first novel (2014) — told 5×, last update 2024; last: retold, 2024-08-07

Mentioned

Central: An Absolutely Remarkable Thing · Boot Too Big

Also: Works: Back to the Future

Organizations: Associated Press · Discord · Reddit

Terms: doobly-doo

Concepts: dad joke

Places: New York City · The Town Hall

Characters: George McFly

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