Saying What I've Needed to Say to Hank for a While

2021-05-18 · letter vlog · John · 3:56 · watch on YouTube

Topic: Books & writing (also: Personal life) · mode: Announcements · tags: self promotion, civic or action cta

On the release day of The Anthropocene Reviewed, John points readers to a fan site mapping where copies end up, shares early reviews and the virtual tour schedule around a nervous TV appearance, and tells Hank that the book, like so much of his work and life, started with him.

What is said

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

00:00:00 — Book out today; fans' site theanthropocenereviewed.com and the ask to post where copies ended up

★★★ John announces that The Anthropocene Reviewed book is out today, Tuesday May 18. — 00:00:01 · The Anthropocene Reviewed (book)
★★ John has to do a TV appearance that he is somewhat nervous about. — 00:00:05
★★★ Recalling the strange joy of his books going where he never will, John says from today the book has a life separate from its author, forging connections with whoever reads it. — 00:00:14 · The Anthropocene Reviewed (book)
★★ In response, Nerdfighters Jim and Rhett made theanthropocenereviewed.com, where people share their book's approximate location and review that location; John is glad he never bought the domain. — 00:00:24 · Nerdfighteria
★★ John says it has been a joy to watch the books start to travel and, this morning, to read readers' reviews of their locations on the site. — 00:00:37 · The Anthropocene Reviewed (book)
★★★ John asks readers to go to theanthropocenereviewed.com, say where their book ended up, and share a picture of the signature if they got an autographed copy. — 00:00:43

00:00:58 — Makeup before a TV appearance, Discord channel, early reviews, Drew Barrymore, virtual tour schedule

★ Getting his makeup done before the TV appearance is John's favorite thing: it feels like a nice person putting a protective shield on him. (playful) — 00:00:58
★★ There is also a Discord channel for discussing the book with others in the community, linked in the description. — 00:01:09
★★ Early reviews are very nice: the San Francisco Chronicle calls the book perfect to read over lunch or keep on the nightstand as a reminder of feeling small and human. — 00:01:13 · The Anthropocene Reviewed (book)
★ The review calls Green a ravenous and tender polymath, which John finds kind, though proper polymaths can say the word and he has never been sure how to pronounce it. (playful) — 00:01:28
★★ John shows a picture of Drew Barrymore hugging his book after she said she loved it. — 00:01:43 · The Anthropocene Reviewed (book)
★ Back home, John hopes the TV appearance went okay; most important, it is over and he is where he belongs, in his basement. — 00:01:47
★★ Another review that made John happy calls his first foray into nonfiction his most mature, compelling and beautifully written book yet. — 00:01:55 · The Anthropocene Reviewed (book)
★★ The virtual tour started last night (17 May 2021) with Clint Smith, and it was so fun that John briefly forgot he was on Zoom. — 00:02:13
★★ The tour continues tonight with Radiolab co-host Latif Nasser and Sarah Urist Green, Wednesday with Hank and Sarah, Saturday with Ashley C. Ford and Sarah; tickets in the description. — 00:02:20 · Sarah Urist Green, Hank Green

00:02:32 — Gratitude that the book is here and why John wrote it

★★ After a long three years and a really long year and a half, John is so grateful the book is here. — 00:02:32 · The Anthropocene Reviewed (book)
★★★ John wrote the book to write his way back to wonder, hope and sustained attention; it gave him that gift, and he hopes it gives readers some of it too. — 00:02:39 · hope, The Anthropocene Reviewed (book)

00:02:50 — The book started with Hank; the only-children inside joke; Hank as the book's sibling character; thanks

★★★ John tells Hank the book started with him: in sprawling conversations about our human moment and belly laughs on a tour bus during a cross-country road trip; so much of John's work and life starts with Hank. — 00:02:50 · Hank Green, The Anthropocene Reviewed (book)
★★ John cites the long-standing inside joke that his novels' protagonists are only children because he dislikes writing about siblings; really, siblings are too close to his vulnerable, beating heart. — 00:03:10 · Hank Green
★★★ This book finally has a main character with a sibling: Hank is at its beginning, middle and end, telling John what he needs to hear with wit, empathy and love, as in real life. — 00:03:28 · Hank Green, The Anthropocene Reviewed (book)
★★ John loved writing about Hank almost as much as he loves and misses hanging out with him, and thanks him for inspiring the book and supporting him every step of the way. — 00:03:39 · Hank Green

Threads in this video

outcome · The Anthropocene Reviewed book: announcement and publication (2020) — John announces that The Anthropocene Reviewed book is out today, Tuesday May 18. (00:00:01)
restate · Does the author's intent matter to what a work means? — Recalling the strange joy of his books going where he never will, John says from today the book has a life separate from its author, forging connections with whoever reads it. (00:00:14)
launched · The Anthropocene Reviewed virtual book tour (2021) — The virtual tour started last night with Clint Smith, and it was so fun that John briefly forgot he was on Zoom. (00:02:13)
restate · Why make things? — John wrote the book to write his way back to wonder, hope and sustained attention; it gave him that gift, and he hopes it gives readers some of it too. (00:02:39)
looked back · The Anthropocene Reviewed: John's podcast reviewing facets of the human-centered planet (2017) — John tells Hank the book started with him: in sprawling conversations about our human moment and belly laughs on a tour bus during a cross-country road trip; so much of John's work and life starts with Hank. (00:02:50)
callback · The inside joke that John's novel protagonists are only children because he doesn't like writing about siblings — John cites the long-standing inside joke that his novels' protagonists are only children because he dislikes writing about siblings; really, siblings are too close to his vulnerable, beating heart. (00:03:10)
came true · Hank: more people will soon post on theanthropocenereviewed.com (2021) — John says it has been a joy to watch the books start to travel and, this morning, to read readers' reviews of their locations on the site. (00:00:37)
retold · John writes his first nonfiction book, The Anthropocene Reviewed (2020) — After a long three years and a really long year and a half, John is so grateful the book is here. (00:02:32)
asked · John asks readers to add their copy of The Anthropocene Reviewed to the theanthropocenereviewed.com map (2021) — John asks readers to go to theanthropocenereviewed.com, say where their book ended up, and share a picture of the signature if they got an autographed copy. (00:00:43)

Where the stories that moved here went next

John asks readers to add their copy of The Anthropocene Reviewed to the theanthropocenereviewed.com map (2021) — asked in 2021; no response reported; last: reminder, 2021-05-25
Hank: more people will soon post on theanthropocenereviewed.com (2021) — came true
The Anthropocene Reviewed book: announcement and publication (2020) — completed; last: milestone, 2025-01-21

Mentioned

Central: The Anthropocene Reviewed (book)

Also: People: Ashley C. Ford · Clint Smith · Drew Barrymore · Latif Nasser · Sarah Urist Green

Projects: theanthropocenereviewed.com

Works: Radiolab

Organizations: Discord · San Francisco Chronicle

Concepts: hope · Polymath · wonder (emotion)

Later videos replying to this one

2021-05-21 · The 19 Best Facts (Hank) — answers — “come back from your very good, very emotional video” (00:00:00)