Review: The Anthropocene Reviewed

The Anthropocene Reviewed by John Green
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I resisted the urge to read this for some reason. The cover looked pleasant. Too pleasant. Then, as December rolled by and I couldn’t decide what to read, I gave in. I conceded. Sure, I’ll read the Anthropocene Reviewed.

It’s a collection of personal essays, open and interesting, sporadic and random in theme, drawn together by the idea of humanness and the idea of reviews. (The Anthropocene Reviewed. A review of the age of the humans). I liked the way it was a lightly tinted pair of glasses, a way to tie the reviews together but not something the author really focuses on at all. It’s just a thing, in the background, that you forget about often till the last sentence of each essay introduces it back to you. It’s never jarring, always a little surprising, and almost beautiful.

It was unexpected in its vulnerability. In the gorgeousness of its uncertainty, in its convictions. A snapshot of the author in the most real way possible, coloured by fears and weaknesses and strengths and ideals. Written well, written with heart. And it’s pleasant. Perfectly pleasant and joyful. It made me smile, audibly laugh out, and sit there and wonder. It was happy. A happy book. These are, in my opinion, so hard to do well. This one was done well.

View all my reviews