Hank and John dive into a plethora of quirky topics, like why traditional ghost costumes use white sheets and how computers will manage dates past 9999. They humorously ponder if a peanut-allergic president would necessitate a peanut-free White House. The brothers also reflect on their writing journey about tuberculosis and explore the absurdities of digital legacies. With a comedic twist, they tackle life, death, and cat ownership, intertwining humor with thoughtful observations on relationships and the evolution of cultural narratives.
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question_answer ANECDOTE
John's New Book
John Green is writing a new book titled "Everything is Tuberculosis," focusing on the history and present dangers of the disease.
He's signing 100,000 first edition copies, a commitment he now slightly regrets due to the sheer volume.
insights INSIGHT
Keeping it PG
The brothers maintain a PG rating on their podcast for accessibility to wider audiences, including children and those with different sensitivities.
They find it easy to maintain this rating due to the established "vibe" of the show.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Ghostly Origins
The universal ghost costume of a sheet with eyeholes likely originated from burial shrouds.
This was the common attire of the deceased before coffins became prevalent.
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The novel follows Hazel Grace Lancaster, a 16-year-old girl with thyroid cancer that has spread to her lungs, and Augustus Waters, a 17-year-old boy who lost his leg to osteosarcoma. They meet at a cancer support group and develop a deep bond over their shared experiences and favorite books. The story explores themes of mortality, the meaning of life, and the intensity of their love as they face the harsh realities of their illnesses. The narrative is marked by its direct and introspective tone, as Hazel navigates her feelings and the existential questions that come with facing death.
Looking for Alaska
BookBuddy Staff
The story follows Miles 'Pudge' Halter, a teenager fascinated by famous last words, who leaves his safe life in Florida to attend Culver Creek Preparatory High School in Alabama. There, he befriends Chip 'The Colonel' Martin, Takumi, and the enigmatic Alaska Young. The novel is divided into two parts, 'Before' and 'After,' which explore themes of life, death, and the search for meaning. An unthinkable tragedy changes the lives of the characters, prompting Miles to reflect on the deeper meanings of existence.
Ulysses
James Joyce
Ulysses is a groundbreaking and complex modernist novel that chronicles the experiences of three Dubliners over a single day. The novel is loosely based on Homer's epic poem 'The Odyssey', with Leopold Bloom paralleling Odysseus, Stephen Dedalus paralleling Telemachus, and Molly Bloom paralleling Penelope. It explores themes such as antisemitism, human sexuality, British rule in Ireland, Catholicism, and Irish nationalism. The novel is known for its innovative use of language and narrative techniques, including stream-of-consciousness and multiple literary styles. It captures the essence of early 20th-century Dublin, providing a detailed snapshot of the city's social, political, and cultural landscape[2][3][5].
Why do Hank and John keep things PG? Why are white sheets the standard ghost costume? How will computers deal with dates beyond the year 9999? If the president was allergic to peanuts, would the White House become a peanut-free zone? In the Garfield comic strip, can John understand what Garfield is thinking? …Hank and John Green have answers!
If you're in need of dubious advice, email us at hankandjohn@gmail.com.
Join us for monthly livestreams at patreon.com/dearhankandjohn.
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