John Green, bestselling author known for works like 'The Fault in Our Stars,' discusses the importance of mindfulness in evaluating human progress. He shares insights from his experience rating everything on a five-point scale, from wonder to Canadian geese. The conversation dives into how personal narratives can transform experiences and reviews. Green also reflects on the flow during simple activities like driving and gaming, exploring how reducing distractions enhances presence and joy. His thoughts on remote work, mental health, and the allure of YA literature offer a profound look into attention's role in our lives.
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Book's Origin
John Green's new book stemmed from a period of illness and reflection.
Inspired by Amy Krouse Rosenthal, he decided to pay more attention to his attention.
insights INSIGHT
Five-Star Scale
John Green uses the five-star scale ironically, acknowledging its absurdity.
He believes it simplifies complex qualitative analysis for data aggregation, not humans.
insights INSIGHT
Subjective Reviews
John Green's wife, Sarah, advised him to incorporate his own perspective into his reviews.
He realized reviews are inherently subjective and should reflect the reviewer's experience.
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In 'The Anthropocene Reviewed', John Green adapts and expands his critically acclaimed podcast into a symphony of essays. He reviews a wide range of subjects, from the QWERTY keyboard and sunsets to Canada geese and 'Penguins of Madagascar', using a five-star rating system. The book is a personal and introspective exploration of human existence, touching on themes of culture, science, and personal experiences. Green's essays are praised for their wit, empathy, and ability to make the universal personal, offering a reflection on the human condition during times of global change and uncertainty.
The great Gatsby
F. Scott Fitzgerald
Published in 1925, 'The Great Gatsby' is a tragic love story, a mystery, and a social commentary on American life during the Jazz Age. The novel is narrated by Nick Carraway, who moves to Long Island and becomes entangled in the lives of his wealthy and mysterious neighbor, Jay Gatsby, and Gatsby's obsession to win back his first love, Daisy Buchanan. The story delves into themes of honesty, the temptations of wealth, and the struggle to escape the past, ultimately reflecting on the disintegration of the American Dream.
Turtles all the way down
Gaye Shortland
This book is a work of fiction by Gaye Shortland, published in 1997. It continues the tales of characters based in Cork city, although specific details about the plot are limited in available sources.
The Fault in Our Stars
John Green
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.
Do you pay attention to your attention? John Green is the beloved author of The Fault In Our Stars, and when he started tracking his attention, he realized he was obsessed with evaluating human progress. He decided to start rating everything — from the capacity for human wonder to Canadian geese — on a five-point scale. In this deeply thoughtful conversation with Adam, John shares what he learned from his series of Yelp-style reviews, the gift of a great book, and the unexpected life lessons found in the last lap of Mario Kart. Read the full text transcript at go.ted.com/T4G8
ReThinking 
