John Green's N/F The Anthropocene-Profound Pondering Worth Perusing

Known for his literary, young adult novels The FAULT in our STARS and LOOKING for Alaska, John Green took a darker turn in TURTLES ALL the WAY DOWN, where the young protagonist struggled with compulsive disorder and anxiety.  Green admitted to sharing these issues in his life at the time of the book's release.  In his recent non-fiction collection of essays, The ANTHROPOCENE, Green shares his dark days of depression and his reflections during the oppressive epoch of our recent pandemic.  Unable to construct his thoughts into a cohesive novel, Green allowed his thoughts to ebb and flow, and followed them where they would go.  With his churning mind, candor and eloquence, Green gathered his thoughts into a compelling read with profound observations that inspires readers to reconsider our circumstances and the ripples we leave inn our wake.  "What you're looking at matters, but not as much as how you're looking or who you're looking with."  Green often refers to author's and philosopher's quotes and then expounds upon them.  After quoting Alec Soth who said, "To me, the most beautiful things is vulnerability."  Green added, "I would go a step further and argue that you cannot see the beauty which is enough unless you make yourself vulnerable to it."  I was dazzled most by the pleasure and awe that registered for Green whether eating a hot dog with the works,  watching leaves rain down from a ginkgo tree, admiring the first artwork comprised in space, or listening to whispered confidences from his daughter.  "What really thrills the human soul is to be in the presence of astonishment, I am thrilled by everything that makes me feel alive within myself.  Alive in my smallness, and alive in my fragility and alive in my wondrousness."  Green also took issue with humanity's noxious naivety and ego.  He contends, "in the age of the Anthropocene, humans tend to believe, despite all available evidence, that the world is here for our benefit."  Nonetheless, the overriding reminder throughout is we live in hope that life will get better, life will continue and love will continue to survive.  Moreover, I'm left convinced of the consequence to pay attention, to wonder, "and to know and to not know."