Author John Green is best known for his thoughtful and often melancholy Young Adult novels, including The Fault in Our Stars and Paper Towns. But in this, his first non-fiction book, readers will find a delightful (and often melancholy) collection of thought-provoking essays that interweave the author’s personal experiences and his sincere interest in the world. The book emerged from John Green’s podcast of the same title, where he “reviews different facets of the human-centered planet on a five-star scale.” Spoiler alert: Canada Geese only get 2 stars. You will feel humor and heartache alike, sometimes within the same essay, but mostly you will be inspired to think more deeply about humans’ role in the world and left with an aching hope for the species. I give The Anthropocene Reviewed 5 stars.