A Beautifully Foolish Endeavor

A Novel

By: Hank Green

Narrated by: Kristen Sieh, Joe Hempel, Jesse Vilinsky, Nicole Lewis, Kevin R. Free, Hank Green, Robert Petkoff, Angelo Di Loreto, Oliver Wyman, Hillary Huber, P.J. Ochlan, Gabra Zackman

Length: 15 hrs and 46 mins

Publisher's Summary

The Instant New York Times Best Seller

Who has the right to change the world forever? How will we live online? How do we find comfort in an increasingly isolated world?   

The Carls disappeared the same way they appeared, in an instant. While the robots were on Earth, they caused confusion and destruction with only their presence. Part of their maelstrom was the sudden viral fame and untimely death of April May: a young woman who stumbled into the Carls' path, giving them their name, becoming their advocate, and putting herself in the middle of an avalanche of conspiracy theories. 

Months later, April’s friends are trying to find their footing in a post-Carl world. Andy has picked up April’s mantle of fame, speaking at conferences and online; Maya, ravaged by grief, begins to follow a string of mysteries that she is convinced will lead her to April; and Miranda is contemplating defying her friends’ advice and pursuing a new scientific operation...one that might have repercussions beyond anyone’s comprehension. Just as it is starting to seem like the gang may never learn the real story behind the events that changed their lives forever, a series of clues arrive - mysterious books that seem to predict the future and control the actions of their readers - all of which seems to suggest that April could be very much alive. 

In the midst of the search for the truth and the search for April is a growing force, something that wants to capture our consciousness and even control our reality. 

A Beautifully Foolish Endeavor is the bold and brilliant follow-up to An Absolutely Remarkable Thing. It is a fast-paced adventure that is also a biting social commentary, asking hard, urgent questions about the way we live, our freedoms, our future, and how we handle the unknown. 

©2020 Hank Green (P)2020 Penguin Audio

Thrilling and relevant

I'm amazed at Hank Green's ability to craft a story that feels like it's a classic sci-fi while simultaneously feeling like it was ripped from the headlines. He couldn't have known while writing it that by the time this book released in mid 2020 it would be more relevant than ever. I highly recommend this series and you must read the first book, An Absolutely Remarkable Thing, first in order to follow this one. I found A Beautifully Foolish Endeavor to be even better than the first, but together they make an incredible story.

I have no words…

I went into this book with huge expectations since the first one was so flawless! However, it blew any expectations I had right out of the water!
It’s a beautiful continuation to the first book, yet it’s nothing like it!
There were genuine moments where I was gripping the end of my chair in fear and Hoping against hope. I did not feel this connected to a book in a long time! MR. Green does a great job thrusting the listener into the characters mind. Listening I could feel his frustration as if it was mine, their anger as if my blood was boiling, and I felt their fear so greatly that my heart was pounding! The narrators also do a job here!
This is overall an amazing book! I would recommend it!

My brain has exploded with awesomeness

Hank Green has BLOWN my mind with this book. The twists! The turns! Each one expertly crafted, completely surprising, and never once felt like a cheap “got ya!” trick. Even better than the book though, is listening to this audio book. It’s like listening to the most perfect TV show/movie/book/podcast/news report in the world. The voice acting? Amazing. But the fact that each character was voiced by their own person, even down to the news articles? I’m in love. 100/10 experience. Thanks Hank for the book! And thanks to the voice actors. DFTBA

The sequel that's even better

I love how breathtakingly this book captures our current social moment and issues a dire warning about the direction we're taking, all within the confines of a super intelligent alien invasion.

Perfection

I want to live inside Hank Green's beautiful brain. You will too. Read this book.

A truly enrapturing experience

A Beautifully Foolish Endeavor is a in depth analysis into what it means to be a human, even more so what it means to be a human in a time where technology is increasing molding the ways we conceptualize and interact with the world.
It’s a very well crafted story that puts believable characters in unbelievable situations and by the end of it you will be left speechless or in my case looking for every outlet possible to give my praises to this book and Hank for being the brainfather of such a captivating story.

Social/Political Commentary ruined it

"It’s a story about space aliens. Cool, right? Except can we please get away from the social and political commentary? Religion is mocked (God described as a fictitious “Sky Dad”), the characters are mostly bi-sexual (pandering much?), and the bad guys are obviously conservatives (“probably wearing a red hat”). I’m okay with a story that slightly leans into one belief system or life style but why pile it on?
Haven’t we had enough of that? The story could stand on its own without having a not-so-hidden agenda. First book was good. Second book is wrapped in liberal self-righteousness. Returning. "

Liberal buzzwords abound

If you wondered where Hank Green’s (author) political allegiances lay before reading this book...it will take no time to figure out. I pushed along because I wanted to see where the story went, but I regret doing so. Subtle digs at conservatives happen nearly every chapter. Capitalism is evil. Socialism is good. All of the modern liberal diatribes.

If they weren’t so glaringly unnecessary in a book that is essentially about aliens, it probably wouldn’t have bothered me as much. They all just seemed cheap and childish. Ultimately I wish I wouldn’t have read it and just let myself forget the first book like already had. Some people will love it.

If you like the following you will love this book:

Easily predictable outcomes, playing the race card, equal income for less than equal output, Chrissy Tiegen, being a social justice warrior, beta males, race baiting, socialism, and social media as a news source.

It’s long, it’s drawn out, it’s not compelling...and I definitely plan on returning it for a credit immediately.

Engaging and thought provoking

Really enjoyed this book. Compelling / thrilling basic plot. Will they be ok? Will they save the world? But also thought provoking on a much deeper level about society, power, the internet, and the best and worst of human nature. Highly recommend.

A fantastic addition to YA literature

This book is everything I used to look for in a novel when I was a book hungry teen. It drives introspection while also creating a fantastic, sometimes whimsical, alternate reality similar to our own. The performance of the readers did an amazing job of keeping you hooked on the story and had me binging chapter after chapter as I worked. I have been a fan of Hank Green since I was 11, he played a large roll in fueling my love of science and it is evident that he poured his heart and soul into this series. 10/10.