In this chapter John Green talks about his battle with nihilism and the impenetrable wall of despair and hopelessness these thoughts put in front of him. He goes into how this way of thinking is wrong and how he tries hard to combat this by choosing to believe and to care about things despite these feelings of meaninglessness. The chapter culminates in a scene of Green standing in awe of a beautiful sycamore tree with his son and admiring the intense beauty and value of the world around him.
This chapter gave a lot of insight into the less humorous side of John Green’s life as he talks on his struggle with the feelings of nihilism, and it was very education in the fact that it shows a deeper level of thought behind it contrasts from some of the other subjects faced in this book. This chapter speaks on a very real and universal problem of the human experience, why? I think that question and Greens personal search for why is what prompted him to write this chapter.
I think this topic is very important In Green’s search for a life of significance, it allows Green to look at what is important in life and cherish those things. Having the drive and making the choice to have hope and to believe are what make life significant, it lets Green really experience life to its fullest and enjoy everything worth enjoying, even if it is something he struggles to do.
I think this is an inspiring story from Green’s life, and it really made me think about what keeps me going, what is the driving force behind my decisions and life in general. I could put myself in his shoes and really get what he was saying. I give Sycamore Trees 4 out of 5 stars.