Books and podcasts that focus on one thing are so early-21st-century. In 2020 the way to grab eyes and ears is by promising every. damn. thing.
Here’s a long list that undoubtedly doesn’t include everything.
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You can read everything.
The Problem with Everything: A Journey Through the New Culture Wars, by Meghan Daum (2019). I’ve been a Meghan Daum fan since she wrote for the L.A. Times; this essay collection is provocative and timely.
The Antidote for Everything, by Kimmery Martin (2020). “Two doctors travel a surprising path when they must choose between treating their patients and keeping their jobs.”
Why do so many recent books use this big, blocky, colorful design template? Because Instagram.
Everything Is Under Control: A Memoir with Recipes, by Phyllis Grant (April 2020). “An unputdownable series of vignettes followed by tried-and-true recipes from Grant’s table.”
Not to be confused with Everything Is Under Control: Conspiracies, Cults, and Cover-Ups, by Robert Anton Wilson (1998).
Everything Is Figureoutable, by Marie Forleo (2019). “From the host of the award-winning MarieTV and The Marie Forleo Podcast, an indispensable handbook for becoming the creative force of your own life.”
Another blocky, colorful cover.Points for “figureoutable.”
Mrs. Everything, by Jennifer Weiner (June 2019). “An ambitious, richly textured journey through history—and herstory—as these two sisters navigate a changing America over the course of their lives.
Everything I Thought I Knew, by Shannon Takaoka (Oct 2020). “A teenage girl wonders if she’s inherited more than just a heart from her donor in this compulsively readable debut.”
Another Instagrammable cover.
Everything I Thought I Told You, by Celeste Ng (2014). “a gripping page-turner and a sensitive family portrait.”
Ng had a huge bestseller in 2017 with Little Fires Everywhere.
The End of Everything (Astrophysically Speaking), by Katie Mack (@astrokatie on Twitter), June 2020.
Not to be confused with The End of Everything, a 2012 novel by Megan Abbott
UPDATED to add: The Internet in Everything, by Laura DeNardis (2020).
Everything Trump Touches Dies, by Rick Wilson (2018). Wilson is a Republican strategist who is, as you might surmise, no fan of the 45th president. The title spawned a hashtag (#ETTD); there’s a GoFundMe in progress for a film adaptation.
How to Cook Everything, by Mark Bittman (revised 20th-anniversary edition, 2019). Useful!
How Everything Became War and the Military Became Everything: Tales from the Pentagon, by Rosa Brooks (2016). Excellent book; highly recommended.
Rosa Brooks is the daughter of Barbara Ehrenreich (Nickel and Dimed, Bait and Switch).
At least one author is hedging her bets.
Almost Everything: Notes on Hope, by Anne Lamott (2018).
Publisher’s blurb: “From Anne Lamott, the New York Times-bestselling author of Help, Thanks, Wow, comes the book we need from her now: How to bring hope back into our lives.”
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You can watch everything.
Everything’s Gonna Be Okay, debuted January 16, 2020, on Freeform.
Have you watched it? Is it okay?
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You can eat everything.
Everything bagels, topped with a mixture of every topping used in the bakery (poppy seeds, sesame seeds, salt, garlic, onion, etc.). For the origin story of the everything bagel, read Michael Shulman’s 2008 story in the New Yorker.
Almost anything is probably preferable to this Everything.
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You can listen to everything.
Every Little Thing, a podcast. Love the rabbit hole.
“You call with a question, we answer it. From @GimletMedia . (833) RING ELT.”
Everything Is Fine, a podcast for women over 40, hosted by Kim France and Tally Abecassis.
Maybe everything is not so fine.
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Related trends previously featured on Fritinancy:
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