20 Comments
Nov 11, 2022·edited Nov 11, 2022Liked by Thomas Pluck

Fun fact: the first Choose Your Own Adventure was by two women, and is a romance novel, involving a potential marriage. It was published in 1930.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consider_the_Consequences!

It's rare enough I wasn't able to get a copy just by searching Amazon, Abebooks, etc.

Expand full comment
author

I think that was mentioned in the New Yorker article. Do you remember the title?

Expand full comment

Yes! Yes, it was. It was Consider the Consequences! (And is still not available as far as I can tell, sadly, on Amazon, Abebooks, Alibris, or Thriftbooks.)

Expand full comment

This is fantastic, Thomas. I never got into the CYA books during their heyday but I'm definitely familiar with the originals. Then another company started making them a couple years ago while I was still at the bookstore and man, we couldn't keep them on the shelves. Clearly a previous generation sharing something they loved with their kids and I really dug that. I don't know if that is still happening or not. Regardless, how you weave modern choices like the book choices in this is really well done, man.

Also, I came to that Devo song via a cover of it by one of my all time favorite bands, Fu Manchu, from one of my all time favorite records of theirs, KING OF THE ROAD. Here's their version:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0EP-lpXRTyk

Expand full comment

Love how you mixed the CYOA choices with adulthood here! I never really thought of those books as preparation for real life choices or the regret that can come with them, but yeah. I think the first of that series I read was the Castle Rock book - I wound up dying in a sealed room or closet, which was just unacceptable. Nice to have do-overs!

Expand full comment
author

I thought about it when reading the Jamison article, and how I often over-thought things. Then it just played out.

Ah, do-overs! Sometimes life hands you one... when it does, you better damn take it!

Expand full comment
founding

This is fantastic. Also, OMG, these images.

I loved those books as a kid, but never put it together that they were an anxiety-management device in a world that seemed out of control. FWIW, I think you do a good job picking things to care about (I learned about the letter writing to voters campaign from you, for instance). Which is the best any of us can do.

(Also, FWIW, this is so in line with the themes of The Good Place it's ridiculous.)

Expand full comment
author

Sigh. I'm on episode 9 of season one thanks to you!

And thanks for mentioning the images, I had fun making them.

Expand full comment

I'm with Hannah. I love the images!

Expand full comment
founding

I don't know if that's good or bad from where you're sitting, but from where I'm sitting, I can't wait to chat about it all. :) (And, seriously, I hope you enjoy.)

Expand full comment
author

I didn't finish the season but I will tonight. I already apologized to Sarah for not watching it with her.

Expand full comment
founding

It does have some gushy scenes later so might be worth waiting ... either way I’m sooooo glad you’re enjoying hanging out in the bud hole & watching the show! 😂

Expand full comment
author

I'm forking loving it.

Expand full comment

Hahaha as someone who keeps googling “is cigarette smoking really that bad for you?” Because I want to resume smoking, because I miss it so much, this is hilarious and it hits. Thanks.

Expand full comment
author

I'm sorry. I know smoking is a tough one.

Expand full comment

Loved this one! 🤣😂🤣

Expand full comment

Geez, I'm not sure if I should thank you for this? Or not? Aw, what's the difference, you won't care anyway. Or will you? Whatever - I loved this!

Expand full comment

I saw an article the other day about rising anxiety levels in kids, and I still can't figure out how kids (or anyone) would ever *not* be anxious. Anxiety feels like a rational response to a world determined to kill us. It's felt that way ever since I was five and realized the world had existed before I got here. (The realization, in a church pew on a Sunday morning, overwhelmed me so much I saw yellow and black spots, and almost passed out.)

Expand full comment
author

That would be a great beginning of a novel, don't you think? I like to live in spite of everything that doesn't want me to. But that doesn't help any with the anxiety of everyday life!

Expand full comment