If you feel like the news cycle is permanently stuck on high-intensity mode, you aren't alone. Guardian columnist Marina Hyde just dropped her new book, What a Time to Be Alive!, and she’s out here giving us the survival guide for staying sane when the world feels like it's constantly imploding.
The survival strategy
In a chat with Nosheen Iqbal, Hyde spilled on how she keeps it together while covering everything from the rise of AI to the chaotic overlap of tech bros and pop stars. Her pro-tip? Lean into that detached 'human behavior study' vibe. It’s basically a mental firewall. “I think increasingly the way to survive the news is to say things like: ‘I find it fascinating from a human behaviour point of view,’” Hyde explained. It’s a lowkey way to keep the existential dread at bay, because honestly, acknowledging the gravity of what we’re living through in real time is a lot.
From Trump to Taylor
Obviously, the book covers a wild range of topics. We’re talking about the current political climate with Donald Trump, the tech-bro fever dream that is the AI boom, and even the internet’s obsession with Taylor Swift’s wedding rumors. Hyde also recounted a random and admittedly tragic encounter she had with Keir Starmer, which is definitely the kind of plot twist you only get in her writing.
Why it matters
We’re all chronically online and overstimulated. Hyde’s perspective serves as a reminder that observing the absurdity of our current timeline is probably the healthiest way to process it. If you’re feeling like the vibes are off, hearing her break down how to detach from the madness might be exactly what you need.
