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At Least It Looks Good From Space: A catalogue of modern, millennial and personal catastrophes
'A wonderful take on the chaos of the modern word' Louise O'Neill
'Carl has the rare gift of combining analytical clarity with maniacal vulnerability' Blindboy Boatclub
'Sharp, inventive and irresistibly engaging' Sophie White
In At Least It Looks Good From Space, journalist Carl Kinsella attempts to solve the great human mystery of why we are the way we are in this chaotic era of internet algorithms, disinformation campaigns (Carl's only responsible for one of these), pandemics (he's not responsible for any of those) and the judgement-clouding influence of nostalgia.
Here, Carl explores the complexities of being friends with men, how online platforms might be making us addicted to attention, the way millennials relate to the generations around them, and that one time he fell into a lagoon when investigating a mystery in Lahinch. From OCD and intrusive thoughts to unknowingly breaking the law at Dollywood, he revisits the pivotal events in his life - times of true joy, paralysing fear, and confusion. Mostly confusion.
Honest and deeply human, At Least It Looks Good From Space is a colourful search for answers about what it means to be losing your mind in a world that encourages it.
'Carl has the rare gift of combining analytical clarity with maniacal vulnerability' Blindboy Boatclub
'Sharp, inventive and irresistibly engaging' Sophie White
In At Least It Looks Good From Space, journalist Carl Kinsella attempts to solve the great human mystery of why we are the way we are in this chaotic era of internet algorithms, disinformation campaigns (Carl's only responsible for one of these), pandemics (he's not responsible for any of those) and the judgement-clouding influence of nostalgia.
Here, Carl explores the complexities of being friends with men, how online platforms might be making us addicted to attention, the way millennials relate to the generations around them, and that one time he fell into a lagoon when investigating a mystery in Lahinch. From OCD and intrusive thoughts to unknowingly breaking the law at Dollywood, he revisits the pivotal events in his life - times of true joy, paralysing fear, and confusion. Mostly confusion.
Honest and deeply human, At Least It Looks Good From Space is a colourful search for answers about what it means to be losing your mind in a world that encourages it.
193 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 16, 2025
8 people are currently reading
34 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
November 17, 2025
The weekend before last, I sat myself down on the couch and read Carl Kinsella’s new book cover to cover over the course of an evening.
It’s a book of essays, some comical, some very poignant and others wryly observant, on topics as diverse as US politics, a road trip across America taking in Dollywood, the relationship between Carl and his father, Carl’s (very frank) struggles with his mental health and a diagnosis of OCD, and a lads’ trip to Clare involving the matchmaking festival and a giant hole of water on a beach that Carl fell into. There is photographic evidence of the hole on his Instagram.
The book is written with humour and candour, and I felt quite protective of Carl reading it - I don’t know him personally, but such is the tone of the book, he brings you into his confidence and comes across as just a lovely, genuine and very, very clever chap. I was also intrigued by the stories about the unnamed all boys’ secondary school near me that features in the book 👀(I was able to guess from the context which school it was).
The book as a whole reminded me very much of the experience of reading Patrrick Freyne’s Ok Let’s Do Your Stupid Idea a few years ago, a book I loved for its warmth and humour. This one is going on the shelf right next to it. A 5/5 ⭐️ read for me. You’ll just know if it’s for you too.
It’s a book of essays, some comical, some very poignant and others wryly observant, on topics as diverse as US politics, a road trip across America taking in Dollywood, the relationship between Carl and his father, Carl’s (very frank) struggles with his mental health and a diagnosis of OCD, and a lads’ trip to Clare involving the matchmaking festival and a giant hole of water on a beach that Carl fell into. There is photographic evidence of the hole on his Instagram.
The book is written with humour and candour, and I felt quite protective of Carl reading it - I don’t know him personally, but such is the tone of the book, he brings you into his confidence and comes across as just a lovely, genuine and very, very clever chap. I was also intrigued by the stories about the unnamed all boys’ secondary school near me that features in the book 👀(I was able to guess from the context which school it was).
The book as a whole reminded me very much of the experience of reading Patrrick Freyne’s Ok Let’s Do Your Stupid Idea a few years ago, a book I loved for its warmth and humour. This one is going on the shelf right next to it. A 5/5 ⭐️ read for me. You’ll just know if it’s for you too.
Read
December 20, 2025I’ve enjoyed Carl Kinsella’s writing in The Journal for a while now, and equally his contributions to Louise McSharry’s podcast, so naturally I was drawn to his first book of essays.
In At Least It Looks Good From Space, you’ll find a dissection of internet culture (major flashbacks to the good old days of Irish twitter), a delve into the complexities of male friendship (I too have been on weird trips to Lahinch with friends so I related strongly to this story, although not so much to the pantsing part), and extremely candid discussions about mental health, at one point intersecting with a visit to Dollywood.
I won’t bang on too much about this one; it’s a book you just have to read for yourself.
I flew through it in a day, I couldn’t and didn’t want to put it down.
It’s interesting, witty, and brutally honest.
The writing feels clever but is never pretentious; a joy to read!
This is a great choice for a stocking filler gift if you’re out last minute shopping this weekend.
Buy it for your millennial friend that spends too much time online, your husband that has a group of friends who all have weird nicknames for each other that no one bar them can ever possibly understand, or for the reader in your life that wants a more personal story to get to grips with over the festive season.
I’ll happily read whatever Kinsella writes next, fingers crossed for a novel!
Recommend!
In At Least It Looks Good From Space, you’ll find a dissection of internet culture (major flashbacks to the good old days of Irish twitter), a delve into the complexities of male friendship (I too have been on weird trips to Lahinch with friends so I related strongly to this story, although not so much to the pantsing part), and extremely candid discussions about mental health, at one point intersecting with a visit to Dollywood.
I won’t bang on too much about this one; it’s a book you just have to read for yourself.
I flew through it in a day, I couldn’t and didn’t want to put it down.
It’s interesting, witty, and brutally honest.
The writing feels clever but is never pretentious; a joy to read!
This is a great choice for a stocking filler gift if you’re out last minute shopping this weekend.
Buy it for your millennial friend that spends too much time online, your husband that has a group of friends who all have weird nicknames for each other that no one bar them can ever possibly understand, or for the reader in your life that wants a more personal story to get to grips with over the festive season.
I’ll happily read whatever Kinsella writes next, fingers crossed for a novel!
Recommend!
October 31, 2025
For a book about some of the worst parts of modern life, I was still grinning ear to ear reading this.
November 24, 2025
Characteristically hilarious amidst frank and bleak reflections on the human condition experienced by contemporary millennials this is a triumph. Frankly proud to have been in contact with Carl.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews