In "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close," Jonathan Safran Foer highlights a fascinating thought from National Geographic, stating that the current global population exceeds the total number of people who have ever lived. This striking observation serves as a reminder of the vastness and growth of human life on Earth.

Foer humorously illustrates this concept by referencing Shakespeare's "Hamlet," suggesting that if everyone alive today wants to act in the play, they would find themselves short of skulls for the iconic scene. This metaphor emphasizes both the uniqueness of each individual and the sheer scale of humanity throughout history.