John Green

John Michael Green, born on August 24, 1977, is an American author and YouTuber. His books have sold over 50 million copies around the world, with The Fault in Our Stars being one of the best-selling books of all time. His unique voice helped change the young adult fiction world.

John grew up in Orlando, Florida and studied at Kenyon College, where he majored in English and religious studies. He worked at a children's hospital before becoming a writer. His first novel, Looking for Alaska, won an award in 2006.

In 2007, John and his brother Hank Green started the Vlogbrothers YouTube channel, which led to creating a big online community called Nerdfighteria and an annual fundraiser called Project for Awesome. They also started Crash Course, an educational channel, and VidCon, a big meeting for people who make videos online.

John has written many popular books, including Turtles All the Way Down and The Anthropocene Reviewed. He has also talked openly about his own experiences with anxiety and obsessive–compulsive disorder.

John also works to help people around the world stay healthy. He supports groups like Partners In Health and has written books about important health topics. His new adult novel, Hollywood, Ending, will come out in September 2026.

Early life and education

John Michael Green was born on August 24, 1977, in Indianapolis, Indiana. He grew up moving around, living in Michigan, Birmingham, Alabama, and Orlando, Florida. He went to several schools, including Glenridge Middle School and Lake Highland Preparatory School. When he was 15, he attended Indian Springs School and graduated in 1995. There, he made friends with Daniel Alarcón, who also became an author.

Green studied at Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio, where he majored in English and religious studies. After college, he worked for a short time at a hospital in Columbus, Ohio and thought about becoming a priest but decided to become an author instead. This experience later inspired some of his writing.

Career

Early career and novels (2001–2006)

In 2001, John Green began working at Booklist magazine as an editorial assistant. During this time, he reviewed many books and wrote radio essays for NPR’s All Things Considered and Chicago’s public radio station WBEZ. He also started an email friendship with author Amy Krouse Rosenthal, who encouraged him to write a novel.

Green’s first novel, Looking for Alaska, was inspired by his experiences and the events of September 11, 2001. The book was published in 2005 and received critical acclaim, winning the Michael L. Printz Award. It became a popular young adult novel and later appeared on the New York Times Best Seller list.

His second novel, An Abundance of Katherines, was released in 2006. It tells the story of a teenager who keeps dating girls named Katherine. The book was praised for its humor and was a finalist for several awards.

Online and literary collaborations (2007–2011)

In 2007, John Green and his brother Hank started a video blog called Brotherhood 2.0 on their YouTube channel Vlogbrothers. They communicated only through videos for a year, gaining a large following. This led to the creation of the Nerdfighter community, which supports various charitable causes.

Green also collaborated with other authors on projects like Let It Snow: Three Holiday Romances and Will Grayson, Will Grayson, which explored themes of identity and friendship. His novel Paper Towns was released in 2008 and became a bestseller.

Breakout success (2012–2016)

In 2012, Green’s novel The Fault in Our Stars was published. It tells the story of two teenagers who meet in a cancer support group. The book was a massive success, spending over forty weeks at number one on the New York Times Best Seller list. A film adaptation was released in 2014 and was also very successful.

Green also launched the Crash Course YouTube channel in 2012, which provides educational content on various subjects. The channel has grown to include many series hosted by both John and Hank.

Established author and internet personality (2017–2022)

In 2017, Green published Turtles All the Way Down, a novel that explores themes of anxiety and mental health. The book debuted at number one on the New York Times bestseller list.

Green also began a podcast called The Anthropocene Reviewed, where he discusses human impact on the environment. This was later adapted into a book, The Anthropocene Reviewed: Essays on a Human-Centered Planet, published in 2021.

Focus on global health (2022–present)

Green has become an advocate for global health, particularly in the fight against tuberculosis. He has worked with organizations like Partners in Health to improve access to treatments and diagnostics. In 2025, he published a nonfiction book titled Everything Is Tuberculosis: The History and Persistence of Our Deadliest Infection, which explores the history of the disease and its impact on society.

In 2026, Green announced his upcoming novel Hollywood, Ending, which will explore the lives of young actors in the film industry.

Influence and reception

Books

All of John Green's books have been very popular and have appeared on the New York Times Best Seller list. His books have been translated into 55 languages, with more than 50 million copies sold around the world. One of his famous books, The Fault in Our Stars, is one of the best-selling books ever. John's unique voice and quick rise to fame in 2014 helped change the world of books for teenagers. Some people say he started a new era of realistic stories for teens, moving away from stories about wizards or vampires. When John recommends a book, it can really help that book become popular.

Some people have talked about how John's books have changed over time. When he released Turtles All the Way Down in 2017, some said his earlier books were mostly about sad teens, but they still liked this new book for being true to life. In 2021, with his book The Anthropocene Reviewed, people said it was his most grown-up and beautiful book yet.

John has talked about mistakes in his books too. For example, he said he regrets using a word that is now considered hurtful in one of his books. He also wrote about how some people think his books have certain types of characters, but he says that's not what he meant.

Book bannings

Some of John's books have been challenged or moved in libraries and schools. For example, Looking for Alaska was one of the most challenged books in 2015 because some people did not like certain parts of the story. In 2022, a group of parents tried to remove this book from schools in Orange County, Florida. Later in 2023, The Fault in Our Stars was moved from the teen section in a library in Fishers, Indiana because of some parts of the story. John spoke up about this and the book was put back where it belongs. He has also joined lawsuits to protect books from being banned in schools.

Online ventures

In 2007, John and his brother Hank started making videos on YouTube, and they became well-known for talking to fans in a kind and understanding way. Their videos often encourage viewers to be kind and understand others. One of their big projects, Crash Course, has helped many people learn about history and other topics.

Personal life and interests

John Green is married to Sarah Urist Green, and they have two children together. They first met when they both went to the same school in Indian Springs, Alabama. Years later, they met again in Chicago and got married in May 2006.

John was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, where he has lived since 2007. He loves this city and has used it as a setting in some of his books. In July 2015, the mayor of Indianapolis made that day "John Green Day" to honor him. The mayor of Orange County, Florida also declared a John Green Day that same month.

John enjoys sports. He drove the pace car at the 2016 Grand Prix of Indianapolis and supported football teams like Liverpool F.C. and AFC Wimbledon. He even had a gaming series on YouTube where he played FIFA, and the money he made went to help AFC Wimbledon.

Works

John Green has written many books and stories that people love. Some of his famous books include Looking for Alaska, An Abundance of Katherines, and The Fault in Our Stars. He has also written non-fiction books like The Anthropocene Reviewed: Essays on a Human-Centered Planet.

Besides books, John Green has written short stories and other creative works. He has also been involved in making films, though the details of these are shown in a table elsewhere.

Awards