John Green

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

John grew up in Orlando, Florida and studied at Kenyon College. He studied English and religious studies. He worked at a children's hospital before he became 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. This helped create 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 talked 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 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 started working at Booklist magazine as an assistant. He reviewed books and wrote stories for radio shows like All Things Considered and Chicago’s WBEZ. During this time, he made friends with author Amy Krouse Rosenthal, who encouraged him to write a book.

Green’s first novel, Looking for Alaska, came out in 2005 and was very well liked. It became popular and was on the New York Times Best Seller list.

His second book, An Abundance of Katherines, was published in 2006. It is about a boy who dates many girls named Katherine. People liked the funny story.

Online and literary collaborations (2007–2011)

In 2007, John Green and his brother Hank began making videos for a channel called Vlogbrothers. They only talked through videos for a year and many people watched. This helped create the Nerdfighter community, which supports good causes.

John also worked with other authors on books like Let It Snow: Three Holiday Romances and Will Grayson, Will Grayson. His book Paper Towns came out in 2008 and was also a bestseller.

Breakout success (2012–2016)

In 2012, Green’s book The Fault in Our Stars was released. It tells the story of two teenagers who meet in a support group. The book was very popular and stayed on the New York Times Best Seller list for a long time. A movie based on the book came out in 2014 and did well too.

John also started the Crash Course YouTube channel in 2012, where he shares educational videos on many topics. The channel now has 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 book about some big feelings. It was number one on the New York Times bestseller list.

He also started a podcast called The Anthropocene Reviewed, where he talks about how people affect the world. This became a book too, The Anthropocene Reviewed: Essays on a Human-Centered Planet, published in 2021.

Focus on global health (2022–present)

Green has worked to help with global health, especially fighting tuberculosis. He has partnered with groups to help people get treatment. In 2025, he wrote a book titled Everything Is Tuberculosis: The History and Persistence of Our Deadliest Infection about the disease.

In 2026, he shared plans for his new novel Hollywood, Ending, which will be about young actors.

Influence and reception

Books

John Green's books are very popular and have been on the New York Times Best Seller list. His books have been translated into 55 languages, with more than 50 million copies sold. One of his famous books, The Fault in Our Stars, is one of the best-selling books ever. John's unique voice helped change books for teenagers in 2014. Some say he started a new era of realistic stories, not just about wizards or vampires. When John recommends a book, it can help that book become popular.

John has talked about mistakes in his books. For example, he regrets using a word that is now considered hurtful.

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. 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. John spoke up, and the book was put back. He has joined lawsuits to protect books from being banned in schools.

Online ventures

In 2007, John and his brother Hank started making videos on YouTube. 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. They first met at 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 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 supports football teams like Liverpool F.C. and AFC Wimbledon. He had a gaming series on YouTube where he played FIFA, and the money went to help AFC Wimbledon.

Works

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

In addition to books, John Green has written short stories and other creative works. He has helped make films, with details shown in a table elsewhere.

Awards