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When I sat down with Everything is Tuberculosis, I had to laugh a little. Only John Green could convince me to cozy up with a book about the history of the world’s deadliest infectious disease — and actually enjoy it.
I’ve read all of Green’s books over the years, and this one reminded me just how powerful great writing can be. Good writing is good writing, no matter the topic.
In Everything is Tuberculosis, John Green uses his signature wit, warmth, and intelligence to tackle an incredibly heavy subject: tuberculosis (TB). Once romanticized as a “poet’s disease,” today TB is a curable and preventable illness that still kills over a million people each year, most often among the world’s most vulnerable populations.
The heart of this story beats through Henry Reider, a young TB patient Green met in Sierra Leone in 2019. Henry’s big smile and spirit jump off the page, and through his story, Green personalizes a disease that often gets lost in statistics.
It’s one thing to know TB is deadly — it’s another thing entirely to meet someone living it. Henry’s journey becomes the thread that ties together a larger conversation about healthcare inequities, medical history, public perception, and global injustice.
What struck me most was how seamlessly Green connected these heavy topics with pieces of pop culture, history, and his own personal experiences. It’s a tough balance — weaving education with humanity — but Green manages to do it in a way that is engaging, empathetic, and thought-provoking.
It’s also chilling how timely this book feels. Although it focuses on tuberculosis, the underlying issues — vaccine hesitancy, healthcare access, scientific innovation — mirror so many of the challenges we’ve faced (and continue to face) globally, especially in recent years.
Everything is Tuberculosis reminds us that science alone isn’t enough; society’s willingness to trust and embrace it matters just as much.
In true John Green fashion, this isn’t just a book about a disease — it’s a book about people. About how we fail each other, how we save each other, and how every choice we make ripples outward.
If you love John Green’s writing, you’ll find comfort in his voice here, even as he leads you through difficult truths. If you’re simply looking for a powerful, timely, and human story, this is it.
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