John Green’s Biography
(For contact info, click here.)
John Green is the New York Times bestselling author of Looking for Alaska, An Abundance of Katherines, and Paper Towns. He is also the coauthor, with David Levithan, of Will Grayson, Will Grayson. He was 2006 recipient of the Michael L. Printz Award, a 2009 Edgar Award winner, and has twice been a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize. Green’s books have been published in more than a dozen languages.
In 2007, Green and his brother Hank ceased textual communication and began to talk primarily through videoblogs posted to youtube. The videos spawned a community of people called nerdfighters who fight for intellectualism and to decrease the overall worldwide level of suck. (Decreasing suck takes many forms: Nerdfighters have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to fight poverty in the developing world; they also planted thousands of trees around the world in May of 2010 to celebrate Hank’s 30th birthday.) Although they have long since resumed textual communication, John and Hank continue to upload three videos a week to their youtube channel, vlogbrothers. Their videos have been viewed more than 75 million times, and their channel is one of the most popular in the history of online video. He is also an active (if reluctant) Twitter user with more than 1.1 million followers.
Green’s book reviews have appeared in The New York Times Book Review and Booklist, a wonderful book review journal where he worked as a publishing assistant and production editor while writing Looking for Alaska. Green grew up in Orlando, Florida before attending Indian Springs School and then Kenyon College.
You can find more information (so, so much more) over at the FAQ.
For information about contacting John, click here to visit the contact page.
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I just finished reading “The Fault In Are Stars” for the second time. I CAN’T STOP READING. its the best book i have ever read. I have a couple questions though. What happens to Hazel? does she live a long not so healthy life? does her mom become a Patrick? what happens to Isaac? does he live a long life? and lastly, what happens to her dad? i mean, he’s not one of the most famous characters in the book, but does he try to cope with the idea that his daughter has a disease that could kill her? just a few questions that i’ve been wondering about.
If you have read it 2 times already than you must have your own theory as to what happened. Like in the book when Peter ends his book abruptly I simply infer that John Green meant to leave you questioning everything. Please take that into consideration.
@Simply Wandering,
If you have read the book, you really should get what Anna Clune is doing with her comment…
@Simply Wandering,
You have read the book. Twice. So you should know that these questions you are asking are exactly what Hazel did to Van Houten. And if you go onto John’s Tumblr, he says that he won’t tell us what happens because he himself doesn’t know. He “has access to the same text as we do”.
Dear John Green,
I have recently completed reading “The Fault In Our Stars”.
I have no questions, that’s half the wonder of a novel: making the ending up yourself.
More a simple comment.
I do not have cancer myself. But my life has been heavily affected by cancer, and just death in general. You have captured and shed light upon a process I thought I was familiar with, enlightening and changing my perspective.
I am a young aspiring author, studying creative writing in university. Your novel is one of the most influential books I have ever read. I wish to write so I effect people, in the way you have affected me.
Thank you.
Dear john
I just now finished the fault in our stars and am moved beyond words. And yet I’m typing words….I’m not sure I will ever get over Gus and hazel. I almost wish I hadn’t read it . I’m 51, not a teenager, but I haven’t often felt this way about a book. Good job and I may hate you for allowing me to feel so much. It’s such an honor to read a true heartbreaking love story
Fondly, Stephanie
Stephanie, I have you beat — I’m 57, have read all of John’s books, and just recommended him on my facebook page! I finished The Fault in our Stars last night, and immediately went back to the beginning and started it again. Unfortunately, it was a long week and late night, and I fell asleep, but still….
John, if you read these things, thank you again for your books. You write about teens I want to know, and in some cases, do know, did know, being the mother of two 0nce-teens, now post-teens. You also manage to capture real parents, with their love for their children existing right alongside their foibles. Thanks for all of it!
I’m 61 and just finished crying through the last 60 pages of The Fault in Our Stars. I’m adding this book to my Amazon Listmania! list “Books that women will love”. This book is one of the rare books that when you finish it, you really feel as though you’ve read something important. I LOVED ALL THE CHARACTERS!!
Dear John,
My son got me interested in Vlog Brothers and from that The Fault in our Stars. The book was amazing and very well written. Besides your parents, I might be your oldest fan. Probably too old to be a Nerdfighter!
C
Hi John,
I’m not sure if you addressed this question before, but I was just wondering: what is your stance was on ebooks?
Thanks!
Hi John! I was looking on the LA Times Festival of books page, and it said you were going to be there. Is this true? I was not sure because you haven’t announced or posted anything about it( to my knowlege at least) COuld you please reply? Because I about had a heart attack when I saw your name on the list!!!
Hi John,
A student of mine, after reading “The Yellow Wallpaper” in my class, showed me the passage in _Looking for Alaska_ when Pudge describes the repulsive wallpaper at you know where (don’t want to spoil it for anyone). We were wondering if it is an allusion to Gilman’s short story. It is a brief passage, but full of connections. First, of course, the paper is yellow, but Pudge also describes the smell similarly to the narrator in YWP. Additionally, and this is why we thought it might be an allusion, Alaska feels trapped as a character just like the narrator in the story. Your appeasement of our curiousity would be much obliged.
Dear John Green
after standing in a small waterstones outlet for 2 and a half hours I finally chose to buy this book with my prize money (£10) which i had won from school. (Those more pedantic people will note the book is infact £12.99 not £10 so yes I had to make up the remainder). I cannot give a particular reason that i chose this book, perhaps it was the bright front cover, i am instinctively partial to bright colours. However, it was probably one of the best choices I have made in at least the last 4 and a half weeks! Considering the emotional wreck I become after watching finding Nemo with my baby sister i suppose it is not all that surprising that i am still recovering from the fault in our stars. Hazel and Gus!! The whole time you assumed that it was hazel who would affect others through her death. Never did I expect her to be affected by someone else’s death!! How did I not see that coming! So thank you, I cannot remember the last time I started crying on a international flight, and defiantly not about a book. Please write imperial affliction!
SPOILER ALERT! In case anyone reading this post hasn’t yet read the book.
Hi John-
I’m not sure if you’ll ever find this, but if you do, that would be the most amazing thing ever. I have to write a critical analysis essay in English on The Great Gatsby, The Awakening and A Streetcar Named Desire. The topic I’m thinking about for my essay was inspired by Paper Towns and the brilliant quote “how treacherous it is to imagine a person as more than a person.” I want to write about how the romantic relationships in each novel (for example, Daisy & Gatsby’s) failed because one person imagines the other as more than they actually are. Yet I can’t figure out how mis-imagining a person can be detrimental. Do you have any advice?
DFTBA, Katie
Dear John,
I’ll have you know that ther is no more animated a conversation than when me A.K.A Alaska-in-every-way and my best friend Miranda A.K.A Colin-in-every-way, talk about your books we have read all of them and continually have new ideas about them all. Its funny because in your books the charactors are always quoting from important historical figures or literature, but Miranda and i are the only ones i know that almost exclusivly quote from your books. We know that you’ll be an important historical author someday! ;] Thank you from the bottom of my heart for writing like a teenager, and for allowing us to meet Alaska , Pudge, Takumi, the Colonel, Colin, Hassan, Q, Margo,Augustus, Isaac, and Hazel Grace. It has been and honor.
Just so you know, you’re my favorite author and your book “The Fault in Our Stars” really changed my life. I know you’ve heard that a lot, but honestly it did. It really made me appreaciate life and all my family/friends more.
Thank you for writing. I would be falling asleep in more classes if it weren’t for your books…or I’d be paying more attention in class and getting better grades.
But I mean come on! What’s the fun in that?
Hi, very much not a teen anymore but still wanted to stop by and say how much I love your work. It was two customers who told me about nerdfighters. (I was jealous of their newly purchased sonic screwdrivers and made a firefly ref. Gotta love how that made me cool in their eyes.)
I work in a bookstore love having clever and intelligent books to suggest to teens (and adults) who I think would really enjoy more thought provoking things if they took the chance. The Fault in Our Stars made me sniffle embarassingly. (The dangers of reading in public!)
I guess, keep up the brilliant work, and keep being charming. And please please keep up venn diagrams. I want to print them out and staple them to people’s heads some days…
LRH the “freshman” had a awesome time, you inspire her and she has a great depth of passion for doing the right thing all the time.
She bought two shirts. One with Walt Whitman that was “Walt’s with me” and the other was…
Edgar Allen Poe – with his face super imposed in a tree – POE in Tree..
You inspire them all to read, and read alot….
Thumbs up to you… MJH her Dad
She will always remember today….THANK YOU….MJH
Recently, well today during my lunch period, I was lackadaisically browsing through my school’s library and The Fault in Our Stars immediately caught my eye. Not only because I have read An Abundance of Katherines but also because I have dedicated far more time then I would care to admit to watching and participating in the Nerdfighters. I checked out this book at 11:21 today during lunch, had school until 3, stayed after school until 7 for a club and have now finished the book at 11:17 and am now writing to you, or someone on the internet, Furthermore, I would like to point out that I am quiet talented because I am writing this note and also effectively procrastinating starting my homework which in any case is not a good idea. But I would not ever regret the lose of sleep which I will undoubtedly occur because The Fault In Our Stars was an amazing novel in all aspects. Your novel provided me with a fresh perspective on death, love and the world. However, now I realize, I have written a long note which could be summarized in a few words : Thank you for writing this novel.
Hi John, My daughter Jessie was one of the first Nerd fighters and very dedicated. She had a signed copy of Looking for Alaska. It was accidently sold at a yard sale today. She was completely distaraut. I was wondering how we could replace it. She is 17 and has had the book since you did your first Nerd fighters convention.
My 23 year old daughter recomemended The Fault in Our Stars. Not sure I will ever forgive her. I am a 53 year old English teacher and am beyond words. So painful, yet brilliantly beautiful at the same time. Thank you for making me ache with such love for every character in this book.
This is the guy who wrote the action assembly theory .? can someone answer my question, please.
Well, i don’t really know why i’m writing here. I just felt like i needed to. I’m just another book reader that found an amazing video of John reading the first chapter of The Fault in Our Stars and i couldnt stop myself to order it right after the video had finished. I have always said that before buying a novel i needed to “feel it” in my hands, go through the pages and spy a little bit of it, so i have never ever ordered a book in internet! Its amazing how i found myself in the need of reading this book inmediatly (although i have to wait a couple of weeks until it arrives as here, in germany, i cant get any english-book nor spanish or any other languaje). I am really looking foward to read it as you -whoever is reading this- can imagine.
I guess i just wantet to talk about this with somebody i dont know. Ive been away from home for too long and i need books to built my shelter and avoid getting lost. I hope… No! I kow THIS book is going to the main piece of my puzzle, want to know why? You dont know? I dont either… I will write about it somewhere when i have finished it. And if I remember i will put it here to say thank you john green… Im sure its going to be that way.
After all, what is life without expectations?
John,
For a school assignment we were asked to write about our inspiration; I chose you. As an aspiring author, your works of literature have shed new light on my perspective towards all things, not only in wiritng, but in life itself. Your novels are bullshit free, and provide me with the opportuinites to look deeper into every thought. I thank you so much for everything you’ve done, that you don’t even know you have done. You’re my inspiration and without the novels and vlogs and everything else you do, My works of literature would probably be meaningless and boring.
Shout out to David Levethan and Hank Green as well. (:
Hello! I just finished The Fault in Our Stars at the recommendation of my favorite professor who said she has never cried and laughed so much from one book. I loved it so much and I can’t wait to read it again, as well as your other books! You are an amazing writer and I very much admire your work. :)
Just read Looking For Alaska. I cried. :) Good job Mr. John Green! :)
I really dig your book. Hang out with me and my friend, Sharon. That’d be lovely.
Thanks man,
Hannah Jirak
P.S we’re not creeps :D
hahahaa, your names Hannah, you MUST be a cr33p XD
Dear John,
I know you probably get this a lot, but you’re my hero. I reread and reread and reread your books. I can’t get enough. You’ve inspired me and I’m thinking about attempting to write a book someday. Your words are beautiful and about 1/4 of quotes in my quotes book comes from your writing. I love it all, please keep them going. <3
Hey John,
I have been watching vlogbrothers, about two weeks in to it. I have watched years of your life in only two weeks. On my way through, I read your book “A Fault in our Stars” and “Paper Towns”. I just got to your video where you met Esther at Vidcon. I got up off the couch, opened my briefcase, took out my ipad, opened iBooks where it displayed the last page, skipped to the beginning and cried when I saw the dedication to the book. I can count the times I have cried in my life on my hands. It made the book, and all books real to me. I feel the books spilling out my ears and filling my apartment. Anything I can do for you, it is yours.
Thanks,
Erik
PS. I thought this post would be out of context, but I just read the context, and I lost to the above.
dear Mr. john,
i was inspired to leave a mesg. because I’m now reading one of your book which is fault in our stars.. just want to ask a question,.
do you really idolize peter van houten ? does he really inspired you just like hazel grace ?
well i hope you will response in the above question, im johannah frm Philippines ..
I have finished reading The fault in our stars and i decided it would be the best thing in the world to write a paper about it, now i am in advanced language arts and the paper was well thought through. as a part of the project we are adding a blog or video about it. I will be you in character and Personally i am honord
Today I started The Fault in Our Stars after a very long wait through a long list of books. After passing the Hanklerfish and reading at a breakneck speed, I reached page 125.
On said page, at the very top, a paragraph ends as such “I fell in love the way you fall asleep: slowly, and then all at once.” That phrase struck a chord with me. It perfectly matched the way my girlfriend and I fell in love through our last year in college.
Feeling emotionally charged from the book and from the quote, I decided to send her the quote via text. As I was typing in the last few characters, my phone rang and it was her. We hadn’t had a chance to talk in two days and it was amusing that she would call at that moment.
So I read her the quote, hoping she would like it. She didn’t say anything at first, but at the end of the silence she said that it was absolutely true for us and was an absolutely adorable quote. Soon it will be a framed notion for us to admire often.
Mr. Green, I appreciate your book, what you do for the world through NerdFighteria, and your inspirational ideas that you continue to share with every last human.
Regards,
Chris
Dear John Green,
You truly are something else you know that? I just finnished The Fault In Our Stars and it was one of the best books I have ever read, I feel my self connecting to Hazel wanting to know what happens in the end of yor novel as she did An Imperial Afflection. Does Hazel die? What happens to Gus’s parents, or what happens to Issac? Does Hazel’s mom finnish college and become a social worker before Hazel dies? Its litterly eatting at me not knowing.
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