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 have a title for your new book
Titles are hard
The main character goes hey author what’s the hardest part of writing
he replies everything…. but titles are hard
you need to write a billion more. don’t be like one of those writers that only writes a few books and tortures everyone! be the kind of writer that fills the world up with books :)
yeah, what she said. except not like crappy books. Like good profound books. The ones so far are great! :D
Got a tweet about an article on conjoined twins sharing a mind, thought immediately of you:
http://tinyurl.com/3joj669
Woulda tweeted it to you, but I’m a clueless tweeter.
Best wishes for a speedy recovery,
Mel
(nerd, book, youtube fan)
John,
First i should start by saying i love your work, particularly Paper towns. I want to write when i’m older. i’m 18 and i’ve written a lot of short stories even a book that’s saved on my computer but none of it ever seems good enough. Right now i feel like i have a story stuck in my mind but i never know how to get it out, do you have any suggestions? You must get this a lot, i watch your youtube videos and maybe you would talk about writers block or how you get your ideas from head to the page. I don’t know if you will reply to this, but i do hope so. I’m a big fan from england and i would appreciate a lot of help, Hope to see you in England.
Well, i hope you can help
valerie-may
Hello John,
I have recently finished Looking for Alaska. I’ve also read Paper Towns. I found both books incredible. The endings of both made me think. I wasn’t sure if I liked how they ended or was completely annoyed with them. However, I recently bought An Abundance of Catherines and can’t wait to get started on that. You’re an incredible writer, please keep writing.
-Courtney Christine
Dear John,
I’ve read Paper Towns, Looking for Alaska and An Abundance of Katharines and I LOVE your writing!! I like your sense of humor in your writing, yet sometimes you channel a more serious intake. You’re actually the first male writer that I’ve read books from and actual great books. Now, sometimes when I want to read books that jump into the mind of guy, I pick up your book. I think I’ve read Paper Towns about three or four times now since I bought it in 2009. I guess you could say I’m a writer, I’ve been writing short stories and unfinished books since I was in the 4th grade (i’m an 8th grader now. . .GRADUATING!! YAY) and i love it! I can’t wait to have a future in writing someday. Keep writing. . .it’s good for the heart and soul.
-Krystal
Salutations John!
I come to you today as a man on the horns of a dilemma! I’m thinking of returning to college, ten years after I received my associate degree, in order to work towards a bachelor’s in an unrelated field.
The problem is I have no idea what to study. I know I would enjoy studying either philosophy or religious studies, but I don’t know how to make a career out of either one. I read on Wikipedia that you studied religion and so you seemed like the man to ask. What did you orignally intend to do with your degree, assuming entering the ministry wasn’t the plan?
I know you must get a ton of messages, so I’ll fully understand if you don’t reply. I appreciate your time and look forward to your next video!
Sincerely,
Tyler
Dear Mr. Green,
I was recently reading, and very much enjoying, the book you co-wrote with David Levithan. I couldn’t help but notice that “chapter nineteen” is spelled “chapter ninteen”. I was just wondering if this mistake was intentional, or if the editor didn’t notice it. My mother is an editor, and if you would like to hire someone who catches typos of that sort, please contact me. Thank you for taking the time to read this letter, and I hope to be in contact.
-Julia
Oh My gosh! I Never realized That! As Soon As I read Your comment I picked Up my copy And looked, it really Does make Me wonder if John was The One who Cheated on the SATs…Haha just Kidding
I Also noticed you Have The same name As the Editor :)
Ever since I was very young, I’ve wanted to write novels. I had kind of put it to one side and would have eventually forgotten about this passion until I was introduced to the Vlogbrothers last year and to your books since. Thank you for inspiring me to pick up my dream from where I left it as a child and also more recently for motivating me in to plucking up the courage to make Youtube videos (I am usually a nervous person, so that kind of is a big deal for me). Your books are amazing (I especially enjoyed An Abundance of Katherines for my namesake) so please keep them up!
Best Wishes!
Katherine (16, England)
Hey John,
I have recently been introduced to the vlogbrothers as well as your books. I just finished “Looking for Alaska” and it is one of the best books I have read recently. It inspired me to get all of your books since I liked “Looking for Alaska” so much. Also watching your videos has inspired me to try and start a vlog myself, but I really don’t know where to start. I am a music education major and I kind of want to spread the word to keep music in schools but I want to do stuff in an interesting way. I know you are usually busy with writing your new book as well as making videos (By the way, liked the most recent one), but if you could send an e-mail my way with any helpful hints it would mean a lot to me. Just so you know becoming a Nerdfighter has been something that has been keeping me together for the past couple of months so I want to give back to the community that has accepted me for who I am. Thank you so much and hope to hear from you soon, DFTBA
Kyle
I am a very recent subscriber to your youtube channel, but I have considered myself a nerdfighter for quite awhile now. This year, at the climax of my entrance into nerdfighteria, I made it my goal to purchase at least one of your amazing books.
So, for my birthday, my parents let me loose in Barnes & Noble to pick out books until they said stop. I ended up picking about twenty books, but my parents said that 15 was enough. So, after a long and painful decision, I decided to put back my copy of Looking for Alaska…
I am very sorry about this unfortunate occurrence, and I assure you that your books are at the top of my next book-shopping list!
Well, thank you for being awesome.
Don’t forget to continue it.
Sincerely yours in Nerdfighteria,
Jeremy A. Jackson
So, there’s this online store in Scandinavia on which I ordered an astrology book,
and I have come to the conclusion that I am the only one that’s ever bought it there.
The reason is that on the product’s page there is, as always, a suggestion bar (“people who have bought this product have also bought…”) with three books.
All three books are mine, one of them being Let It Snow, with only space for John Green as the name of the author.
This makes me smile, and no offense to the writer of the astrology book,
but I hope John Green’s name stays there for some time.
Ok im so confused about this is not Tom. How doni understand the story is there like an instruction guide? what do I do?
Hey John,
I am currently reading “Looking For Alaska”- which is terribly sad but so entrancing- and am adoring it! I, among other things, aspire to be a writer, and your writing is phenonmenal and inspiring! I had been waiting for months to read “Looking For Alaska” and finally I got it for my birthday and can’t put it down. I am so excited to read “Paper Towns” next! Thank you!
Love,
September
Here’s the thing. I want to get a book for my nephew in law’s 14th b’day. He’s read only kinda stock childish adventure books till now, but trust me, he needs a life-changing book to spark his entry into the age of epiphanies. But here’s the other thing, he only reads Spanish and Catalan, and the only JG book in Spanish is “Buscando Alaska” at a ridiculously high price. So, pls pass this on to whoever could be in charge of translations at the publisher: There are a lotta of potential nerd fighters who read the THIRD MOST SPOKEN language in world.
Until then, I’ll settle for “The Hunger Games,” unless you got a better suggestion.
you explain what lives inside of me. thank you.
please write more.
Looking For Alaska changed my whole perspective on life. It has inspired me to go after the “Great Perhaps” and do something wonderful with my life. Thank you for writing this book and I look forward to reading your books in the future!
Dear John,
I, a fellow nerdfighter, crave your advice. There isn’t really anything to do, but encouragement would be nice. You see, I have the two greatest friends in the whole entire universe, and they are both thin and so confident and smart and beautiful. Though I belive I am a bit of these too (well, not thin), I wish to be more confident and radiant. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not angry or jealous, I just wish for confidence. Any words?
Love,
September
I just finished reading An Abundance of Katherines and OH MY GOD THANK YOU FOR WRITING THIS BOOK! For the last couple months I’ve just been feeling so out of it and this really gave me the perspective I needed. So yea thank you so much for being incredibly awesome and I can’t wait to read The Fault in Our Stars. Pre-ordered my copy weeks ago. (I’m hoping for a Hanklerfish) Oh and while I’m here, please come to Penn State on your tour. There’s even a nerdfighter club here and we’d be so excited to be able to talk to you guys. Again thank you so much for writing these incredible books. They mean so much to me :)
Why have you closed your Youtube account. Word had only just reached the local supporters of your “Beloved Swindon Town” of your Fifa Antics! We flocked to watch the videos to find the account closed… :o
Just wanted to let you know: you rock.
Dear mr Green. Sorry for my english, I’m 16 and from germany.
I wanted to say something to you. Your books, especially “Looking for Alaska” are the most beautiful, profound and extraordinary youth books, that I ever known. Alaska is such a genius Charakter with so much feelings. I love, love, love this book and I could read it endless times.
I’m missing the right words for saying, what’s this book worth to me but I hope, You understand.
Thank you!
P.S: I’m really waiting for your next novel. Many greetings, Henrike.
i’ve been trying to find your books available for purchase all over Croatia and i realised that the quest is hopeless because there aren’t any here, i really hope that that will change in the near future because i know literally a million people who would buy each and every one of your books if they had a chance. you are the best and i love your books and videos and all the contibution to increase the awesome and prevent world suck!!! :D
Hey John!
So I obsessively watch vlogbrothers and have read all your books. You’re amazing, just saying. Actually though, you’ve inspired me to write books on my own and have helped me decide on a career path. I really want to be an English teacher and write books as well! Is there any insight you can provide on how to even begin writing? I’ve got loads of ideas, but I’m not quite sure how to formulate them. I know you’re busy so it’s cool if you dont respond, but I hope you do!
-Liz
Dear John,
I wont deny that I’ve only recently stepped out of my box which was hid under a rock for the past… almost two decades. Watching your videos has taught me much about the universe of nerd fighters, who i find very easy to relate to, more or less. (lots of stuff here i deleted) Thank you for sharing.
All the best.
Kai-nan
cheesy way to get a free book cover, Penguin…?
http://antispec.com/hq/penguin
So, I’m an English major. We were talking about writing our essays, and the importance of titles, and all I can think about is your difficulties with titles. Yes, titles are indeed difficult.
http://failblog.org/2011/11/18/epic-fail-win-doing-your-part-saving-one-reader-at-a-time/
I saw this picture, John, of a note obviously left by a nerdfighter somewhere very appropriate in aiding the battle against world suck :)
Dear John,
Please, please, please write another book. The teenagers of the world are just about ready to jump out of their skin waiting for another book as amazing as yours. Trust me I’ve tried reading other books… nothing compares! Nothing even comes close! Please John, for the sake of all the teenagers out there with a bad case of teenage angst. Write another book. I miss them.
Love always,
Emma F.
Dear John,
We live in Collegeville, PA, which is near Philadelphia. We noticed you are not coming there;o( You are an inspiration for my daughters and they want to come to one of your book signings. We are going to travel to Bethesda. Do we have to purchase another set of books in order to participate at the Bethesda event? Also, if my wife and I accompany my daughters to the event, do we also have to purchase a book and tickets?
Hello John!
Oh my we love your books! Honestly, you are our favourite author. Next to JK Rowling. Cause we love Harry Potter. But Looking For Alaska is right up there beside it!
Just thank you! And keep writing – never stop uploading videos!
And come to Ireland please at least one time in your life.
Or if you’ve already been, come again. Go to waterstones in Belfast!
LOVE YOU!
DFTBA ;)
really… YOU ARE AWESOME!!!! I’M YOUR BIGGEST MEXICAN FAN, I HAVEN’T READ YOUR BOOKS YET, BUT I THINK THEY ARE THE BEST ‘CAUSE THE WAY I SEE YOUR PERSONALITY IT’S AMAZING!! God gave a nice gift keep being you :)
by the way.. if you have time.. and if you want.. PLEASE FOLLOW ME! -twitter-samsalazar, is one of the things I most want! to follow me!
Hey John,
I just thought I’d let you know that I just received my copy of The Fault in Our Stars. I ordered it through Barnes and Noble’s website, and I’m not sure if this is a glitch with them or what, but I’m stoked!
DFTBA
-Arthur
Dear John,
I read Looking for Alaska. It was by far the most moving book I have ever read. I loaned it to a “friend” and she promptly lost it. I expressed to my father the importance of buying me a new copy and he said I needed to stop pleasure reading and focus more on my chemistry textbook. My response? “I don’t think you understand daddy, in John Green’s books I actually LEARN things.”
Thank you for touching people’s hearts with the written word.
-Valerie
hi john,
we received about 1000 of your “the fault in our stars” cd audiobook discs from disc makers. we were hoping to open the box and see our dvds “concrete connectors”…a surf/skate movie we just made, but it looks like a big mess up.
please contact us or disc makers
thanks.
First off, i obviously am a HUGE fan of your work, but i have a question. Do you think it would be okay if i performed an excerpt from the first two chapters of The Fault in Our Stars at a Forensic Speech competition in january? i dont know if it will be a problem because it will be before the book is released. Please let me know soon, i think it would make a really captivating piece. Your ability to capture the voice of young people, making it both hilariously funny and devestatingly real, is absolutely stunning. Your books always captivate my mind for months after i’ve finished them. Your videos are the highlight of many of my days. Keep up the fantastic work, and DFTBA!!
-Mel <3
Hey John, I was just wondering if the paperback copies of TFiOS being released in Australia will be signed also?
Thank you.
–Mitch
Hello John! Congratulations on the release of TFiOS!
Hello John,
I have been a long time supporter of vlogbrothers and I pre-ordered your new book a while back on amazon and i still have not recieved it! Plese HELP!
Dear John Green,
I would like to share with you an amazing coincidence. Your new book, The Fault in our Stars, has arrived to me on my sixteenth birthday. I would als0 like to share with you that I got it before my twin sister, who is still at school working on math. In this case, I have claimed the book as mine.
Thank you for the birthday gift,
Carrie.
Mr. Green,
I don’t normally write fan-mail to author’s, because I am not great with words, and it is vaguely intimidating to try to manipulate them in a way that does not sound completely foolish to someone who manipulates them for a living. But, I also believe that when someone does something good, something that moves you, you should let them know – and that sometimes the sentiment shines through.
I was convinced to buy your book, The Fault in Our Stars, by both a glowing recommendation from a friend whose taste I trust completely, and by the enjoyment I got reading An Abundance of Katherines. I was vaguely reluctant for two reasons, the first that I am deeply offended by any book that costs more for Kindle than for print. The second that there was no way a book about a terminal girl would not break my heart, and it is my general life philosophy that one should never be sad on purpose.
I started reading the book tonight, and I was going to read a chapter, maybe two before I went to bed. By the end of the first chapter I knew I would not sleep before I finished the book. By the end of the book I knew I would not sleep before I typed this to you.
You mention in the book that there are some books that inspire an evangelical fervor, but that there are others that are too sacred to share. I just want you to know that, for at least one person, you have written one of those books. I am torn between wanting to share it with every one I have ever met and wanting to hold it close for fear that others will not love it as much as I do.
And I guess that is all I wanted to say. That and:
Thank you for creating something as beautiful as that book, and it was an honor to have my heart broken by you.
Thank you for writing The Fault in Our Stars. I read it in one sitting and cried the whole time, but I loved every single word. It is the sort of book that makes people love books.
I just wanted to take this opportunity to tell you that whilst reading about the ghettoization of eggs I was eating a ham and egg sandwich at 3:00 in the afternoon.
Also, thanks for great books, great videos and great things for the world.
casimar pulaski day by sufjan stevens was meant to be the soundtrack for the fault in our stars. i could barely listen to it before without getting emotional and NOW…
Just one thing… John, it seems weird to me that I i know you at least reasonably well yet you don’t and will never know me… You seem to me, the nicest most genuine person i’ll never know.
My two girls very much enjoyed meeting you and Hank at the book signing tonight. I haven’t read any of the books but i will be reading them now. Thank you for writing on subjects that touch our youth and make them think (I have seen the emotional reactions in my girls during reading your books)
Hey John,
I just finished The Fault in our Stars. I cried the best kind of tears. Thank you for sharing such beautiful stories with the world. The sadness of loss I felt while reading was a personal reminder that there is so much in this world to love. (hmm… sounds like an encouragement) I wish I had better words to show you how much the book meant to me but alas, like Gus, “I’m a good person but a shitty writer”
John Green’s The Faut in our Stars is SUCH A GREAT BOOK!!!!!! (ok girly moment here but i wouldn’t mind finding love like that!!!!) also everybody should read all his books! MY Fav of his is LOOKING FOR ALASKA!!!!
I don’t know if the actual John Green really reads any of these comments but I just have to say this to him. I’ve just finished the book “The Fault in Our Stars” and I am in love with it. I don’t think I’ve ever read a book that meant so much to me before. It is one of a kind. Half the time while I was reading it I was either laughing or crying. I’m not the emotional type person but this book really hit something. I just felt the need to let you know that you should never stop writing. Please I beg of you, do not become a Peter Van Houten.
Dear John Green, The Fault in our Stars was by far not only one of the most well-written books i have ever read, but also one of the most emotion provoking. I’m literally crying i’m laughing so hard one page and balling from the love and lost on the next.
Trust me when I say the tears never get a chance to dry. I hope everyone gets a chance to experience this feeling.
That being said I must disclaim: I recommend this book to everyone. But caution; it will truly break your heart, I know it broke mine.
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