John Michael Green, born in 1977, is an American author and YouTuber whose work has significantly impacted young adult literature. His books, including the best-selling "The Fault in Our Stars," have sold over 50 million copies worldwide. Green's career began with his debut novel "Looking for Alaska" (2005), which earned the Michael L. Printz Award. He co-founded the popular YouTube channel Vlogbrothers with his brother Hank in 2007, fostering a community known as Nerdfighteria and initiatives like Project for Awesome. His writing often delves into adolescent experiences, grappling with themes of identity, love, and loss. Later works, such as "Turtles All the Way Down" (2017) and "The Anthropocene Reviewed" (2021), more directly address his personal struggles with anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder, with the latter originating as a podcast before being adapted into a non-fiction book. Green has also become a prominent advocate for global health causes, serving as a trustee for Partners In Health. His literary output continues with upcoming adult novels and non-fiction works.

Born in Indianapolis in 1977, John Green's childhood included moves to Michigan, Alabama, and Florida. He attended boarding school in Alabama, where he developed friendships that would later influence his life and career. Green has spoken about experiencing a happy childhood but also personal struggles with severe anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder, as well as bullying in high school. He attended Kenyon College, graduating with degrees in English and religious studies. Following college, he spent time as a student chaplain at a children's hospital, an experience that profoundly affected him and contributed to his decision to become a writer, particularly inspiring parts of "The Fault in Our Stars."

Green's professional writing career started in 2001 at Booklist magazine, where he reviewed numerous books and wrote radio essays. His first novel, "Looking for Alaska," published in 2005, was a coming-of-age story inspired partly by his boarding school experiences. Despite modest initial sales, the novel received the prestigious Michael L. Printz Award, significantly boosting its popularity and leading Green to leave his job at Booklist. His second novel, "An Abundance of Katherines" (2006), offered a more comedic tone. His work often explores teenage life and relationships, with "The Fault in Our Stars" (2012) becoming a massive critical and commercial success, solidifying his reputation and leading to numerous adaptations.

In 2007, John Green, along with his brother Hank, launched the Vlogbrothers YouTube channel, which quickly cultivated a dedicated online community known as Nerdfighteria. This platform led to various projects, including the annual fundraiser Project for Awesome and VidCon, a conference for online video creators. Green's involvement in online video extended to educational channels like Crash Course. His later works, such as "Turtles All the Way Down" and "The Anthropocene Reviewed," have explored his personal mental health challenges with greater depth. He was recognized by Time magazine as one of the 100 most influential people in 2014.

Beyond his literary and online endeavors, John Green has become a notable advocate for global health initiatives. He serves as a trustee for Partners In Health, actively supporting efforts to reduce maternal mortality, particularly in Sierra Leone, and contributing to the fight against tuberculosis worldwide. His exploration of personal struggles with anxiety and OCD has informed his more recent writing, including "The Anthropocene Reviewed," which began as a podcast. Green is also slated to release his first adult novel, "Hollywood, Ending," in 2026, indicating a continued evolution in his writing career.

“"I saw that real people like Ilene wrote books; they weren't written in ivory towers."”

“"In a publishing world that maybe doesn't have as many long-term relationships as it used to, she invested a lot of time in me before I ever earned a profit. I've never written a book without Julie. I wouldn't know how to do it."”

“"probably the purest moment of joy I've experienced. Even when my children were born it wasn't as raw and surprising."”

“"although he had a happy childhood, [...] he was not always a happy child."”