One fateful day, the Instagram algorithm blessed Katherine’s phone with a short video announcing John Green’s book tour. We immediately knew that we had to go, no matter the distance. Luckily, the distance only ended up being to Hillsdale High School in San Mateo. Two months after we bought tickets, we were on our way to see John Green live on his Everything is Tuberculosis book tour.
We will admit that initially, we weren’t sure if we would enjoy the book. It’s a nonfiction story focused on the history and science of a disease about which we know very little. However, listening to Green speak, we realized that he pieces together words in a way that completely captivates the audience, even when he writes on an unfamiliar subject.
Alongside our ticket, we received a signed copy of Everything is Tuberculosis included with the experience. Not to mention, we had the opportunity to purchase signed copies of most of John Green’s books at the event and were able to support Kepler’s, the local bookstore in Menlo Park that supplied the books. We were both ecstatic to purchase a signed copy of The Anthropocene Reviewed, our all-time favorite John Green book.
Right before Green stepped on stage, a video was projected onto the screen, displaying the following: “Inequality is tuberculosis. Capitalism is tuberculosis. History is tuberculosis. Imperialism is tuberculosis.” The words faded away, replaced by one single statement: “Everything is tuberculosis.” The video ended on an impactful note, exemplifying Green’s constant fight for tuberculosis awareness and treatment access, “And when everything is tuberculosis… Everyone has a chance to help.”
Towards the beginning of the event, Green read an excerpt from his book, detailing his visit to Lakka Government Hospital in Sierra Leone and meeting Henry, a sick teenager, for the first time. He contrasted Henry’s warm, friendly personality with the cold reality that he, a mere 17-year-old, was malnourished, severely ill, and the size of Green’s nine-year-old son, also named Henry.
After that 2019 visit to Lakka, Green became an outspoken advocate for increasing access to tuberculosis treatment and raising awareness of the inequities in the global healthcare system. In 2023, he spoke at the United Nations High-Level Meeting on the Fight Against Tuberculosis. He asked that the cure to the world’s deadliest disease be delivered to the areas of the world that most need it, rather than prioritizing the profit of pharmaceutical enterprises. Having followed Green’s social media pages for several years, we’ve seen his videos on tuberculosis pop up on our feeds countless times. It never ceases to inspire us that Green has taken his platform as a famous author, content creator, and historian and used it to inform and create change.
Green had a conversation with the incredible Jessica Malaty Rivera, an infectious disease epidemiologist. Rivera was named one of the world’s fifty greatest leaders in 2021 and specializes in public health and promoting equity within the healthcare system. Rivera asked Green questions submitted by the audience, ranging from seemingly simple questions such as “why is Green’s dog named Potato?” to deep, thought-provoking ones like “how should parents explain the inequities of the world to their children?” She primarily talked about her own experience with reading the book and holding out hope for Henry. The two went over the disparities in medication support faced by developing countries for tuberculosis. Moreover, tuberculosis is a preventable and treatable infection if assisted with the proper medication. However, millions have died and are in critical condition because of the lack of medication. Despite the ominous tone of the evening, Green left us with a message of hope as we sang to the tune of Auld Lang Syne with the simple phrase “we’re here because we’re here.”
Walking back to our car after the event, we were struck by the truth, despair, and hope we found in Green’s words (and a very strong sense of excitement for the upcoming Bonchon we ordered). Most people take for granted one of the most basic functions of human life—breathing—when there are people who can’t do the same because they suffer from a treatable, preventable disease. Yes, our existence and inaction can feel hopeless at times, but at the same time, we have the power to educate and impact others. From his speech at the UN to a book tour educating and impacting thousands of people, John Green stands out as a perfect example of how figures in the entertainment industry can use their platforms to enact real change.
