John Green explains the story behind his latest book

John Green's new book Everything Is Tuberculosis officially has a release date -- and the author shared a little more about the story behind the book in his latest Vlogbrothers video.

The book is a nonfiction story and history about the impact of tuberculosis on the world over time, and how it is still an issue that needs to be addressed around the world. Green notes in the video that he, too, once thought TB was something people don't get anymore -- but it's very much still a highly prevalent and infectious disease.

The premise for the book emerged about five years ago when Green took a trip to Sierra Leone. As an advocate for global healthcare reform, Green works with charities to help fund initiatives to save and improve lives, and traveled to West Africa as part of this work. There he visited a tuberculosis hospital, where he met a boy that happened to share the same name as Green's son, Henry.

This encounter sprouted an interest and curiosity Green could not ignore. His obsession with TB led him to learn all he could about it, and thus, a desire to share Henry's story as a way to educate more people about what remains the deadliest infectious disease on Earth.

What struck Green the most about TB is that it's completely both curable and preventable. Yet it's still a widespread problem impacting millions. He began to ask questions about why we live in a world where curable and preventable diseases aren't being cured or prevented everywhere -- questions his book further explores.

He says the book is different from his young adult novels, yet it shares similar themes of hope and humanity and what happens when people do, or don't, come together to help one another. It's available for pre-order now, and releases on March 18, 2025.