by John Green
First published 2025
John Green travels to Lakka Government Hospital in Sierra Leone in 2019, where he encounters Henry, a young tuberculosis patient with thin legs and an infectious grin. Their friendship sparks Green's deep dive into the global tuberculosis crisis. The disease kills 1.5 million people annually despite being both curable and treatable. Green weaves Henry's personal journey through treatment with the broader story of how tuberculosis became intertwined with human civilization. Once viewed as a romantic affliction of artists and writers, tuberculosis now follows paths of poverty and inequality. Green examines the scientific breakthroughs and social forces that have shaped our relationship with this ancient killer, while advocating for expanded treatment access and healthcare equity.
Genres: medical, social-issues, non-fiction, biography-memoir, health, history-of-medicine, 21st-century, africa
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: advocacy, true-story
Setting: Lakka Government Hospital, Sierra Leone
Period: 2019
198 pages · Hardcover · Crash Course Books