Book Review: John Green is obsessed with tuberculosis. He makes a strong case that we should be, too
Because, in true John Green fashion, there's a footnote on the copyright page explaining the reasoning behind the font choice for his newest book, 'Everything is Tuberculosis.' (Spoiler: The reason for the font is tuberculosis. Everything is.)
Early on, Green establishes that the tuberculosis is the top killer of humans among infectious diseases — a longstanding status quo only briefly disrupted by COVID-19. The slow-moving TB infected over 8 million people in one year and killed about 1.25 million, according to a recent World Health Organization report.
Yet, as Green shows throughout the book, TB is curable and even preventable.
The text seamlessly moves through related topics, from TB's effects on history and fashion to the socioeconomic inequities that perpetuate the disease, and even the romanticization of an illness that, for a period, was associated with soulful poets and delicate feminine beauty.
But this synopsis will seem bone-dry compared to the actual text, because the real magic of Green's writing is the deeply considerate, human touch that goes into every word. He uses the stories of real people to turn overwhelming problems into something personal and understandable. 'We can do and be so much for each other — but only when we see one another in our full humanity,' Green writes.
'Everything is Tuberculosis' is reflective and earnest, with a few black-and-white pictures to illustrate a point or put a face to a name. Little nuggets of personalization consistently bring us back to our shared humanity, even in footnotes.
When considering 'patient noncompliance,' Green discloses his own diagnoses and wrestling with taking prescriptions. This compared with patients in Sierra Leone who, unlike Green, often struggle to get to the clinic to obtain their medication, or can't afford enough food to take it without getting sick. On the other hand, some of their struggles are the same, side effects from pills and stigma around illnesses being some of the most common reasons patients might diverge from their prescribed course of medication, regardless of access.
As one might expect from Green, the book is weirdly touching and super quotable. 'Everything is Tuberculosis' is rich with callbacks that help underscore ideas, wit and humor that foster learning even alongside more somber bits.
Green offers many reasons why he became obsessed with TB, but none brought tears to my eyes so unexpectedly like the stunningly apt metaphor comparing writing to the pool game 'Marco Polo.' The explanation references TB activist Shreya Tripathi, who had to sue the Indian government to get the medication that would have saved her if it hadn't taken so long to get ahold of it.
Despite the death and harsh realities, it is a hopeful book overall.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
San Francisco Chronicle
15 hours ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Southern China hit by outbreak of mosquito-borne infection chikungunya
China is experiencing an outbreak of chikungunya, a mosquito-borne infection, with thousands of cases reported in the south. Chikungunya fever cases jumped to 4,014 on Friday, representing a rapid rise in numbers since authorities started tracking cases two weeks ago, according to public records released by health departments in districts in Foshan. The city in China's southern province Guangdong has been heavily impacted by the surge in infections. The chikungunya outbreak remains 'quite severe,' Sun Yang, deputy director of the National Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said at a news conference on Wednesday in Foshan. Chikungunya is spread to people by the bites of infected mosquitoes. It causes fever and severe joint pain, but deaths are rare, according to the World Health Organization. The Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention has issued various advisories on how to prevent chikungunya fever and dengue fever, a similar disease also spread by mosquitoes. Physical protection barriers, such as screen doors, mosquito nets for beds and mosquito repellent on exposed skin, was recommended. It said that the epidemic was 'imported' without specifying from where. The Chinese agency also called for people who have symptoms like fever, rash and joint pain to see a doctor. Shunde district in Foshan, where 90% of the cases are located, is famous for its Cantonese food, and sees many visitors each year. Patients who tested positive for chikungunya fever stayed in hospital beds covered by mosquito nets, according to photos shown on state-run broadcaster CCTV. Local media reports said on Thursday that local authorities had almost doubled the number of mosquito-proof isolation beds to 7,220 to meet the growing demand. Authorities in Guangdong are urging residents to make sure there's no standing water in their homes, such as in flowerpots, coffee machines or spare bottles. The Health Commission in Foshan stated on Thursday that a fine of up to 10,000 yuan ($1,400) could be applied if violations are found. The Beijing CDC said on Tuesday that the city occasionally experiences imported cases of chikungunya fever. There are two chikungunya vaccines that have received regulatory approvals in several countries and/or have been recommended for use in populations at risk, but the vaccines are neither widely available nor in widespread use, according to WHO.
Hamilton Spectator
15 hours ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Southern China hit by outbreak of mosquito-borne infection chikungunya
China is experiencing an outbreak of chikungunya, a mosquito-borne infection, with thousands of cases reported in the south. Chikungunya fever cases jumped to 4,014 on Friday, representing a rapid rise in numbers since authorities started tracking cases two weeks ago, according to public records released by health departments in districts in Foshan. The city in China's southern province Guangdong has been heavily impacted by the surge in infections. The chikungunya outbreak remains 'quite severe,' Sun Yang, deputy director of the National Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said at a news conference on Wednesday in Foshan. Chikungunya is spread to people by the bites of infected mosquitoes. It causes fever and severe joint pain, but deaths are rare, according to the World Health Organization. The Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention has issued various advisories on how to prevent chikungunya fever and dengue fever, a similar disease also spread by mosquitoes. Physical protection barriers, such as screen doors, mosquito nets for beds and mosquito repellent on exposed skin, was recommended. It said that the epidemic was 'imported' without specifying from where. The Chinese agency also called for people who have symptoms like fever, rash and joint pain to see a doctor. Shunde district in Foshan, where 90% of the cases are located, is famous for its Cantonese food, and sees many visitors each year. Patients who tested positive for chikungunya fever stayed in hospital beds covered by mosquito nets, according to photos shown on state-run broadcaster CCTV. Local media reports said on Thursday that local authorities had almost doubled the number of mosquito-proof isolation beds to 7,220 to meet the growing demand. Authorities in Guangdong are urging residents to make sure there's no standing water in their homes, such as in flowerpots, coffee machines or spare bottles. The Health Commission in Foshan stated on Thursday that a fine of up to 10,000 yuan ($1,400) could be applied if violations are found. The Beijing CDC said on Tuesday that the city occasionally experiences imported cases of chikungunya fever. There are two chikungunya vaccines that have received regulatory approvals in several countries and/or have been recommended for use in populations at risk, but the vaccines are neither widely available nor in widespread use, according to WHO. China had its first chikungunya spike in 2010 with 253 cases in Dongguan, a nearby city in the same province, according to the Guangdong provincial CDC. Several cases were found in years since then, but they weren't widespread. The country's first case was imported in 1987, according to research papers and media reports.
Medscape
19 hours ago
- Medscape
Here's How Greece Is Tackling Its Childhood Obesity Epidemic
The Mediterranean diet is rich in whole foods and healthy fats, including vegetables, fruits, whole grains, nuts, fish, and olive oil. It has numerous health benefits largely centered around heart health, weight management, and cognitive function and is associated with a lower incidence of childhood obesity. Despite this, Greece now has one of Europe's highest rates of childhood obesity. In 2019, the Hellenic Statistical Authority found that 37.5% of children aged 2-14 years were overweight or obese. In 2022, the World Health Organization's (WHO's) European Regional Obesity Report ranked Greece among the top positions in Europe for childhood overweight and obesity: third among children younger than 5 years (1 in 8), second among those aged 5-9 years (38.5%), and first among those aged 10-19 years (32%). So what has gone wrong? Shifting Diet and Lifestyle Clinical dietician and nutritionist Eleni Pavlidou, PhD, who specializes in obesity and eating disorders, said that lifestyle and cultural shifts have ultimately led to the 'gradual loss of connection with the Mediterranean way of eating.' Eleni Pavlidou, PhD Her recent research found that more than 40% of 5188 preschool children had low compliance to the Mediterranean diet, with traditional diets increasingly replaced by ultraprocessed foods. Another recent study found that ultraprocessed foods accounted for 39.8% of the total daily calorie intake of 443 Greek children with an average age of 9 years. 'Children are increasingly consuming snacks high in sugar, saturated fat, and salt….Many families don't have the time or energy for traditional cooking, and convenience foods are everywhere, and they're heavily marketed to children,' she told Medscape Medical News . 'At the same time, economic pressures have made some families rely on cheaper processed foods that are energy-dense but nutrient-poor.' This, she said, was coupled with a major cultural shift: fewer shared family meals, less cooking at home, and less emphasis on seasonal, local ingredients. Greece's Alternative (Deputy) Minister of Health, Eirini Agapidaki, MSc, agreed. Eirini Agapidaki, MSc 'The community-centered everyday life that was the main societal model for decades in Greece has altered to a more parallel living model,' she told Medscape Medical News . 'Citizens live in the same building but have never met. Children coexist in the schoolroom but do not share a feeling of belonging to the school community. Healthy nutrition is not just about individual dietary choices but building social relationships.' Action Against Childhood Obesity In 2023, the Greek Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), launched a national action plan to reduce the childhood obesity rate to 24.5% by the end of 2025. It aimed to do this by implementing targeted interventions in schools, at health services, and in the wider community, while simultaneously trying to change the environment that leads to obesity. The initiative has included, among other interventions, integrating nutritional education programs into school curricula, healthy cooking lessons, and physical activity opportunities in the community. It has also involved free, early screening for obesity and online dietician sessions supported by psychologists, pediatricians, endocrinologists, and physical activity educators. 'A family can attend 12 online sessions over a period of 6 months, making this service fully accessible to people living in remote areas,' Agapidaki said. 'Families receive personalized guidance to improve their daily habits, as well as a tailored plan considering the needs of each child and family.' As part of this, UNICEF child protection specialist responsible for coordinating the initiative, Antigoni Angelaki, MA, explained that pediatricians have been guided on how best to support a family's nutrition. Resources have been developed in collaboration with experts on behaviors that help prevent childhood obesity. These are being disseminated through a network of universities set up across the country, she told Medscape Medical News . Greece has one of the highest child obesity rates in Europe, largely due to a shift away from the Mediterranean diet. But equally important to addressing what children eat is providing them ample opportunity to partake in physical activity, she added. 'It's not just the diet that children follow, but it's also about how much opportunity they have for physical activity,' she said. Angelaki explained that this is the first program at the European level that has looked at all the different drivers of obesity. 'This program is looking at how we can reform the reality on the ground. Perhaps we can increase the number of physical activity hours done at school or make schools accessible in the afternoons because many municipalities don't have spaces available for physical activity.' Pavlidou said this was crucial, as increased screen time, safety concerns, and a lack of public spaces have all contributed to the obesity epidemic. Changes to Legislation In 2010, the World Health Assembly adopted the WHO set of recommendations on the marketing of foods and nonalcoholic beverages to children, urging countries to reduce the impact of marketing of highly processed foods and beverages that are high in fat, sugar, and salt on kids. In 2022, the 'Greek Pledge,' a voluntary initiative where food and beverage companies commit to improving how they advertise to children younger than 13 years, was launched. It's unclear what impact this has had. Angelaki said UNICEF was reviewing current advertising legislation to identify gaps. One important step, Agapidaki said, is that Greece's National Nutrition Committee revised the legal framework on canteen guidelines to ensure they only provide nutritious snacks and meals. 'According to the latest national data available, we see that our approach is already having meaningful changes in children's behaviors, especially when parents are engaged,' she said. She did not offer additional data on obesity rates. Applying Lessons Learned More Broadly There are now hopes that the program will be expanded to other parts of Europe. 'Greece is no longer just trying to address the main factors contributing to childhood obesity — we are generating public health solutions that are also meaningful and efficient for other countries,' Angelaki said. 'Several countries have reached out to request guidance on replicating our program. We've been invited to share our tools and frameworks, especially around digital early detection, school and community integration, and whole-system governance.' Pavlidou welcomed new approaches to tackle the epidemic but warned 'We need more.' 'We need stronger policies on marketing to children, better food labeling, nutrition education schools, and greater support for families to access healthy options,' she said. 'Despite the challenges, I remain optimistic. The Mediterranean diet is not just a way of eating — it's a cultural heritage rooted in balance, seasonality, and community. If we invest in educating families, empowering children, and building healthier environments, we can absolutely reverse these trends.'
