Erie Reader Book Club: August 2026
Everything Is Tuberculosis by John Green
SUNDAY, AUG. 30
The Erie Reader Book Club will be reading and discussing Everything Is Tuberculosis by John Green in conjunction with the Erie Gives issue of the Reader.
The Erie Gives issue is a difficult one to pin down in terms of book club theme – there aren't too many fiction options relating to philanthropy, and many of the nonfiction options read more like textbooks rather than compelling stories (IYKYK). This year, we had to think outside the box in making our selection, but we feel it's a good one.
John Green's Everything Is Tuberculosis is, on the surface, a story about the disease and its continued prolific impact throughout the world, especially in impoverished areas. But a deeper dive reveals a narrative on not only tuberculosis as a disease, but also its cultural significance and the effects it has on a global level.
Despite being curable, tuberculosis remains the world's deadliest infectious disease, thanks to healthcare inequities internationally. Green's experience in driving narrative is evident as he shares these staggering facts alongside the story of Henry, a teenager in Sierra Leone who suffers from drug-resistant tuberculosis. Henry's story is one that, in a country like ours, is nearly incomprehensible, but is a reality for millions.
Green's choice to draw attention to these inequities and very real tragedies happening all over the world matches to the spirit of the Erie Gives issue – to support a community (whether local or global) by giving what we can: time, money, or even just word of mouth. Together, we can be a force for change.
1 p.m. // Werner Books and Coffee, 3608 Liberty St. // Free to join, cost of book not included // For more info: wernerbooks.com
