Vlogbrothers videos of each brother reading the first chapter of his new book (2008)
project history · status: running · last event: milestone (2026-08-11)
Since John read the first chapter of Paper Towns in 2008, each brother reads the first chapter of his new book in a Vlogbrothers video before it comes out. The tradition continued with The Anthropocene Reviewed in 2021, Everything Is Tuberculosis in 2025 and Hollywood, Ending in 2026.
Began with
John: finish reading the Paper Towns first-chapter flashback on Friday (2007) — On 2007-09-12 John reads to Hank from the first chapter of his new book Paper Towns before it comes out, which is the start of the first-chapter-reading tradition that later videos date to Paper Towns
Told alongside: The Anthropocene Reviewed book: announcement and publication (2020) · John asks viewers in the US and Canada to pre-order signed copies of Hollywood, Ending (2026)
About: Paper Towns, The Anthropocene Reviewed (book), Hollywood, Ending
| date | event | what | video |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-05-04 | first in the videos (looked back; it began earlier) | Since 2008, whenever either brother has a book out, the author reads its first chapter in a Vlogbrothers video; this continues soon with an animated video of The Anthropocene Reviewed's opening. | What the Most-Viewed Vlogbrothers Videos Say about YouTube (and about us) 00:03:24 |
| 2021-05-25 | milestone | The video continues a tradition from 2008, when John read Paper Towns' first chapter; the brothers have since read first chapters of seven books; for this one John and Rosianna asked Meitar Almog to make art. | The Anthropocene Reviewed, Animated video description |
| 2025-02-25 | milestone | John says reading a new book's first chapter is a Vlogbrothers tradition since he read Paper Towns' first chapter in 2008; both brothers have done it since. | EVERYTHING IS TUBERCULOSIS 00:09:27 |
| 2026-08-11 | milestone | John says reading a new book's first chapter is a tradition going back to 2008, when he read the first chapter of Paper Towns before it came out. | Hollywood, Ending 00:06:46 |
What is said about it
1 statement, by date (the events above are the turns of the thread; these are the details).
- 2026-08-11 · Hollywood, Ending — announcement: The description says John reads the first chapter of Hollywood, Ending, out everywhere September 22, the eighth part of a series since 2008 in which the brothers read first chapters. — video description