Eckhart Tolle is one of the most successful spiritual teachers and self-help authors of the 21st century. Born in Lünen, Germany, in 1948, Tolle was primarily homeschooled as a child; he later spent time studying at the University of London and University of Cambridge. At age 29, he was suffering through an extreme bout of depression and anxiety when he experienced a transformative spiritual awakening. His new perspective on life — that we can find peace through living in the present — became the foundation of his teachings.

In 1997, Tolle released his first book, The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment. The seminal self-help guide became an international bestseller after Oprah Winfrey plugged the book on her talk show; his follow-up, A New Earth (2005), saw similar soaring sales after Winfrey featured it in her influential book club. Despite this enormous success, his publisher has said that Tolle practices the detachment from ego that he preaches, taking no interest in the business of his blockbuster books. Tolle lives in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.