Eric Hoffer was an American philosopher and social critic born in New York City in 1902. He came from an atypical working-class background and maintained moderate views throughout his career. Over his lifetime, Hoffer wrote ten books that explored social and political phenomena. Hoffer's first book, The True Believer, published in 1951, became his most recognized work. The book received critical acclaim from both scholars and the general public and is widely regarded as a classic in its field. Despite this success, Hoffer himself believed that his later work, The Ordeal of Change (1963), represented his finest achievement. In recognition of his contributions to American thought and letters, Hoffer was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in February 1983. He died in San Francisco in May of that year. His legacy continues through the Eric Hoffer Book Award, an international literary prize established in his honor, and through an annual literary prize awarded by the University of California, Berkeley.