Ram Dass, born in Boston in 1931, was an American spiritual teacher, psychologist, and writer who became influential in bringing Eastern spirituality and yoga to Western audiences. His best-selling 1971 book Be Here Now is widely regarded as seminal in this movement and remains his most recognized work. Beyond Be Here Now, Ram Dass authored or co-authored twelve additional books on spirituality spanning four decades. Notable titles include Grist for the Mill (1977), How Can I Help? (1985), and Polishing the Mirror (2013). Through his writing and teaching, he established himself as a significant figure in modern yoga and spiritual practice. Ram Dass spent his later years in Hawaii and passed away in Maui in 2019 at the age of 88.