Alan Lightman is an American physicist, writer, and social entrepreneur. He is best known for his 1993 novel Einstein's Dreams, which has been translated into 30 languages. Lightman is a professor of the Practice of the Humanities at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he teaches courses on science and literature. He is also the founder of the Harpswell Foundation, a non-profit organization that works to empower women in Southeast Asia. Lightman has written several books, including The Accidental Universe, The Diagnosis, and Mr g. He has also written essays and articles for The New Yorker, The Atlantic, and The New York Times. Lightman's work has been recognized with numerous awards, including the American Academy of Arts and Letters Award in Literature and the National Humanities Medal.