Alan W Watts (1915-1973) was a British-American philosopher, writer, and speaker, best known as an interpreter and popularizer of Eastern philosophy for a Western audience. He wrote more than 25 books and numerous articles on topics such as personal identity, the true nature of reality, and the pursuit of happiness. He also held a number of influential academic positions, including professor of philosophy at the University of Chicago and the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London. Watts was a major influence on the American counterculture of the 1960s and his lectures and writings continue to be widely read and influential today.