Khaled Hosseini is an Afghan-American novelist and physician. He is best known for his 2003 debut novel, The Kite Runner, which was an international bestseller and has been adapted into a feature film. His second novel, A Thousand Splendid Suns, was published in 2007 and also became an international bestseller. His third novel, And the Mountains Echoed, was published in 2013. Hosseini was born in Kabul, Afghanistan in 1965. He and his family moved to the United States in 1980, when he was 15 years old. He attended Santa Clara University and the University of California, San Diego, where he earned his medical degree. He practiced medicine for several years before becoming a full-time writer. Hosseini's novels are known for their vivid depictions of Afghan culture and history. His works have been translated into more than 70 languages and have sold over 38 million copies worldwide. He is also a Goodwill Envoy for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and has been involved in humanitarian efforts in Afghanistan since 2007.