Anne Lamott is a novelist and writer of non-fiction born in San Francisco in 1954. She is a graduate of Drew College Preparatory School in San Francisco, California. She wrote for the newspaper at Goucher College for the two years she attended. Her first novel, Hard Laughter, was written for her father after he was diagnosed with brain cancer. Her father, Kenneth Lamott, was also a writer and was the basis of this novel.

Lamott is known for her autobiographical non-fiction works that incorporate self-deprecating humor and openness. She draws on her own life and experiences, covering topics such as alcoholism, depression, being a single mother, Christianity, and the intersection between them. Her writing is marked by particularism, a term coined by Howard Freeman.

Besides being an author, she is a progressive political activist, public speaker, and writing teacher. She appeals to her fans because of her sense of humor, deeply felt insights, and outspoken views on topics such as her left-of-center politics and her unconventional Christian faith. Her life is documented in Freida Lee Mock's 1999 documentary Bird by Bird: A Film Portrait.