Jon Krakauer, born April 12, 1954, is a prominent American writer and mountaineer. He has authored bestselling non-fiction books such as Into the Wild, Into Thin Air, Under the Banner of Heaven, and Where Men Win Glory: The Odyssey of Pat Tillman, in addition to numerous magazine articles. Krakauer's literary journey took him from the rugged terrains of mountains to the intricate world of investigative journalism. His foray into writing was preceded by a diverse tenure as a carpenter and commercial salmon fisherman in Alaska, after graduating from Hampshire College in 1976.

Krakauer's involvement in an ill-fated expedition to summit Mount Everest in 1996 became one of the deadliest disasters in the history of climbing Everest. This experience, among others, has deeply influenced his writing and outlook. His work has been published by esteemed outlets such as National Geographic, Rolling Stone, Smithsonian, The New Yorker, The Washington Post, and The New York Times. In 1999, he received an Academy Award in Literature from the American Academy of Arts and Letters, a testament to his blending of investigative journalism's tenacity with the insightful subtlety of a born writer.

Following the 1996 Everest tragedy, Krakauer engaged with the American Himalayan Foundation, serving as the board chair, in a heartfelt attempt to repay his personal debt to the courageous Sherpas who greatly aided him and other survivors of that calamity.