Jostein Gaarder is a Norwegian intellectual and author, born on August 8, 1952. He is renowned for writing several novels, short stories, and children's books. Gaarder frequently writes from a child's perspective, delving into their sense of wonder about the world. His literary works often incorporate metafiction, crafting stories within stories.

His most acclaimed work is the novel Sophie's World: A Novel About the History of Philosophy (1991), which has been translated into 60 languages, with over 40 million copies in print. This novel explores the history of philosophy in an accessible manner, engaging readers of all ages.

In 1997, Gaarder founded the Sophie Prize with his wife, Siri Dannevig. This international prize, valued at USD 100,000, recognizes efforts in environmental and developmental fields.