Mark Nepo, a distinguished poet and writer, is the author of The Book of Awakening (2000), a One Spirit Book Club selection, finalist for the 2000 Books for a Better Life Award, and one of Spirituality and Health magazine's Best Spiritual Books of 2000. His most recent book is The Exquisite Risk: Daring to Live an Authentic Life (2005) which Spirituality and Health magazine has cited as "one of the best books we've ever read on what it takes to live an authentic life." He is a program officer for the Fetzer Institute.