Vernon Linwood Howard (1918 - 1992) was a philosopher and spiritual teacher. He was born near Haverhill, Massachusetts. In the 1940s he wrote humor and children's books. He began lecturing on personal development in the late 1950s, and later began writing books on spiritual and psychological growth, emphasizing the importance and practice of self-awareness. Howard drew from several different philosophical and spiritual traditions. These included: Christian and Eastern mysticism, Gurdjieffian Fourth Way teachings, Jungian psychology, J. Krishnamurti and American Transcendentalism. He taught that there is a way out of suffering, and advocated self-honesty, persistence, the study and application of spiritual principles, and a sincere desire for inner change. In 1979, Howard founded the non-profit learning center New Life Foundation, where he continued to teach until his death in 1992.