Richard de la Chaumière, Ph.D., has spent many years researching the diverse answers to some of mankind's most elusive yet persistent questions: Is there a God? Why are we here? How should we live? How do we know what's true? His inquiries took him down many roads, but his principal focus was the knowledge and wisdom he could discover in philosophy, science, psychology, and Eastern and Western spiritual traditions. After having found answers for himself and aware of the many pitfalls in pursuing such ultimate questions, he saw the practical need for writing a comprehensive and accessible guide for others, who like him before, want to make up their own minds about some of the fundamental questions of life. Dr. de la Chaumière received his undergraduate degree in Business Management from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. He then spent a tour of duty as an Air Force officer negotiating jet engine contracts with the manufacturer. After the service, he worked several years with a national management consulting firm serving Fortune 500 companies. About to enter the Harvard Business School, he made a last minute, life-changing decision. He chose instead to pursue his interest in philosophy and religion at the University of Notre Dame, where he earned a master's degree. He was then awarded a three-year foundation grant that allowed him to attend the Sorbonne in Paris where he was able to continue his graduate studies in philosophy. When he returned to the United States, he received a doctorate in psychology. A licensed psychologist, Dr. de la Chaumière later founded and directed a successful clinical consulting firm that grew to three offices serving the Los Angeles area. He recently left the company in order to devote full-time to writing. Dr. de la Chaumière and his wife Esther now live in northern California. Their children are all young adults and pursuing their own unique paths in life.