Eckhart Tolle, born Ulrich Leonard Tölle in Germany, is not a traditional scholar of philosophy, psychology, theology, or science; rather, his personal experience forms the cornerstone of The Power of Now. Trained academically in history and language at the University of London and briefly at Cambridge, Tolle experienced a personal psychological crisis in his late twenties, which he describes as a spontaneous spiritual awakening. He claims this internal rupture dissolved his ego and left only his “true nature,” providing him with insights into consciousness, suffering, and peace that underpin the book.

Tolle’s work draws heavily on the teachings of Buddhism, Taoism, Christianity, and mystical figures like Meister Eckhart, synthesizing them into a secular spiritual framework aimed at Western readers. His ability to make abstract spiritual concepts accessible has contributed to his global popularity, especially after his endorsement by Oprah Winfrey. However, Tolle’s lack of engagement with empirical methods, critical theory, or religious orthodoxy limits his capacity to address counterpoints. While his teachings are seen as fulfilling a spiritual need that traditional therapy may overlook, he has been criticized for reinterpreting religious concepts without acknowledging their full context and—through his emphasis on living in the present moment and ‘letting go” of the past—downplaying the importance of psychotherapy as a tool for healing trauma.