Jeffrey Oshins is a lawyer who specializes in the development of community-based non-profits in high poverty and crime areas. As a speech writer and ghost writer for the U.S. House of Representatives, Oshins' writings have been published in newspapers, magazines, and professional journals around the world. Oshins has written federal legislation and numerous grants worth over $20 million dollars.

He thought of the idea for this book while camping at the foot of Machu Picchu.