Alan Watts (1915–1973) a fost una dintre cele mai influente figuri in transmiterea spiritualitatii orientale catre publicul occidental. Prin scrierile, conferintele si emisiunile sale, a facut accesibile concepte esentiale din budismul Zen, Vedanta si taoism, reinterpretandu-le intr-un limbaj viu, direct si profund actual. A explorat teme precum identitatea, constiinta, gandirea conditionata, echilibrul interior si relatia dintre om si natura.
A fost conectat la cercuri intelectuale si artistice remarcabile, stabilind relatii cu D.T. Suzuki, Joseph Campbell, C.G. Jung si John Cage. A predat la Academy of Asian Studies din San Francisco si a devenit o prezenta constanta in emisiuni radio si TV, influentand generatii intregi printr-o abordare spirituala lucida, libera de dogme. Opera sa continua sa fie un punct de referinta in filosofia religiei, dezvoltarea personala si reflectia spirituala contemporana.
Carti (selectiv)
1936 The Spirit of Zen
1937 The Legacy of Asia and Western Man
1940 The Meaning of Happiness
1948 Behold the Spirit: A Study in the Necessity of Mystical Religion
1950 The Supreme Identity
1951 The Wisdom of Insecurity
1953 Myth and Ritual in Christianity
1957 The Way of Zen
1958 Nature, Man, and Woman
1959 Beat Zen Square Zen and Zen
1962 The Joyous Cosmology - Adventures in the Chemistry of Consciousness
1963 The Two Hands of God - The Myths of Polarity
1964 Beyond Theology - The Art of Godmanship
1966 The Book - On the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are
1972 In My Own Way - An Autobiography 1915-1965
Postum
1975 Tao: The Watercourse Way (impreuna cu Al Chung-liang Huang)
1983 Way of Liberation: Essays and Lectures on the Transformation of the Self
1995 The Philosophies of Asia
1997 Taoism: Way Beyond Seeking
1999 Buddhism: The Religion of No-Religion
2000 Still the Mind: An Introduction to Meditation