Meet Noah benShea
A compass of wisdom,
compassion, and gentle truth
Noah benShea is one of North America's most beloved poet-philosophers. He is a Pulitzer Prize nominated author of thirty books translated into eighteen languages, whose words have carried to the Library of Congress, the Department of Defense, and Oxford University Press.
To read him is to walk shoulder to shoulder with a compassionate companion who has been lost as often as he has found his way. He reminds us that your heart knows what our mind only thinks it knows.
About Noah
Early Years
- Assistant Dean of Students at UCLA at twenty-two
- Fellow at the esteemed Center for the Study by thirty
Teaching and Counsel
- Visiting Professor of Philosophy, University of California San Francisco Medical School
- Philosopher in Residence, Department of Internal Medicine, Cottage Health Hospitals
- Ethicist, Sansum Diabetes Research Institute
Honors
- Pulitzer Prize nominated author of thirty books in eighteen languages
- Nominated for the Grawemeyer Award for Ideas that Improve the World Order
- National Laureate for the ALS Association
- First Prize, European Intellectual Book Fair
Screen and Song
- Jacob the Baker, a feature film streaming on Amazon Prime, Tubi, and On Demand
- The Journey to Greatness, a national PBS special in one hundred fifty markets
- Lyrics for Better Times, named 2023 Best Song in a Motion Picture by Movie Music International
The Baker on Screen
Jacob the Baker walks into the world
In 2020 Noah stepped onto the stage in a one man show as his beloved character, Jacob the Baker. The fables have since become a feature film, streaming worldwide, with Noah producing and playing a lead role. Its theme of simple kindness and quiet hope has found audiences far from home.
Enter Media and ArchivesWhat We Are Doing Now
First Light
Noah is sharing a lifetime of writing in a new way. His home is noahbenshea.com, and his letters go out on Substack. He records his voice in one sitting each quarter. That audio becomes daily letters, daily thoughts, and a Wednesday song, sent free to everyone on the list. The Sunday spoken essays are for paid subscribers.
His writing is sorted by what you might be going through, from grief to starting over. Sandy Koufax, Deepak Chopra, Jeff Arch, Bob Costas, Madisyn Taylor, Judith Orloff, Jack Canfield, Dr. Cynthia Bioteau, Howard Schultz, and Larry King have all said what his words have meant to them.
The Quiet Company
A space to sit with loneliness and discover our shared human geography.
The Savoring Hour
Stepping off the roller coaster of constant hurry to honor ordinary moments.
The Secret Garden
A sacred place to navigate grief, honor loss, and visit the clubhouse of memory.
The Second Ascent
Daring to begin again, and to turn stumbling blocks into building blocks.
The Starry Night
Navigating the dark of uncertainty by putting faith, not fears, in charge.
The Return Home
Washing away the public mask to come home to the quiet center of the soul.
The Long Table
Love and belonging, and gratitude for the people already sitting with you.
The Lantern Passed
Legacy and teaching, and the care we take with what we hand down.