John Wood is the Founder and Board Chair of Room to Read. He grew up loving books, so when a headmaster in Nepal showed him an empty library and over 400 students who wanted to learn to read, he wanted to help. John returned to Nepal with thousands of books, and shortly thereafter quit his executive position at Microsoft to start Room to Read. Zak the Yak with Books on His Back was written to celebrate the ten-year anniversary of Room to Read in 2010. The book salutes the organization's humble beginnings, while also celebrating the opening of its 10,000th Reading Room (library).