E.D. Hirsch Jr. is an American educator, literary critic, and author, best known for his work in the field of education and literacy. He gained prominence with his book, "Cultural Literacy: What Every American Needs to Know," published in 1987. In this work, Hirsch argues that a shared body of knowledge is essential for effective communication and understanding in society. Hirsch founded the Core Knowledge Foundation in 1986, which promotes a curriculum based on his ideas about cultural literacy. His approach emphasizes the importance of teaching specific knowledge and facts in schools to improve reading comprehension and critical thinking skills among students.