Ken Kesey was an American author and countercultural figure, best known for his novel One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, published in 1962. Born on September 17, 1935, in La Junta, Colorado, he became a prominent voice in the 1960s, exploring themes of individuality and societal norms. Kesey's experiences working as a night attendant in a mental hospital inspired much of his writing. In addition to his literary work, Kesey was a key figure in the Merry Pranksters, a group that embraced the use of LSD and other psychedelics to challenge conventional thinking. He famously traveled across the United States in a colorful bus named Furthur, promoting a message of freedom and exploration.