Richard Poirier graduated 1976 Summa Cum Laude from Boston University, College of Business Administration and College of Communication majoring in accounting and journalism with a minor concentration in philosophy. He received a Highest Honors Diploma in English Law and Comparative Law, City of London College, England and studied entertainment law at UCLA. In 1986 he founded a business management and talent management firm in Los Angeles representing musicians, models and actors. In 1996 he was a U.S. congressional candidate. Currently he is Senior Director, Royalty Audits at Universal Music Group, the largest music and publishing company in the world. He resides in Los Angeles, CA.

The story of writing "In Defense of Individuality" began in a Principles of Sociology course at Boston University in 1973. I was granted permission to write a term paper that would challenge many of the concepts and well-established generalizations in the field of sociology taught in universities. I received an A for the term paper and course. In 2002 after a lifetime of experiences including meeting philosophers Ayn Rand and Alasdair MacIntyre in 1974, and rereading my 42 page term paper in 2002, I decided to expand it to a full length book, including two additional parts. An Understanding Of The Present Age, which helps in understand our rapidly changing reality in 21st century America. Next, philosopher Hegel's Account of Justice and Free Will, which helps in understand Hegel's juxtapositioning in his book "The Philosophy of Right," 1821, of natural law, political science, philosophy, and rights. This enables insight into how these disciplines affect our freedom and individuality.