William Coperthwaite

William S. Coperthwaite (September 19, 1930 – November 26, 2013), a native of Maine, U.S., pioneered yurt building in the United States. For his book A Handmade Life: In Search of Simplicity, he received the Nautilus Book Award.

Childhood and family William Coperthwaite was born in Monticello, Maine, He was awarded a State of Maine Competitive Scholarship. His extra-curricular activities included track and pole vaulting, and he served as vice-president of the Outing Club. He later enrolled in the innovative Putney Graduate School of Teacher Education (Antioch University New England) Master's degree program

“Each of us tries to live in the best way we know how. I want to contribute to the problems of the world as little as possible. I really believe we must find simpler ways to live or society will collapse.”

William Coperthwaite is the subject of "Mr. Coperthwaite: A Life in the Maine Woods," a series of four observational films by the anthropologist and filmmaker Anna Grimshaw. "The four films chart Coperthwaite’s life as it unfolds over the course of a year. They explore the changing character of work through the seasons and the distinctive temporality of specific tasks."

Death William Coperthwaite died on November 26, 2013 in a single-car accident, when high winds and freezing rain created hazardous driving conditions, on his way to celebrate Thanksgiving with friends