Allen Carr (1934-2006) was a chain-smoker for over 30 years. In 1983, after countless failed attempts to quit, he went from 100 cigarettes a day to zero without suffering withdrawal pangs, without using willpower and without gaining weight. He realised that he had discovered what the world had been waiting for - the Easy Way to Stop Smoking - and embarked on a mission to help cure the world's smokers. Easyway has grown to become a global phenomenon with seminar centres in 150+ cities in more than 50 countries around the world. Allen Carr's Easyway books, online video programmes, and live group seminars have helped an estimated 50 million smokers worldwide. A vast majority of those happy non-smokers became aware of the method as a result of personal recommendation from their friends, family, and colleagues. Allen Carr is now recognised as the world's leading expert on helping smokers to quit and has sold over 16 million books on the topic. His Easyway method has been successfully applied to a host of issues including weight control, alcohol and other addictions and fears.

In 2006, Allen was diagnosed with lung cancer and passed away that November handing responsibility for Easyway over to his closest and most trusted colleagues.