Dan Gookin is the author of the first ...For Dummies

...for Dummies

For Dummies is an extensive series of instructional / reference books which are intended to present non-intimidating guides for readers new to the various topics covered. Despite the title, their publisher has taken great pains to emphasize that the For Dummies books are not literally for dummies....

 books including DOS for Dummies and PCs for Dummies. Writing the first Dummies books, he set forth the design to be used in the future Dummies books, incorporating humor and jokes into an easy-to-use format for beginners of any subject. He had written before and has continued writing since to a total of over 110 computer books. He has his own website with computer help sections and a computer-related forum.

Gookin was editor for ComputorEdge Magazine

ComputorEdge Magazine

ComputorEdge Magazine was first published on May 16, 1983 as The Byte Buyer in San Diego, California. It was one of the first local free distribution magazines in the United States devoted to the microcomputer. In 1988, in a dispute with the now defunct Byte Magazine, the name was changed to...

 a local San Diego computer periodical from 1987 to 1989.

Gookin is divorced, has four sons, and currently lives in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho

Coeur d'Alene, Idaho

Coeur d'Alene is the largest city and county seat of Kootenai County, Idaho, United States. It is the principal city of the Coeur d'Alene Metropolitan Statistical Area. Coeur d'Alene has the second largest metropolitan area in the state of Idaho. As of the 2010 census the population of Coeur...

, where he has been active in community theater and local politics. He is the former Vice-Chairman of the Idaho Libertarian Party. In 2007 he lost a bid for the Coeur d'Alene City Council.
He won a Council seat in a subsequent run in November 2011.