Hans Zinsser (November 17, 1878 – September 4, 1940) was an American physician, bacteriologist, and prolific author. The author of over 200 books and medical articles, he was also a published poet. Some of his verses were published in The Atlantic Monthly.His 1940 publication, , won one of the early National Book Awards, the sixth and last annual award for Nonfiction voted by members of the American Booksellers Association. He is remembered especially for his 1935 book, Rats, Lice and History.