Jean Liedloff was born in New York City in 1926. She began studying at Cornell University as a young woman, but began her expeditions before she could graduate.
During a diamond-hunting expedition to Venezuela, Jean Liedloff met an indigenous tribe named the Yequana. She became fascinated with them, and decided to return to Venezuela to live with them.
From what she learnt through observing the Yequana, she wrote her book The Continuum Concept, It gives us practical ways to regain our natural, innate sense of well-being for our children and for ourselves. Her book particularly discusses in particular the Yequana style of child-rearing and its fundamental effect on their later lives.