David Guterson ( GUT-ər-sən; born May 4, 1956) is an American novelist, short story writer, poet, journalist, and essayist. He is best known as the author of the bestselling Japanese American internment novel Snow Falling on Cedars.

Guterson was born May 4, 1956 in Seattle, Washington the son of criminal defense lawyer Murray Guterson. He attended Seattle Public Schools and Roosevelt High School, then the University of Washington, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in English literature and a Master of Fine Arts in creative writing. He is also a Guggenheim Fellow.

Before writing professionally, Guterson worked as a teacher for 10 years at Bainbridge High School. During that time he began having stories and essays published in small magazines and periodicals, and eventually sold pieces to Esquire, Sports Illustrated and Harper's Magazine. His first book, The Country Ahead of Us, the Country Behind (1989) is a collection of short stories set mostly in the Pacific Northwest. His second book, Family Matters: Why Homeschooling Makes Sense (1992) contains essays on family and education.

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