Who are your favourite living thinkers / intellectuals?

I guess for me the nearest thing would be the editor-in-chief of Gray's Anatomy Susan Standring - I do occasionally refer to Gray's Anatomy or search my online copy of the book for things I'm interested in - she updated the latest revision and although I miss some of the black and white pencil drawings from the previous edition and the sections on embryology seem to have been copy and pasted from other books I think overall she has improved it.

Peter Frankopan

Akela

and others who's names dont' immediately spring to mind

Peter Frankopan

Akela

and others who's names dont' immediately spring to mind

The rapper and founder of the Hip Hop Shakespeare Company.

I'd include people like Mary Beard, Bettany Hughes and Francis Pryor for really opening up history and archaelogy. 

TheCatWoman said:

Akela

Akela the wolf from The Jungle Book? Or is that a misspelling of Akala, the rapper? Akala is someone I admire.