Evan Jones grew up in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Instead of going to college, he worked on a series of family and other newspapers until he landed on the wartime staff of the military newspaper Stars and Stripes. After the war, he stayed in Paris and published a weekly magazine aimed at American tourists. When he returned to the United States, he worked as a freelance writer. His works included The Minnesota, Hidden America, American Food: The Gastronomic Story, The World of Cheese, The Book of Bread, and Epicurean Delight: The Life and Times of James Beard. He also edited The Father: Letters to Sons and Daughters. He died from injuries suffered in a fall on February 4, 1996 at the age of 80.