  The standard approach of counting the number of eigenmodes of $N$ scalar
fields near the horizon is used as a basis to provide a simple statistical
mechanical derivation of the black hole entropy in two and four dimensions. The
Bekenstein formula $S={A\ov 4G\h}$ and the two-dimensional entropy $S=2M/\l\h $
are naturally obtained (up to a numerical constant of order 1). This approach
provides an explanation on why the black hole entropy is of order $1/\h $ and
why it is independent of the number of field-theoretical degrees of freedom.
