Eric M. Klinenberg is an esteemed American sociologist, widely recognized for his contributions to urban studies, culture, and media. He holds the prestigious position of Helen Gould Shepard Professor in Social Science and is the Director of the Institute for Public Knowledge at New York University. Klinenberg's work extends beyond academia, as he is actively involved in the organization 'Rebuild by Design' where he serves as the Director of Research, helping cities around the globe to adapt and confront climate change.

He has authored several influential books, including Palaces for the People: How Social Infrastructure Can Help Fight Inequality, Polarization, and the Decline of Civic Life (Crown, 2018), Going Solo: The Extraordinary Rise and Surprising Appeal of Living Alone (The Penguin Press, 2012), Fighting for Air: The Battle to Control America's Media (Metropolitan Books, 2007), and Heat Wave: A Social Autopsy of Disaster in Chicago (University of Chicago Press, 2002). In addition, Klinenberg has edited and co-edited works such as Cultural Production in a Digital Age and the journal Public Culture, as well as Antidemocracy in America (Columbia University Press, 2019).

Klinenberg's scholarship has been featured in top-tier publications, including the American Sociological Review, Theory and Society, and Ethnography. He has also made significant contributions to mainstream media through pieces in The New Yorker, The New York Times Magazine, Rolling Stone, and This American Life. He co-authored the New York Times #1 bestseller Modern Romance with Aziz Ansari (The Penguin Press, 2015). As a public sociologist, he is deeply engaged with issues such as urbanization, climate change, democracy, culture, health, media, technology, and social policy.