Eric Klinenberg is Professor of Sociology at New York University, and editor of the journal Public Culture. His first book, Heat Wave, won six scholarly and literary prizes, and was declared a "Favorite Book" by The Chicago Tribune. His articles have appeared in The New York Times Magazine, Rolling Stone, The London Review of Books, The Nation, The Washington Post, Mother Jones, The Guardian, Le Monde Diplomatique, and Slate, among other publications. He is also a frequent contributor to NPR's "This American Life."

Laurie Winer began her career writing for magazines and newspapers in New York, including stints as a theater critic for the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal, and as an editor at Harper's Bazaar. In 1994 she was named chief drama critic at the Los Angeles Times and served twice on the Pulitzer jury for drama. In 1998 she left the paper to write screenplays and freelance. She was West Coast editor for AARP Magazine and for More magazine and produced public panel discussion for AARP. Her pieces have appeared in The New York Times, Los Angeles Magazine, Mirabella, Vogue, Vanity Fair, Harpers, and other publications. She contributes regularly to the L.A. Times food section and Los Angeles magazine.