Art Kleiner

Art Kleiner – Editor

Experienced editor/writer. My basic in-depth editorial coaching sessions give you the skills and help needed to bring your ideas to life.

Overview

We start with an initial thought leader consultation.

I review all your material in depth plus we book a conversation. The length of time and fee depend on your needs.

1. We go through your plans for the book and options for publishing.

2. We create an outline if you need one.

3. We consider your core theme and refine and sharpen it as needed.

4. In-depth editing tutorial: We work with your draft. I show you how it could be edited and improved, building your skills to be your own editor – to create words that will draw people in. We develop your own distinctive written voice.

5. We talk about how to market your book and reach people.

6. We develop a project plan, including a plan for a book proposal if needed.

Everything I do is tailored to your ideas and audience, working only with your manuscript, meeting your particular needs -- the ones you know about and the ones you don't quite see yet.

I'm an accomplished teacher (at New York University and elsewhere) and a world-renowned writer, editor and ghostwriter. I know how to see what a manuscript needs and bring it to life. I can teach you to do the same with your own work, down to the level of the sentence.

==============

From there, we could move to more in-depth work on your book, including ghostwriting or editing your writing.

I've studied what business readers want, and most of all it's credibility and a knack for explaining the world. I can help you bring those qualities to life.

My background: a leading editor of business, management and technology writing, starting with Peter Senge's Fifth Discipline and the best-selling Fifth Discipline Fieldbook series. Also the award-winning management magazine Strategy+Business, where I was editor-in-chief for 15 years,

Among the people with authentic voices whom I've edited are Amy Edmondson, CK Prahalad, Sally Helgesen, Peter Schwartz, Jon Katzenbach, A.G. Lafley, Marshall Goldsmith, and Stewart Brand. I've helped authors in India, the UK, Europe, Australia, Africa, Latin America, and Hong Kong.

I can also help you navigate the worlds of literary agents, publishers, publicists, and self-publishing.

My own books include The AI Dilemma (responsible technology), The Wise Advocate (neuroscience and leadership), and The Age of Heretics (business history). I also have experience with generative AI tools and innovative formats -- using them and creating them.

I'm easy to work with and I am dedicated to helping you.

Services
Non-Fiction
Biographies & Memoirs Business & Management Economics Education & Reference History Political Science & Current Affairs Self-Help & Self-Improvement Technology
Languages
English (UK) English (US)

Work experience

Self-employed

Sep, 1990 — Present
I began a freelance editing career with Peter Senge's bestseller The Fifth Discipline. Since then I have worked on many books, including two under my own name (The Age of Heretics, Who Really Matters?) and two collaborations (The Wise Advocate, with Jeffrey Schwartz and Josie Thomson, and The AI Dilemma with Juliette Powell). Most of the books I've edited are in the business category. One recent self-help example was A Little Book of Courage for the Great Pandemic, by Cheri Lovre. Current clients (whose books I can't name yet) include MIT management experts, a prominent business visionary in India, and a major figure in organizational learning.

strategy+business / PwC Global / Booz Allen Hamilton

Apr, 2005 — Jan, 2020 (almost 15 years)
As editor-in-chief of the award-winning magazine Strategy+Business, I oversaw articles and books for a large business audience. In addition to editing articles by luminaries such as Amy Edmondson, Marshall Goldsmith, Sally Helgesen, Ram Charan, Stewart Brand, and CK Prahalad, I worked on at least 7 books that were published by mainstream publishers, and authored by Booz Allen Hamilton and PwC. They included Strategy That Works, The Critical Few (Jon Katzenbach), and Megacommunities.

Fifth Discipline Fieldbook Series

Jan, 1992 — Apr, 2012 (about 20 years)
I oversaw the best-selling Fifth Discipline Fieldbook series -- a well-known management anthology series, with multiple authors and a role in introducing people to the insights of organizational learning and innovative management. This series also included two editions of Schools That Learn, an influential book for educators. Among the authors of articles in this series were Peter Senge, Doug Engelbart, Tim Gallwey, Edgar Schein, Nell Minow, Peter Block, Andrea Gabor, and Jay Forrester.

Portfolio

Developmental Editing
Developmental Editing
Book Coaching
Editorial Assessment
Developmental Editing
Book Coaching
Developmental Editing
Query Letter Review
Book Coaching
Book Coaching
Book Coaching
Developmental Editing
Developmental Editing
Developmental Editing
Developmental Editing
Developmental Editing
Developmental Editing
Book Coaching
Developmental Editing
Book Coaching
Book Coaching
Developmental Editing
Developmental Editing
The Living Company

De Geus, Arie

Developmental Editing
Developmental Editing
Developmental Editing
Developmental Editing

Art has 13 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Mike P.

Mike P.

Jan, 2025

Pinned
Art Kleiner is an exceptional editor and a true partner in the creative process. He brought unparalleled expertise, insight, and precision to my book, Beyond the Title: Real Leadership in the Digital Age. Art's ability to refine complex ideas while preserving my voice and vision was remarkable. H...
Read more
Jon P.

Jon P.

May, 2024

Pinned
Working with Art was an incredible experience. Very straight forward, and invested in helping guide my approach to my research goals. Art was humble and very patient with me explaining how the publishing world works, but also very keen on direction with writing style. I appreciated how he was...
Read more
Art K.
Jon has an important topic and a powerful voice when speaking of this topic. The challenges were two-fold: To bring out that voice in every written paragraph, and to structure the project. We accom...
Read more
Michael P.

Michael P.

Jan, 2024

Pinned
Art was fantastic to work with. His critique of my manuscript from both a business and editorial eye provided me with a new, fresh perspective. He clearly went above and beyond with his feedback and spent all the time needed on a follow up call to clarify and suggest new approaches. I highly r...
Read more
Art K.
Michael has a creative, compelling project. He was completely engaged, and interested in improving the work - even when it might have been painful to realize the gaps. I think it could be a powerfu...
Read more
Bahareh M.

Bahareh M.

Mar, 2026

Working with Art was a meaningful and eye-opening experience for me. He offered honest and thoughtful feedback on my manuscript, which helped me see my work from a new and broader perspective. I especially appreciated how he challenged me to think more deeply about the structure, flow, and unique...
Read more
Art K.
I am gratified that Bahareh asked me to work with her. She has something profound to say to people building a life, and like many of us who write, she faces the challenge of getting connected to th...
Read more
Dave G.

Dave G.

Mar, 2026

Art is a thoughtful and experienced editor.

Sign up to read more reviews

Create a free Reedsy account to connect with Art and thousands of other publishing professionals on Reedsy.

Professionals similar to Art

Get a range of offers by requesting quotes from multiple professionals.

Laura Kluz

Laura K.

I help tech founders turn scattered expertise into a book that powers adoption, creates leverage, and positions them as the obvious choice.

Golden, BC, Canada

100% reply rate

View profile
Melissa Prideaux

Melissa P.

Highly experienced, dynamic and astute Australian developmental and line/copy editor. I have a global client base.

Paris, France

100% reply rate

View profile
Conni Medina

Conni M.

Nonfiction expert / former Editor-in-Chief and professional book editor / create a book that builds your business & reputation

Los Alamitos, CA, USA

100% reply rate

View profile