Michael Graubart Levin

For persons of a similar name, see Michael Levin (disambiguation).

Michael Levin (born August 8, 1958) is an American, New York Times best-selling author.^[1] He has been described as “the Michael Jordan of ghostwriters” due to his extensive career, having written, edited, or published more than 1,000 books over 35 years.^[2] He has also been referred to as “one of the most established ghostwriters in the nation,”^[3] “the world’s most experienced ghostwriter,”^[4] and “the most prolific ghostwriter in the industry”.^[5]

Michael Levin
Michael (left) – Wall Street Journal Photo
Born	(1958-08-08) August 8, 1958 (age 66)
Occupation	Author
Nationality	American
Education	Juris Doctor
Alma mater	Columbia University
Website
meaningbooks.com

Early life and education

Levin graduated from Amherst College in 1980 with a B.A. in English and Ancient Greek. He earned a J.D. from Columbia Law School in 1985, where he published an article in the Columbia Law School Journal of Law and Social Problems. After graduating from Amherst, he studied for one year at Yeshivat HaMivtar in Jerusalem, Israel.

Career

Levin began his career teaching writing classes in Boston's Back Bay. He has taught writing at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and New York University.

Ghostwriting and Publishing

Forbes states that Levin's clients have utilized their books to build a $20 million consulting business from the ground up, manage substantial financial advisory assets, secure TED talks and other prestigious thought leadership opportunities, and obtain television and film deals with major entities such as Disney, HBO, ABC, Paramount, and Steven Soderbergh.^[6] His books have been published by major publishers, including Simon & Schuster, Random House, and Penguin/Putnam.^[7]

On January 20, 2012, Michael appeared as a guest entrepreneur on the ABC Television show Shark Tank.^[8] He started and sold the book writing firm BusinessGhost, Inc., and in 2018 started a new book ghostwriting firm, www.MeaningBooks.com.

In January 2024, he spoke at the “Gathering of the Ghosts” conference in New York City, where he was quoted in The Wall Street Journal offering advice to ghostwriters.^[9]

Views on AI in Ghostwriting

In an interview with Entrepreneur Magazine, Levin discussed the impact of artificial intelligence on ghostwriting. He stated that he “isn't concerned about the technology's potential to derail the ghostwriting business. Although he acknowledges that AI is ‘basically wiping out’ lower-tier ghostwriting services that don't attract customers prioritizing a premium product, AI can't do what he and other quality-obsessed writers can: listen for what someone's not saying and hear what they're almost verbalizing, or wish they could.^[7]

‘I could be talking with a client for an hour-long interview, and we're about 35 minutes into it, and all of a sudden the client says something, [and I'm like], “Whoa, whoa, whoa, wait a minute, what did you just say?”’ Levin explains. ‘I've written so many books in so many verticals that I know what people are saying in that field, and I know that I just heard something that no one else is saying. So now we're going to turn the chapter around and make the chapter about that idea, or we're going to make the whole book about that idea. The ability to listen for what the person is almost saying is not something that AI can do yet.’

Speaking and publications

As a co-writer, Michael has done books with:

• Baseball Hall of Famer Dave Winfield
• Football broadcasting legend Pat Summerall
• Hollywood publicist Howard Bragman
• Former Schwab CEO David Pottruck
• E-Myth creator Michael Gerber
• Three-time Super Bowl winner Chad Hennings of the Dallas Cowboys
• Rock and Roll Fantasy Camp founder David Fishof
• Fox Sports Broadcaster Chris Myers
• NBA star Doug Christie
• Angela Harrelson (George Floyd's aunt)
• FBI undercover agent Joaquin Garcia
• Marketing legend Jay Abraham
• NFL star running back Maurice Jones-Drew
• NFL star running back Benjamin Watson

Levin's books have received positive reviews in The New York Times,^[10][11] the Los Angeles Times,^[12] the New Yorker,^[13] People Magazine,^[14][15] the Washington Post,^[16] The San Francisco Chronicle,^[17] Library Journal,^[18] the Boston Globe, Chicago Tribune,^[19] and other leading publications.

Media and podcast appearances

Levin has been featured on Good Morning America and BBC World News. He has contributed to Forbes.com, Jerusalem Post, the New York Daily News, HuffPost, and FoxNews.com, where some of his pieces have attracted more than one million readers.

He has also been a guest on multiple podcasts discussing books, publishing, and ghostwriting, including those hosted by Dan Jamal,^[20] Roger Knecht,^[21] Lori Brooks,^[22] Adam Koos,^[23] Tom Corson-Knowles,^[24] John Laurito,^[25] and Lexi Ruffell.^[5] In the UK, he was interviewed by Jane Baylor.^[26]

As the publisher of AdvisorGhost.com, Levin has authored more than 100 books for financial advisors, wealth managers, and hedge funds. He has contributed to Kitces.com on the topic of financial advisors publishing books.^[27]

Writing course

In 2025, Levin released an updated version of his online business book writing course, the Best Earning Author program. The six-hour, twenty-minute course offers guidance to business professionals on organizing, writing, publishing, marketing, and monetizing business books.^[28][29]

Playwriting

Levin has written and produced theatrical works, including Sober Songs, a musical showcased Off-Broadway in December 2024 and set for a full run in September 2025.^[30] He also wrote and performed a one-man show, The Mom Show (now titled Jenny Loves Me), first in Boston and then in New York City, between 2021 and 2024.^[31] NPR praised the show’s songs as “gorgeous.”^[32]

Articles

Levin is a regular contributor to Worth.com on book ghostwriting.^[33] He has also written for The Boston Globe’s Ideas section^[34][35] and TheHill.com on political topics.^[36]

Personal life

Levin is married, the father of four, and a grandfather. He has run 11 Boston Marathons and eight New York City Marathons; in NYC he runs as a guide for runners with disabilities on behalf of Achilles International. He has completed more than 40 marathons, half marathons, and triathlons. He has performed with the Tanglewood Festival Chorus of the Boston Symphony Orchestra in the 1980s and again in the late 2010s.^[37]

Books

• Levin, Michael (1985). Journey to Tradition: The Odyssey of a Born-Again Jew. Jersey City: Ktav Pub Inc. pp. 352 pages. ISBN 0-88125-093-7.
• Levin, Michael (1988). The Socratic Method. New York City: Ivy Books. pp. s. ISBN 0-8041-0376-3.
• Levin, Michael (1990). Settling the Score. New York City: Ivy Books. pp. s. ISBN 0-8041-0632-0.
• Levin, Michael (1994). Alive and Kicking. New York City: St. Martins Mass Market Paper. pp. s. ISBN 0-312-95305-4.
• Levin, Michael (1997). What Every Jew Needs to Know About God. Jersey City: Ktav Pub Inc. pp. 148 pages. ISBN 0-88125-537-8.
• Levin, Michael (1997). Janine and Alex, Alex and Janine. New York City: Putnam/Berkley. pp. 256 pages. ISBN 0-425-16042-4.
• Levin, Michael (1997). Sam and Derek, Derek and Sam. New York City: Putnam/Berkley. pp. 256 pages. ISBN 0-425-16041-6.
• Levin, Michael (2003). Complete Idiot's Guide to Your Civil Liberties. New York City: Alpha. pp. 352 pages. ISBN 0-02-864473-5.
• Levin, Michael (2011). Gutenberg to Google: The Rise and Fall of Books. Dallas: Brown Books. pp. s.
• Levin, Michael, Pannell, Jack (2017). Lunch Money Can't Shoot. New York City: Morgan James Fiction. p. 147. ISBN 978-1683501107.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
• Levin, Michael, Neesly, Carey (2013). Welcome Home Mama and Boris: How a Sister's Love Saved a Fallen Soldier's Beloved Dogs. New York City: Reader's Digest. p. 224. ISBN 978-1621451150.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
• Levin, Michael, Druck, Ken (2012). The Real Rules of Life: Balancing Life's Terms with Your Own. Carlsbad: Hay House. p. 211. ISBN 978-1401939717.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
• Levin, Michael, Myers, Chris (2012). NASCAR Nation: How Racing's Values Mirror America's. New York City: Random House. p. 240. ISBN 978-0771061189.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
• Levin, Michael, Oliphant, David (2012). When All Else Fails, Sell!: How Learning to Sell Can Change Your Life. New York City: Reader's Digest Books. p. 160. ISBN 978-1606524299.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
• Levin, Michael, Summerall, Pat (2010). Giants: What I Learned About Life from Vince Lombardi and Tom Landry. John Wiley & Sons. p. 256. ISBN 978-0470611593.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
• Levin, Michael, Hennings, Chad (2010). Rules of Engagement: Finding Faith and Purpose in a Disconnected World. Nashville: FaithWords. p. 208. ISBN 9780446545396.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
• Levin, Michael, Bragman, Howard (2009). Wheres My Fifteen Minutes?: Get Your Company, Your Cause, Or Yourself The Recognition You Deserve. New York City: Penguin/Portfolio Books. p. 268. ISBN 978-1591842361.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
• Levin, Michael, Abraham, Jay (2009). The Sticking Point Solution: 9 Ways to Move Your Business from Stagnation to Stunning Growth In Tough Economic Times. New York City: Vanguard Press. p. 272. ISBN 978-1593155100.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
• Levin, Michael, Garcia, Joaquin (2008). Making Jack Falcone: An Undercover FBI Agent Takes Down a Mafia Family. New York City: Touchstone. p. 272. ISBN 978-1416551638.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
• Levin, Michael, Winfield, Dave (2007). Dropping the Ball: Baseball's Troubles and How We Can and Must Solve Them. New York City: Scribner. p. 224. ISBN 978-1416534488.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
• Levin, Michael, Christie, Doug, Christie, Jackie (2007). No Ordinary Love: A True Story of Marriage and Basketball!. Infinite Love Publishing. p. 153. ISBN 978-0979482700.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
• Levin, Michael, Bryant, John (2002). Banking on Our Future: A Program for Teaching You and Your Kids about Money. Boston: Beacon Press. p. 168. ISBN 0807047171.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
• Levin, Michael, Harrelson, Angela (2022). Lift Your Voice: How My Nephew George Floyd's Murder Changed The World with Angela Harrelson (George Floyd's aunt). New York: Post Hill Press. p. 208. ISBN 1637583370.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)^[38]
• Levin, Michael (2024). The Meaning of Your Life: Writing a Book About What Matters Most to You. New York: Meaning Company. p. 190. ISBN 9798990719903.