In one month, my new book will be in folks’ hands. “Data Are Made, Not Found: A Story of Politics, Power, and the Civil Servants Who Saved the US Census” tells the story of what it takes to produce democracy’s data – and how hard it was to do this in 2020 during a pandemic and while struggling with what I call “Jenga politics” (when various forces keep taking out planks and putting more pressure on top). It’s an ethnography, a love letter to civil servants, and a warning to us all about how brittle our democratic project is. It’s also a reminder that we can fight for our democracy. It’s also a reflection on how the legitimacy of high-stakes data stems from the social fabric that surrounds it, not any inherent property of the data. (Hint: data politics are not just a concern for the census… they also concern our AI future.)

This book is over 10 years in the making. I really really reallyhope I can convince you to buy a copy. Or to ask your library to order a copy so you can check it out! (Pretty please with a cherry on top!)

PLEASE pre-order my book if you can. The book will be available in English and French. You can listen to it as an audiobook or read it on your e-reader. If you pre-order it from Chicago University Press, you can get 30% off by using the code UCPNEW. Or feel free to turn to Bookshop | Amazon | Barnes & Noble or your local book store. Or just request the book from your local library.

Come to a talk near you! I will also be embarking on a book tour in the hopes of meeting other people who care about data and/or what it takes to make American democracy work. As of now, the tour starts on September 22 in Ithaca before continuing on to DC, Chapel-Hill+Durham, Cambridge+Boston, Toronto, Seattle, DC again, SF+Berkeley, Ann Arbor, Boulder, New Brunswick, NYC, and some virtual events. If you’re near one of these cities, check out my website for times and dates. And stay tuned for more! I’d love to see you!

Help get the word out! If you’ve read this far (thank you!) and you’d love to help me out, here are some great ways that you can help me:

• Encourage two friends to pre-order the book in their favorite format. Pre-orders really reallly make a difference in the ability to get the word out.
• Reserve a copy with your local library, both so that they order the book and so that others might get exposed to it when they’re browsing.
• Once you have the book in hand, write a review on your favorite platform. Reviews on booksellers’ sites and places like Goodreads can be really helpful! But also your own newsletter!
• Host a book club conversation! If you do, let me know. I’d love to pop in to say hi or share a note with your club.
• Let me know of other opportunities where I could help get the word out!

I’m very open to doing virtual meet-and-greets with groups of readers. Or to stop by at other gatherings while I’m in tour. Please reach out!

And thanks y’all for your ongoing support. I can’t wait to hear what you think of the book!