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Data Empire: The Power of Information to Organize, Control, and Dominate
A 2026 Barack Obama Summer Reading Pick
From clay tablets to the algorithmic state, a groundbreaking new lens on human history arguing that information has always been the seed of power. Perfect for readers of Nexus and The Age of Surveillance Capitalism.
Historians have pointed to guns, germs, steel, religion, agriculture, and the female body as the engines of human history. But what do they all have in common?
Every human approach to power has involved collecting data—from tracking where and how long animals live to sharpen the hunt, to classifying our fellow humans in order to stratify, isolate, and subjugate them. Recording and mastering data has always been the foundation of rule—and we are living through it now, too.
In Data Empire, Roopika Risam uncovers the hidden history of data as a force that has shaped civilizations. From ancient cave markings and knotted strings to colonial censuses and modern digital surveillance, Risam shows how data has always been a means of control. Empire may have made use of weapons or ships, but it was built on information.
Both a sweeping history and a sharp critique, Data Empire is a call to recognize the power data has always held, and to imagine what resistance looks like in an age defined by it. The story of empire is the story of data—and knowing its past is the first step to breaking its grip on the future.
From clay tablets to the algorithmic state, a groundbreaking new lens on human history arguing that information has always been the seed of power. Perfect for readers of Nexus and The Age of Surveillance Capitalism.
Historians have pointed to guns, germs, steel, religion, agriculture, and the female body as the engines of human history. But what do they all have in common?
Every human approach to power has involved collecting data—from tracking where and how long animals live to sharpen the hunt, to classifying our fellow humans in order to stratify, isolate, and subjugate them. Recording and mastering data has always been the foundation of rule—and we are living through it now, too.
In Data Empire, Roopika Risam uncovers the hidden history of data as a force that has shaped civilizations. From ancient cave markings and knotted strings to colonial censuses and modern digital surveillance, Risam shows how data has always been a means of control. Empire may have made use of weapons or ships, but it was built on information.
Both a sweeping history and a sharp critique, Data Empire is a call to recognize the power data has always held, and to imagine what resistance looks like in an age defined by it. The story of empire is the story of data—and knowing its past is the first step to breaking its grip on the future.
480 pages, Hardcover
First published July 9, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
July 26, 2026
This is an interesting read. The historical anecdotes are often fascinating, even if the narrative feels a little jagged at times.
Unfortunately, I think something fundamental holds the book back.
I absolutely agree that those in power can and do use data to consolidate power. History provides many examples of that. My disagreement is with treating that as the defining history of data itself.
I think people collect data because they are trying to make better decisions. They do not always succeed. Sometimes conclusions have already been reached before the evidence is gathered. Sometimes personal or political values become so firmly established that new data is interpreted only through that lens. In those cases, the problem is not the data—it is the misalignment between the evidence and the conclusions people are determined to reach.
That is where I think Data Empire disappoints.
What I found most troubling was not factual accuracy but data selection. Nearly every example illustrates data being used to consolidate power, reinforce hierarchy, or limit human freedom. Those stories deserve to be told. The problem is that they are presented with remarkably little consideration of the equally important history of data expanding human knowledge, improving public health, correcting error, challenging authority, and increasing human opportunity.
Where are John Snow’s cholera maps? Where is the statistical work that transformed medicine? Where are weather satellites, nutritional science, cancer research, quality control, or the countless examples where better data gave governments and societies better choices rather than fewer? These are not obscure counterexamples. They are among the defining achievements of the information age. Their absence matters.
Ironically, I think the book demonstrates the very problem it warns against. It argues that powerful institutions shape reality by selectively collecting and presenting information to reinforce existing values and conclusions. Yet I found myself wondering whether Data Empire applies that same standard to its own historical narrative. A book about data should be especially careful that its conclusions emerge from the evidence rather than selecting evidence that supports conclusions already reached.
That leaves me with one question for Roopika Risam: Which came first while writing this book—the historical evidence or the thesis?
I ask that question respectfully because I think there is an excellent book hiding inside this one. The history is interesting, and many of the stories deserve to be better known. But I finished the book wishing it had wrestled more honestly with the full history of data—including the many times better data has expanded human options rather than narrowed them.
Data itself is not the villain. Misalignment is. The real ethical question is not whether data can be used for harmful purposes—it clearly can—but whether we remain willing to let evidence challenge the values and conclusions we bring to it.
Unfortunately, I think something fundamental holds the book back.
I absolutely agree that those in power can and do use data to consolidate power. History provides many examples of that. My disagreement is with treating that as the defining history of data itself.
I think people collect data because they are trying to make better decisions. They do not always succeed. Sometimes conclusions have already been reached before the evidence is gathered. Sometimes personal or political values become so firmly established that new data is interpreted only through that lens. In those cases, the problem is not the data—it is the misalignment between the evidence and the conclusions people are determined to reach.
That is where I think Data Empire disappoints.
What I found most troubling was not factual accuracy but data selection. Nearly every example illustrates data being used to consolidate power, reinforce hierarchy, or limit human freedom. Those stories deserve to be told. The problem is that they are presented with remarkably little consideration of the equally important history of data expanding human knowledge, improving public health, correcting error, challenging authority, and increasing human opportunity.
Where are John Snow’s cholera maps? Where is the statistical work that transformed medicine? Where are weather satellites, nutritional science, cancer research, quality control, or the countless examples where better data gave governments and societies better choices rather than fewer? These are not obscure counterexamples. They are among the defining achievements of the information age. Their absence matters.
Ironically, I think the book demonstrates the very problem it warns against. It argues that powerful institutions shape reality by selectively collecting and presenting information to reinforce existing values and conclusions. Yet I found myself wondering whether Data Empire applies that same standard to its own historical narrative. A book about data should be especially careful that its conclusions emerge from the evidence rather than selecting evidence that supports conclusions already reached.
That leaves me with one question for Roopika Risam: Which came first while writing this book—the historical evidence or the thesis?
I ask that question respectfully because I think there is an excellent book hiding inside this one. The history is interesting, and many of the stories deserve to be better known. But I finished the book wishing it had wrestled more honestly with the full history of data—including the many times better data has expanded human options rather than narrowed them.
Data itself is not the villain. Misalignment is. The real ethical question is not whether data can be used for harmful purposes—it clearly can—but whether we remain willing to let evidence challenge the values and conclusions we bring to it.
August 4, 2026
The central thesis presented by Roopika Risam is that information gives us (and particularly countries) the power to organise, control and dominate others. Although I have a couple of issues with the presentation, this is a genuinely interesting trip through the history of our use of stored information from the earliest tallies to the latest information technology.
I loved a quote from Lisa Gitelman that data is is always 'cooked' so 'raw data is an oxymoron'. This neatly underlines Risam's thesis that data and information are not neutral facts, but rather tools that (like everything from fire to electronics) can be used for good or evil. As we are taken through the historical context, it can sometimes be a little difficult to judge whether Risam regards a particular example as bad or good, even when the outcome is disastrous.
One thing I didn't like too much is the adherence to a popular science writing approach that has got distinctly hackneyed: opening chapters with an imagined narrative that is only tangential to the real point. So, for instance, the first chapter, C. 9000-1700 BCE begins 'The priestess hurried out of the temple with the baby she had delivered in secret...' and goes on in this fashion for a page and a half, leaving me as a reader thinking 'Get on with it!'
There was an interesting parallel with Brainjacking, which gives parallel roles to story, with 'informing, influencing and manipulating' being the equivalent of 'organising, controlling and dominating' here. I do take a little umbrage at Risam's suggestion that 'Long before we wrote stories we kept score.' [Meaning we denoted data with symbols like a tally.] But this only refers to written stories: we told stories before we kept score, and I would argue they are more powerful. Let's face it, if stories don't trump data, there's no point writing a book like this.
The part I struggled most with was the closing section that portrayed two possible versions of 2126. One where a tech company controlled a worker's life to the extent that the software decided when they woke up, what they had for breakfast, how long they spent at work, and so on. The other was what I assume was meant to be a utopia where 'In the garment cooperative, an algorithm suggests schedules that would boost output by 6 percent, so the workers call a vote. Some want the efficiency bonus, while others want shorter hours. The debate runs long, but the algorithm waits...'
For me, both these futures are dystopian. I don't want my future controlled by a tech company or by a committee. We certainly need to be able make human decisions about AI/algorithmic recommendations, but please save us from the workers' collective committee too. Have we learned nothing from communist failures? Inevitably what we get is a progressive liberal academic viewpoint of what the future should be like. The analysis of the dangers of misused information is important - but the solution should not be so one-sided.
I loved a quote from Lisa Gitelman that data is is always 'cooked' so 'raw data is an oxymoron'. This neatly underlines Risam's thesis that data and information are not neutral facts, but rather tools that (like everything from fire to electronics) can be used for good or evil. As we are taken through the historical context, it can sometimes be a little difficult to judge whether Risam regards a particular example as bad or good, even when the outcome is disastrous.
One thing I didn't like too much is the adherence to a popular science writing approach that has got distinctly hackneyed: opening chapters with an imagined narrative that is only tangential to the real point. So, for instance, the first chapter, C. 9000-1700 BCE begins 'The priestess hurried out of the temple with the baby she had delivered in secret...' and goes on in this fashion for a page and a half, leaving me as a reader thinking 'Get on with it!'
There was an interesting parallel with Brainjacking, which gives parallel roles to story, with 'informing, influencing and manipulating' being the equivalent of 'organising, controlling and dominating' here. I do take a little umbrage at Risam's suggestion that 'Long before we wrote stories we kept score.' [Meaning we denoted data with symbols like a tally.] But this only refers to written stories: we told stories before we kept score, and I would argue they are more powerful. Let's face it, if stories don't trump data, there's no point writing a book like this.
The part I struggled most with was the closing section that portrayed two possible versions of 2126. One where a tech company controlled a worker's life to the extent that the software decided when they woke up, what they had for breakfast, how long they spent at work, and so on. The other was what I assume was meant to be a utopia where 'In the garment cooperative, an algorithm suggests schedules that would boost output by 6 percent, so the workers call a vote. Some want the efficiency bonus, while others want shorter hours. The debate runs long, but the algorithm waits...'
For me, both these futures are dystopian. I don't want my future controlled by a tech company or by a committee. We certainly need to be able make human decisions about AI/algorithmic recommendations, but please save us from the workers' collective committee too. Have we learned nothing from communist failures? Inevitably what we get is a progressive liberal academic viewpoint of what the future should be like. The analysis of the dangers of misused information is important - but the solution should not be so one-sided.
August 29, 2026
My first experience reading a book that heavily relied on an LLM (and it wan't acknowledged). For instance, between pages 35 and 36, there are at least 5 sentences that have the following structure: "in that courtroom, inheritance was no longer remembered but recorded" or "Abraham secured not just a resting place, but a future". After a couple of chapters, i was overwhelmed with the style and structure, which is ironic given the thesis that over the past couple of decades private corporations became owners of everyones' data and therefore control the life of the citizens.
If you understand the power of data, you should also understand that the delivery of that message is equally important (if not more). There is a lot of promise, but not for me
If you understand the power of data, you should also understand that the delivery of that message is equally important (if not more). There is a lot of promise, but not for me
August 31, 2026
JUST WOW!!! Such an enjoyable read filled with history religion geography politics… everything was written so eloquently. My favorite book of the year. President Obama’s summer reading list is my new North Star
August 12, 2026
I liked the idea of this book, but the entire first hour was the same sentence restated over and over again, so I gave up.
September 30, 2026
Mixed feelings about this book. I just think it could have been a lot better. She basically wrote a book as if her readers were idiots who needed connections and conclusions about facts explained like they were talking to a 5 year old. Basically after each fact I wanted to skip the next paragraph because she was connecting dots that were already connected previously. I did learn some interesting and new things, but overall I don’t think I’d recommend this book. It also felt like the sentence structure heavily resembled LLM style syntax. All the time. And that was part of the over-explaining I mentioned before. Just dumbing things down so much.
September 26, 2026
Very repetitive, it felt like it was written with an LLM. This could have been an interesting book if it had more concrete examples and tighter editing
July 16, 2026
I do like to dip into non-fiction books that have a mix of history, technology and what has, or could happen. This book is one of those, and it makes for very interesting reading.
I am not a science-minded person, but this book starts in the past, explaining how data and information were used from the earliest of times for the basics, such as migration, crop planting, and basic living. The author then proceeds through the years, showing and explaining how data collection has changed over time.
We are aware that large companies collect data every time we are on the internet, and how it is used for the "algorithms" to engage the user, show relevant ads, information and just basically hijack us. Well, for me, it feels like hijacking.
This book delivers a history lesson on how data can be used for good, and more importantly, how it can be used as a manipulation tool. I think it is well laid out and a really interesting read. Confirming some suspicions, opening my eyes to other things and giving quite an addictive read.
I really enjoyed how this book delivered the information, how it included the history, current collection and some projections of the future. It is a book I would be very happy to recommend.
I am not a science-minded person, but this book starts in the past, explaining how data and information were used from the earliest of times for the basics, such as migration, crop planting, and basic living. The author then proceeds through the years, showing and explaining how data collection has changed over time.
We are aware that large companies collect data every time we are on the internet, and how it is used for the "algorithms" to engage the user, show relevant ads, information and just basically hijack us. Well, for me, it feels like hijacking.
This book delivers a history lesson on how data can be used for good, and more importantly, how it can be used as a manipulation tool. I think it is well laid out and a really interesting read. Confirming some suspicions, opening my eyes to other things and giving quite an addictive read.
I really enjoyed how this book delivered the information, how it included the history, current collection and some projections of the future. It is a book I would be very happy to recommend.
Read
August 28, 2026Potentially interesting premise, but this book was either half written by ChatGPT or genuinely sounds like it was, and I’m not sure which is worse.
October 6, 2026
Roopika Risam's Data Empire: The Power of Information to Organize, Control, and Dominate offers a sweeping and provocative reconsideration of human history by placing information at the center of the story of power.
What makes the premise so compelling is its deceptively simple question: what do seemingly different engines of human civilization have in common? Risam argues that behind systems of conquest, classification, administration, economic organization, and political control lies a persistent human practice: collecting, organizing, and using information.
Rather than treating data as a uniquely modern phenomenon associated with computers, algorithms, and artificial intelligence, Data Empire traces its history much further back. Cave markings, knotted strings, records, classifications, colonial censuses, and contemporary digital surveillance become connected parts of a much longer history in which information has helped societies understand, categorize, manage, and control the world around them.
The book's treatment of classification is particularly significant. Information does not simply describe reality. The categories created by institutions can determine how people are understood and treated. When information is gathered for purposes of administration or domination, recording a population can become a mechanism for organizing that population, establishing hierarchies, and reinforcing unequal systems of power.
The colonial dimension gives this argument considerable historical weight. Colonial states depended not only on military force but also on systems of documentation, measurement, classification, and census taking. Information could make territories and populations more legible to those seeking to govern them, demonstrating how knowledge itself can become an instrument of empire.
The book's movement from ancient forms of record keeping to algorithmic systems is equally powerful. It challenges the tendency to think of modern data collection as an entirely new phenomenon while still recognizing the extraordinary scale and speed of contemporary surveillance and computational power.
This connection between historical data practices and artificial intelligence makes Data Empire especially relevant to the present moment. As algorithms increasingly influence decisions, institutions, markets, and everyday life, understanding the historical relationship between information and authority becomes more than an academic exercise. It becomes a way of asking who collects information, who controls it, how categories are created, and whose interests those systems ultimately serve.
Another major strength is that the book does not stop at describing the power of data. Its critical perspective asks what resistance might look like in a world increasingly organized through information. The argument that understanding the past is necessary for challenging the future gives the book a distinctly forward looking dimension.
At 480 pages, Data Empire has the scope of a substantial intellectual history while remaining connected to urgent contemporary debates about artificial intelligence, surveillance, technology, business, governance, and digital power. It should appeal to readers of technology and history as well as those interested in political economy, colonial history, AI, digital humanities, and the social consequences of data collection.
Its recognition as a 2026 Barack Obama Summer Reading Pick also provides an important indication of the book's wider cultural relevance and gives it potential to reach audiences beyond specialist academic communities.
Ultimately, Data Empire offers a powerful reframing of civilization itself. If the history of empire is also a history of information, then understanding who gathers knowledge, how that knowledge is organized, and what it is used to accomplish becomes essential to understanding power.
A sweeping and timely history that reveals data not as a modern invention, but as one of humanity's oldest instruments of organization, control, domination, and resistance.
What makes the premise so compelling is its deceptively simple question: what do seemingly different engines of human civilization have in common? Risam argues that behind systems of conquest, classification, administration, economic organization, and political control lies a persistent human practice: collecting, organizing, and using information.
Rather than treating data as a uniquely modern phenomenon associated with computers, algorithms, and artificial intelligence, Data Empire traces its history much further back. Cave markings, knotted strings, records, classifications, colonial censuses, and contemporary digital surveillance become connected parts of a much longer history in which information has helped societies understand, categorize, manage, and control the world around them.
The book's treatment of classification is particularly significant. Information does not simply describe reality. The categories created by institutions can determine how people are understood and treated. When information is gathered for purposes of administration or domination, recording a population can become a mechanism for organizing that population, establishing hierarchies, and reinforcing unequal systems of power.
The colonial dimension gives this argument considerable historical weight. Colonial states depended not only on military force but also on systems of documentation, measurement, classification, and census taking. Information could make territories and populations more legible to those seeking to govern them, demonstrating how knowledge itself can become an instrument of empire.
The book's movement from ancient forms of record keeping to algorithmic systems is equally powerful. It challenges the tendency to think of modern data collection as an entirely new phenomenon while still recognizing the extraordinary scale and speed of contemporary surveillance and computational power.
This connection between historical data practices and artificial intelligence makes Data Empire especially relevant to the present moment. As algorithms increasingly influence decisions, institutions, markets, and everyday life, understanding the historical relationship between information and authority becomes more than an academic exercise. It becomes a way of asking who collects information, who controls it, how categories are created, and whose interests those systems ultimately serve.
Another major strength is that the book does not stop at describing the power of data. Its critical perspective asks what resistance might look like in a world increasingly organized through information. The argument that understanding the past is necessary for challenging the future gives the book a distinctly forward looking dimension.
At 480 pages, Data Empire has the scope of a substantial intellectual history while remaining connected to urgent contemporary debates about artificial intelligence, surveillance, technology, business, governance, and digital power. It should appeal to readers of technology and history as well as those interested in political economy, colonial history, AI, digital humanities, and the social consequences of data collection.
Its recognition as a 2026 Barack Obama Summer Reading Pick also provides an important indication of the book's wider cultural relevance and gives it potential to reach audiences beyond specialist academic communities.
Ultimately, Data Empire offers a powerful reframing of civilization itself. If the history of empire is also a history of information, then understanding who gathers knowledge, how that knowledge is organized, and what it is used to accomplish becomes essential to understanding power.
A sweeping and timely history that reveals data not as a modern invention, but as one of humanity's oldest instruments of organization, control, domination, and resistance.
August 23, 2026
This book exhibits such promise on a hyper-relevant topic, but falls short of its ideals. It offers a fascinating history of data and its use by civilization to organize itself. It points out where it has veered to dominate people (e.g., slavery, colonization, Roman control) and how humans have objected to its control. Today, we live in an age where generating data is inescapable with modern life. Data's scale and reach are unprecedented. It concludes with an aspiration that we "take back control" from data running our lives.
That's where I object. Today's data do not have control of our lives. Humans are still in control, and some humans relinquish control to data-driven technology. Those same humans are sometimes in power... today. The key is to demonstrate a better way forward. I agree with the Roopika Risam's conclusion that there is a better way forward. I disagree that things are a bleak as the author contends.
The book highlights every offense cited in newspapers over the past ~30 years without acknowledging its gains in personal autonomy - promises realized. Its bleak picture does not represent my life, and its bleak picture tends to blame data itself, corporations, and private-public partnerships instead of the human authors of those actions. It blames straw men instead of analyzing their dynamics. Not all corporations are evil, nor are private-public partnerships inherently problematic. I use personal data (e.g., health-related) on a daily basis that do not directly involve the nation-state, companies, or even my doctor. Data, artificial intelligence, and technologies still empower and improve our lives in many respects.
The book needs to present a more refined, balanced view of contemporary affairs. Yes, there are problems, and yes, the book's concerns are valid. And yes, we face choices for the future. However, there are also countervailing forces at play, and the book doesn't inspect those enough. Further, data is not the problem; rather, it's a tool for people. The individuals making those decisions need to be held accountable. Not all businesses are optimized towards the bottom line, thankfully. Not all democracies make moves in favor of the common good, sadly. This investigation begs for more nuance.
I love the history, and I love learning how data have been and are being used. I also love learning how we need to resist the bad and promote the good. However, all is not dark today. Humans still have power. I applaud how the book raises awareness of that fact, but Risam seems passive to drown in despair instead of being determined to swim in hope.
That's where I object. Today's data do not have control of our lives. Humans are still in control, and some humans relinquish control to data-driven technology. Those same humans are sometimes in power... today. The key is to demonstrate a better way forward. I agree with the Roopika Risam's conclusion that there is a better way forward. I disagree that things are a bleak as the author contends.
The book highlights every offense cited in newspapers over the past ~30 years without acknowledging its gains in personal autonomy - promises realized. Its bleak picture does not represent my life, and its bleak picture tends to blame data itself, corporations, and private-public partnerships instead of the human authors of those actions. It blames straw men instead of analyzing their dynamics. Not all corporations are evil, nor are private-public partnerships inherently problematic. I use personal data (e.g., health-related) on a daily basis that do not directly involve the nation-state, companies, or even my doctor. Data, artificial intelligence, and technologies still empower and improve our lives in many respects.
The book needs to present a more refined, balanced view of contemporary affairs. Yes, there are problems, and yes, the book's concerns are valid. And yes, we face choices for the future. However, there are also countervailing forces at play, and the book doesn't inspect those enough. Further, data is not the problem; rather, it's a tool for people. The individuals making those decisions need to be held accountable. Not all businesses are optimized towards the bottom line, thankfully. Not all democracies make moves in favor of the common good, sadly. This investigation begs for more nuance.
I love the history, and I love learning how data have been and are being used. I also love learning how we need to resist the bad and promote the good. However, all is not dark today. Humans still have power. I applaud how the book raises awareness of that fact, but Risam seems passive to drown in despair instead of being determined to swim in hope.
October 13, 2026
As someone that spends a lot of their working day in Excel, I usually prefer to leave work at work when it comes to my reading choices. But when I saw President Obama’s Summer Reading List included a book about BIG DATA, I figured it was worth venturing into the Non-Fiction streets. Risam’s project is admirable, and I appreciated the attention she gives to injustices throughout the eras and to examining the role that information collection played in promoting those power structures. The breadth of the project is truly eye-popping, as the examples range from present-day (Palantir contracting with ICE) to ancient (sure AI Assistants are cool, but have you ever advised a client to consult a seer to divine the future based on the patterns found in a turtle shell? Sometimes the old ways are the best.).
While the scope of the work is impressive, it is also a factor in what made this such a dry read. The geography and time periods covered in the book is: "all of them". There's incredible breadth, but there are so many examples presented in succession that we don't get to explore any of them deeply enough to make them more engaging or memorable. The central argument (data collection and control have long been intertwined with power) is compelling enough; I'm just not sure I needed 340 pages of evidence to be convinced.
Despite my inherent curiosity in the subject matter, I found myself getting bored with the writing and had to do a fair amount of skimming to keep this book from becoming a new data point in my DNF pile. I respect the ambition and spirit of this project, and I imagine this intersection of history and data collection might land better with the true history buffs on here. Unfortunately my personal reading experience was too tedious for me to recommend. THANKS, OBAMA. 2.5/5 Excel Add-Ins.
While the scope of the work is impressive, it is also a factor in what made this such a dry read. The geography and time periods covered in the book is: "all of them". There's incredible breadth, but there are so many examples presented in succession that we don't get to explore any of them deeply enough to make them more engaging or memorable. The central argument (data collection and control have long been intertwined with power) is compelling enough; I'm just not sure I needed 340 pages of evidence to be convinced.
Despite my inherent curiosity in the subject matter, I found myself getting bored with the writing and had to do a fair amount of skimming to keep this book from becoming a new data point in my DNF pile. I respect the ambition and spirit of this project, and I imagine this intersection of history and data collection might land better with the true history buffs on here. Unfortunately my personal reading experience was too tedious for me to recommend. THANKS, OBAMA. 2.5/5 Excel Add-Ins.
September 22, 2026
Data Empire made me look at something I use every day in a completely different way. I started this book thinking I was going to read a history of data and ended up thinking much more about people, power, and the quiet decisions hidden inside information. What really stayed with me was the idea that data did not suddenly become powerful when computers arrived. Risam takes us much further back, showing how humans used marks, tokens, records, measurements, and written systems to remember things, organize communities, manage resources, and eventually control people. I found that history surprisingly easy to connect with the world I live in now. A record that once helped someone keep track of grain can feel very far away from an algorithm deciding what happens to a person, yet the book makes the connection feel natural. The part that affected me most was realizing that data is never simply sitting there waiting to tell us the truth. Someone chooses what gets recorded, how it is categorized, and what happens after it is collected. That made some very ordinary things in my own digital life feel different. I also appreciated how the book keeps bringing the human side back into the discussion instead of making everything about technology. There were moments when I felt uncomfortable, curious, angry, and even a little uneasy about where all this could lead. But I never felt that the book was telling me there was nothing we could do. By the end, I was left with a much bigger question than how data works. I was thinking about who gets to control it, who gets heard through it, and what kind of future we choose to build with it.
September 5, 2026
This is an excellent book, but also a really important read given the rise of AI and the way technology, especially social media, has changed the way our data is used. I really encourage everyone to read this if you get the chance.
In this book, Roopsi Risam recounts the history of data collection from the very beginning to today, showing, importantly that “no data regime lasts forever.” Each chapter begins with a narrative that sets the scene for the type of data collection that will be discussed in what follows. I really appreciated her inclusion of St. Nicholas punching the heretic Arius—that’s one of my favorite stories to tell in relation to the Council of Nicaea.
What this book shows is that despite the technological changes that have occurred through history, the collecting of data to manage and dominate people is not new—humans have been doing it without history. The issue now is the speed and amount of data that can be collected and the way the systems seem to be designed to “dehumanize at scale.”
However, a key point that Risam makes toward the end is that “data is not inherently harmful.” In 100 years we could be living in a dystopian data hellscape, but we don’t have to be. Data can be collected to do good, to serve the common good instead of the interests of an elite few. This is not a technological problem, but a political one. People need to speak up about how their data is being used and push for laws that allow privacy protection when needed. The conclusion gives some ideas about what needs to be done.
Overall, highly recommended.
In this book, Roopsi Risam recounts the history of data collection from the very beginning to today, showing, importantly that “no data regime lasts forever.” Each chapter begins with a narrative that sets the scene for the type of data collection that will be discussed in what follows. I really appreciated her inclusion of St. Nicholas punching the heretic Arius—that’s one of my favorite stories to tell in relation to the Council of Nicaea.
What this book shows is that despite the technological changes that have occurred through history, the collecting of data to manage and dominate people is not new—humans have been doing it without history. The issue now is the speed and amount of data that can be collected and the way the systems seem to be designed to “dehumanize at scale.”
However, a key point that Risam makes toward the end is that “data is not inherently harmful.” In 100 years we could be living in a dystopian data hellscape, but we don’t have to be. Data can be collected to do good, to serve the common good instead of the interests of an elite few. This is not a technological problem, but a political one. People need to speak up about how their data is being used and push for laws that allow privacy protection when needed. The conclusion gives some ideas about what needs to be done.
Overall, highly recommended.
September 6, 2026
Ambitious book. Good, deep historical context offered. Heavy-handed style didn’t work so well for me though.
Useful to unwind some of the ancient history around development of ‘data’ to understand, then ultimately track citizenry. Parallels between ancient Asian and early European uses of census for taxing purposes was interesting. Ditto bookkeeping and trade records. Interesting, useful stuff (which can also be abused).
Where the author annoyed me was tipping over into lots of complaining about data itself being an evil concept (or at least that’s what I heard). Where the author lost me was in their assertion as to the evil nature of the Dewey Decimal System. Look - I get that there was bias baked into the structure. For example the adaptation into decimal places afforded better space for non-Christian faiths (one of the major limitations in the original form). As with many emergent ideas, it showed clear improvement over the existing ways, and proved to require some radical modification/improvement over time to make it more reflective of the true spectrum of subject matter.
This is one example of a recurring tone which shows up a number of times. The wrap-up made me decide that I wouldn’t recommend giving it a try. The science-fictiony speculation about collapse and redemption just felt shallow.
I felt pretty disappointed, because a number of sources that usually steer me to stuff I enjoy had recommended this one. Give it a pass, unless you prefer a social-media like anthem to wind you up.
Useful to unwind some of the ancient history around development of ‘data’ to understand, then ultimately track citizenry. Parallels between ancient Asian and early European uses of census for taxing purposes was interesting. Ditto bookkeeping and trade records. Interesting, useful stuff (which can also be abused).
Where the author annoyed me was tipping over into lots of complaining about data itself being an evil concept (or at least that’s what I heard). Where the author lost me was in their assertion as to the evil nature of the Dewey Decimal System. Look - I get that there was bias baked into the structure. For example the adaptation into decimal places afforded better space for non-Christian faiths (one of the major limitations in the original form). As with many emergent ideas, it showed clear improvement over the existing ways, and proved to require some radical modification/improvement over time to make it more reflective of the true spectrum of subject matter.
This is one example of a recurring tone which shows up a number of times. The wrap-up made me decide that I wouldn’t recommend giving it a try. The science-fictiony speculation about collapse and redemption just felt shallow.
I felt pretty disappointed, because a number of sources that usually steer me to stuff I enjoy had recommended this one. Give it a pass, unless you prefer a social-media like anthem to wind you up.
August 24, 2026
If you are a nerd like me, you will LOVE this book. If you’re not a nerd, there are still a TON of things in here that you will enjoy. This book charts the history of data, including its collection, recording, and the ways its been deployed. This was a really meticulous, detailed, and engaging account of how and why we started recording date and what we’ve done with it as a species. Data has driven the rise and fall of civilizations, the drawing of global boundaries, the direction and method of empire-building, the rise of capitalism (cross your fingers for its fall!!!), and so much more. For me, the most important thing to remember is that there is no such thing as raw data--there is no unbiased data. Every data point is observed and collected by humans or tools made at their hands and so it is an interpretive endeavor from the start, not only once it’s manipulated. I could read a whole book written on the section of the book that covers the present. The power of data is something we all need to be aware of. Especially in the current climate, we need to be thinking about how it is mobilized against the public good by private parties.
September 22, 2026
A well put together fascinating read. Data Empire starts off a little slowly, at the beginning of recorded history, but picks up momentum with every passing chapter, bringing us up to our modern world and what lies beyond.
As always with these books, please don't take whats written as a gospel, and if you're planning on forming an opinion never single source.
Many of the opinions/interpretations of fact (or data) here i happen to agree with, but theres a few occasions when ive seen the same historical information used equally well elsewhere to present contradictory view points.
The key here is that Data Empire isnt telling you what to think, it is encouraging you to think, and to keep thinking. Its very well done, and why i consider it an excellent read.
As always with these books, please don't take whats written as a gospel, and if you're planning on forming an opinion never single source.
Many of the opinions/interpretations of fact (or data) here i happen to agree with, but theres a few occasions when ive seen the same historical information used equally well elsewhere to present contradictory view points.
The key here is that Data Empire isnt telling you what to think, it is encouraging you to think, and to keep thinking. Its very well done, and why i consider it an excellent read.
September 10, 2026
Interesting and thought-provoking read. Roopika Risam does a great job tracing how data has always been used to organise, control and dominate — from ancient records right through to today’s algorithms. It made me think more carefully about the systems that shape our lives.
On a completely different note, after finishing it I spent some time looking at real-world ways people still shape their own spaces. Came across this useful page on garden paving in North London: https://marshallapaving.co.uk/garden-..., practical, local craftsmanship that feels like the opposite of abstract data control.
Worth reading if you’re interested in the long history of information and power.
On a completely different note, after finishing it I spent some time looking at real-world ways people still shape their own spaces. Came across this useful page on garden paving in North London: https://marshallapaving.co.uk/garden-..., practical, local craftsmanship that feels like the opposite of abstract data control.
Worth reading if you’re interested in the long history of information and power.
September 12, 2026
This one grew on me quite a bit as I read it, especially once I saw where it was going. In Data Empire, Roopika Risam provides a lineage of data's role in facilitating (controlling) civilization. I think this release is especially timely given the fear and existential dread many of us are feeling right now regarding AI, data centers, and the rapidly expanding surveillance state. Risam shows how we got here from the most humble of beginnings. This book in itself is a dataset. It is compiled to show us the trajectory we're on is not new or unexpected. We've been on it for some time and if we don't take control over data, it's going to be used to control us.
September 15, 2026
A very 'academic' work...exhaustive tracing of the ancient history of how early societies used 'currency' and 'accounting' and record-keeping'. The concept of "data bases" and centralized record keeping beginning in the Middle Ages and evolving through the early computer era of the 1950s. Final chapters were somewhat interesting about how the internet and data obsessed companies such as Google and Meta build and utilize databases. The final chapter is an attempt to show the future. The author hopes that the human element will (ideally) be re-inserted into the algorithms to fulfill the spirit of Democracy!
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September 3, 2026
Impressively researched, Data Empire ranges from 9000 BCE to the present day, with an additional chapter considering what the next decade might hold.
Unfortunately, I found the delivery surprisingly dry. It is an academic’s first attempt to write for a wider audience.
Its thesis is plainly signalled in the subtitle: data is used to organise, control and dominate. Do not expect much attention to its more positive applications.
The definition of “data” also feels rather loose, at times encompassing almost any form of recorded information.
Unfortunately, I found the delivery surprisingly dry. It is an academic’s first attempt to write for a wider audience.
Its thesis is plainly signalled in the subtitle: data is used to organise, control and dominate. Do not expect much attention to its more positive applications.
The definition of “data” also feels rather loose, at times encompassing almost any form of recorded information.
September 4, 2026
Wasn't sure what to rate it, gave it 4 stars for the algorithm because this has important information, but you have to work for it.
I recently read The Know It All about a guy who reads the entire encyclopedia. It begged the question of how much could he retain. Well this is the encyclopedia of data.
Its a deep history which does play in, but its a bit repetitive and dry in spots.
The takeaway is that absolute power corrupts, we give too much power through using technology and we need to understand that we can do better
I recently read The Know It All about a guy who reads the entire encyclopedia. It begged the question of how much could he retain. Well this is the encyclopedia of data.
Its a deep history which does play in, but its a bit repetitive and dry in spots.
The takeaway is that absolute power corrupts, we give too much power through using technology and we need to understand that we can do better
July 20, 2026
A compelling history of how data has been generated and utilized throughout human history, culminating in a discussion about ways that data is used in the modern era to surveil and control populations and rule over us in increasingly dystopic manner, and problems created by private enterprise controlling data. Optimistically, shows a possible way forward where data is used to enhance human lives, rather than to subjugate.
October 8, 2026
Writing a macrohistory of human data collection starting in 65000bce and ending with Peter Thiel is an insane move. I was supposed to read this for class and made it through 2.5 chapters and the conclusion. Also where are the note numbers for the endnotes??? Am I just supposed to flip back and forth and figure out where she got this information (in her 100 page endnotes/bibliography section) all by myself? I understand it was published as a trade book but YEEESH
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
We tend to think that the analysis of data is a modern thing. From algorithms, targeted advertising and suggestions to buy.
The use of data, collection and analysis goes back centuries.
The history of how and why data was collected. How empire's expanded and fell.
An interesting and informative book that will make you think.
The use of data, collection and analysis goes back centuries.
The history of how and why data was collected. How empire's expanded and fell.
An interesting and informative book that will make you think.
August 15, 2026
Very well researched, balanced and written. It discloses how data (different from information) led to a certain kind of relationship with information that we should reflect and act upon. Data empire only survives if you let your behavior become data-driven. This book made me pause and rethink my choices.
September 4, 2026
An insightful and thought-provoking book about the power of data and information in shaping society. Risam explores how information can be used not only to organize and connect people, but also to influence, control, and create systems of power. A fascinating read that encourages you to think more critically about the role data plays in our everyday lives.
September 11, 2026
For those who have a general knowledge of history, this really is a compilation of knowledge from prehistory to the modern era. While there was some application of how data was/is used to expand or leverage people, places and things, it wasn’t enough to be compelling. It does, however, set the stage for the emergence of AI.
September 30, 2026
Sobering take on how we've unknowingly allowed corporations to exploit our existence through data collection. The historical analysis of how data was documented, viewed, has been used and abused was insightful. The epilogue was terrifying but also optimistic. We have a long road ahead of us if we want to decouple ourselves from the machines that we are tied to for jobs and connection.
July 18, 2026
قرأت ملخص فقط لهذا الكتاب. و أعتقد أنه كتاب قيم و أكاديمي و يستحق منا الوقت. لأن تاريخ البيانات و خوارزميات التحكم في الشعوب ليست فكرة محدثة نعتقد اليوم أننا نحن اليوم من اخترعها، بل لها بعد انطولوجي بدأت مع قيام أقدم الحضارات و نحن اليوم نقوم بتطويرها و حسب
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