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The Rise and Fall of the Artificial State

byJill Lepore

Jill Lepore traces the history behind a future increasingly governed by data, algorithms, and private technology companies. Moving between political thought, technological experiments, and science fiction, she examines how promises of efficiency can weaken public institutions and democratic participation. Her account connects the manipulation of attention to the erosion of shared civic spaces, while also considering the environmental costs of digital infrastructure. Lepore argues that this transfer of authority was made through human choices, and that understanding those choices can help citizens imagine and build a different political future.

Publisher

Liveright Publishing Corporation

Publication date

2026-08-25

Format

Hardcover

Pages

336

ISBN

9781324098423