In this episode, we spoke to Dan Bouk, author of "Democracy's Data," about the history of the U.S. Census. With a background in mathematics and literature, Bouk takes a unique, data-focused view on society. He talks about the importance of the people who make data, the processes they use, and the implications of these data sets on our lives. He details how the U.S. Census is one of the largest efforts to capture reality as data, with its outcomes impacting everything from political representation to fund allocation. His vision centers on the interaction between the questioner and the respondent, highlighting how this exchange transforms the real world into data.
About Dan Bouk
Dan Bouk is a Professor of history at Colgate University and researches the history of bureaucracies, quantification, and other modern things shrouded in cloaks of boringness. He teaches history at Colgate University and is the author of Democracy’s Data, which the New York Times called “endearingly nerdy.” His first book explored the history of personal data in the life insurance industry and was called How Our Days Became Numbered.
Dan Bouk's Links
- Dan's website: https://www.shroudedincloaksofboringness.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-bouk-24bbb920b/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dboukster/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/danbouk
Episode Links
- Dan's Books:
- Democracy in Data
- How Our Days Became Numbered: Risk and the Rise of the Statistical Individual
- Who is Elbertrie Fourdray
- Census Bureau data
- American Community Survey data
- CDC Places data
Data 4 All Social Media Links
- @data4allpodcast
- linkedin.com/company/data4allpodcast/
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- Youtube Playlist of Episode clips
Charlie Yielding Media Links
- @charlieyielding
- linkedin.com/in/charlieyielding/
- instagram.com/charlieyielding/
Charlie Apigian Media Links
- @capigian
- linkedin.com/in/capigian/
- instagram.com/capigian/
For more information please visit us at www.data4all.io or email us at charlie@data4all.io.