Book Review: The Rise and Fall of the Artificial State, by Jill Lepore

The episode reviews Jill Lepore’s book, The Rise and Fall of the Artificial State, which examines how automated systems and private corporations have usurped the traditional roles of democratic governance. Lepore traces the historical evolution of computational power, from early census-taking to modern predictive algorithms, arguing that political judgment has been dangerously outsourced to unaccountable machines. The narrative highlights how tech leaders often misinterpret science fiction as a roadmap for progress rather than a warning of societal collapse. Ultimately, the work asserts that this artificial infrastructure is precariously dependent on natural resources and lacks the legitimate consent of the governed. By contrasting technological hubris with ecological reality, Lepore urges a return to human-centered politics and a reconnection with the living world.

"Open a book. Discover a world."

This episode includes AI-generated content.