Everybody Lies

Everybody Lies demonstrates that humans often hide their real beliefs and desires, but reveal them unintentionally online. Search engines expose prejudice people deny, sexual fantasies they never confess, anxieties they conceal, and questions they fear asking aloud. Big Data bypasses social masks, capturing an authentic view of humanity that surveys fail to detect. Social media shows idealized identity; Google shows who we really are. The book argues that to understand society, we must analyze behavior, not declarations.

Used wisely, Big Data can transform public policy, reduce inequality, guide innovation, and improve understanding of mental health, racism, sexuality, and culture. Used recklessly, it threatens privacy and autonomy. The future depends not only on what data reveals — but on how responsibly we interpret and apply it.

In a world where everyone lies face-to-face, our search bar confessions tell the truth.

Seth Stephens-Davidowitz is a data scientist, economist, and former Google analyst known for his work interpreting human behavior through digital footprints. With a Stanford mathematics background and a Harvard Ph.D. in economics, his research blends statistical analysis with storytelling to uncover hidden cultural truths. He has written for major outlets like The New York Times, focusing on how online searches reveal prejudice, desire, fear, sexuality, and political sentiment. His mission centers on understanding the private self — not by what people claim publicly, but by what they secretly search in the dark.