Writing

Books

System Error book cover

System Error: Where Big Tech Went Wrong and How We Can Reboot

With Mehran Sahami and Jeremy M. Weinstein. HarperCollins, 2021.

A forward-thinking manifesto revealing how big tech's obsession with optimization has sacrificed fundamental human values—and outlining steps we can take to change course.

Just Giving book cover

Just Giving: Why Philanthropy Is Failing Democracy and How It Can Do Better

Princeton University Press, 2018.

An investigation of the ethical and political dimensions of philanthropy, considering how giving might better support democratic values and promote justice.

Digital Technology and Democratic Theory book cover

Digital Technology and Democratic Theory

Edited with Hélène Landemore and Lucy Bernholz. University of Chicago Press, 2021.

Essays exploring the relationship between digital technology and democracy from scholars across political theory, law, and computer science.

Philanthropy in Democratic Societies book cover

Philanthropy in Democratic Societies: History, Institutions, Values

Edited with Chiara Cordelli and Lucy Bernholz. University of Chicago Press, 2016.

Education, Justice, and Democracy book cover

Education, Justice, and Democracy

Edited with Danielle Allen. University of Chicago Press, 2013.

Awarded 2013 PROSE Award for the best book in education.

Occupy the Future book cover

Occupy the Future

Edited with David Grusky, Doug McAdam, and Debra Satz. MIT Press / Boston Review, 2013.

Bridging Liberalism and Multiculturalism in American Education book cover

Bridging Liberalism and Multiculturalism in American Education

University of Chicago Press, 2002.

Selected Articles & Chapters

"Is Philanthropy Anti-Democratic?"

Boston Review, 2018.

"Repugnant to the Whole Idea of Democracy? On the Role of Foundations in Democratic Societies."

PS: Political Science and Politics, Vol. 49, July 2016.

"Philanthropy and Intergenerational Justice"

With Chiara Cordelli. In Institutions for Future Generations, Oxford University Press, 2016.

"Can Charitable Compensation Diminish Complicity?"

Yale Human Rights & Development Journal, Vol. XVII, 2014: 113–119.

"Gift Giving and Philanthropy in Market Democracy."

Critical Review, Vol. 26, Nos. 3–4, 2014.

"Toward a Political Theory of Philanthropy."

In Giving Well: The Ethics of Philanthropy, Oxford University Press, 2011.

"What are Foundations For?"

Boston Review, March/April 2013.

"Not Very Giving."

New York Times, September 5, 2013.

"A Failure of Philanthropy."

Stanford Social Innovation Review, 2005.

"Equality, Adequacy, and K-12 Education."

In Education, Justice, and Democracy, University of Chicago Press, 2013.

"Trust, Transparency, and Replication in Political Science."

With David Laitin. PS: Political Science and Politics, January 2017: 172–175.

"The Civic Perils of Homeschooling."

Educational Leadership, 2002.