The Sum of the People: How the Census Has Shaped Nations, from the Ancient World to the Modern Age

Intriguing Book for Census Year. This book is currently scheduled to be released the day before Census Day and does an admirable job of tracing the concept of a census from its ancient origins through to its current uses, implications, and complexities. In that regard, it is very similar to Radley Balko's 2012 work Rise of the Warrior Cop, which traced policing in America in a similar fashion. Eye opening in many respects, head scratching in maybe a couple, this is absolutely a book that should be well read as the world goes into what the author proclaims as possibly the last global census as we currently understand it. Very much recommended.