Everybody Lies: What the Internet Can Tell Us about Who We Really Are book cover

Everybody Lies

What the Internet Can Tell Us about Who We Really Are

Seth Stephens-Davidowitz
3.91(42150 Reviews)

Overview of Everybody Lies

Everybody Lies reveals how internet data exposes our hidden truths. Named an Economist and PBS Best Book, it's "Freakonomics on steroids" according to Stanford's Raj Chetty. What shocking secrets about racism and sex are we hiding from surveys but telling Google?

Key Themes in Everybody Lies

  • big data analytics
  • social desirability bias
  • digital footprints
  • human behavior patterns
  • hidden societal prejudices

Quotes from Everybody Lies

  • Online searches function as 'digital truth serum.'

  • The data also exposes hidden struggles.

  • People are more likely to admit prejudices online.

  • The power of Big Data is a new way of understanding.

Characters in Everybody Lies

  • Seth Stephens-DavidowitzAuthor, data scientist, and former Google analyst

About the Author

About the Author of Everybody Lies

Seth Stephens-Davidowitz is the New York Times bestselling author of Everybody Lies: Big Data, New Data, and What the Internet Can Tell Us About Who We Really Are and a pioneering data scientist specializing in behavioral analytics.

A Harvard-trained economist and former Google data scientist, he merges academic rigor with real-world insights to expose hidden truths about human behavior through unconventional data sources like Google searches and social media patterns. His work, which bridges economics, psychology, and technology, has established him as a leading voice in decoding digital-age societal trends.

Stephens-Davidowitz’s research and commentary have been featured in his New York Times op-eds, TEDx talks, and his follow-up book Don’t Trust Your Gut, which examines data-driven decision-making for personal goals. As a visiting lecturer at the Wharton School and frequent speaker at institutions worldwide, he translates complex data analyses into accessible narratives.

Everybody Lies was recognized as a Book of the Year by The Economist and PBS NewsHour, with translations spanning over 20 languages, cementing its influence in behavioral science and digital anthropology.

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"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw
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"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum
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"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
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"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore
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"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

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"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA
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117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw
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star
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"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum
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12
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108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
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254
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17

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore
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"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

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