New pages from ‘What We Ask Google’

When I first started working on What We Ask Google, I knew it shouldn’t feel just like a book of lists. I wanted to reflect some of what I’ve learned working with the world’s biggest dataset: that this is a human story, the story of all of us. And I wanted it to reflect my own journey too.

It also needed an illustrator who understood the power of data and how to make it human, which is is where Nigel Holmes came in. I have always loved Nigel’s work, the way he can make complex concepts come to life with humour and joy. He is also used to working with others (and we share a love of Richard Scarry too) – lots of his books are really collaborations. And that’s what this book is too. I am not sure it would work without the illustrations. They may be oftentimes funny or surprising but they are also true to the data.

Publication is May 2026 – but in the meantime, enjoy these samples.