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person1990s–present

Matthew White

Disciplines:
history
usa
mathematics/statistics
history/atrocities

Summary

American amateur historian who compiled The Great Big Book of Horrible Things — a statistical ranking and analysis of history's worst atrocities by death toll — referenced in the History 102 context for his systematic approach to quantifying historical violence.

Core Contribution

Provides the most comprehensive quantitative ranking of historical atrocities — The Great Big Book of Horrible Things's ranking of the 100 worst atrocities by death toll, with careful attention to source uncertainty and proportional impact, provides a useful if grim framework for understanding historical violence at scale.

Notable Works & Achievements

The Great Big Book of Horrible Things

Historical Influences

Historical statistics tradition

Intellectual Lineage

Self-taught researcherWeb presence

Contemporaries & Peers

Steven Pinker R.J. Rummel

Minds Influenced

Historical atrocities quantificationHistory 102

Intellectual Posterity

The Great Big Book of Horrible Things Necrometrics website

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Matthew White

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