Longtime Newton Resident's Book Nominated For Pulitzer Prize

NEWTON, MA — A longtime resident’s most recent publication is in the running for one of the nation’s most prestigious literature awards.

Bob Carp’s “Quantifying Democracy - Chaos Theory and the Science of Election Forecasting,” is a nominee in the General Nonfiction category of the 2026 Pulitzer Prize.

Carp describes the work as a unique perspective on the mathematical dynamics of momentum in political landscapes. He expresses the ways he believes chaos theory is not only used in electoral contexts but also how it can serve as a weapon for election interference and manipulation. Chaos theory is described as a branch of mathematics and science that focuses on deterministic systems whose outcomes are highly sensitive to their starting conditions.

“It took a year and a half to write the book,” Carp told Patch. “I used a lot of the statistics available at the Federal Election Commission, along with other websites that provide campaign spending and social media analysis.”

Carp said that he did not author the book with the goal of winning the award. The 70-year-old has more than a dozen works to his name, and says recognition is not his primary purpose at this stage in his life.

“I've been blessed to live a very comfortable life and provide for my wife and two children at a level I never ever dreamed I could accomplish,” Carp told Patch.

He added that his wife jokingly says it took him approximately 40 years to become an overnight success.

Carp lived in Newton for 35 years, and his wife is a native and lifelong resident. The couple resided locally until retiring to Gloucester five years ago.

“What's funny is that I lived in 4 different places all within 200 yards of each other,” Carp said about his time spent in Newton. “Our first home was at Broadlawn, and from there to Harwich Road, and finally we spent 20 years raising our kids on Hollywood Drive.”

Carp is a Harvard trained government scientist, holding a master’s degree in government. He also has experience on the Dean’s Council at the Kennedy School of Government.

“I have met countless world leaders, and am a self-confessed political junkie,” Carp told Patch. “I've always enjoyed watching political contests unfold and discussing strategies with like-minded people.”

He said the biggest takeaway he hopes readers of Quantifying Democracy have is that elections are often decided by small issues just as often as larger ones. The Pulitzer Prize was founded by Joseph Pulitzer in 1917. The 2026 award winners are slated to be announced in May.

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