You could also just run your own local caching resolver that hits the real root nameservers for lookup.
Running a real, public DNS server is a highly skilled, full time job. I wouldn't touch it with a barge pole and I (roughly) know how to do it.
Running "apt-get install unbound" on your laptop/desktop gives you a local caching recursive resolver which performs dnssec validation.
Doesn't sound like a full time job to me.
But then, unbound is not a "real, public DNS server".
It is not no. chillydawg made the mistake of conflating the two things. Running a, "real, public DNS server" is not required in order to do DNS lookups without using somebody elses recursive resolver.
Not public, probably just a local server for personal use.