How Data Happened
| Author | Chris Wiggins Matthew L. Jones |
|---|---|
| Publisher | W. W. Norton and Company |
Publication date | 2023 |
| ISBN | ISBN:978-1-324-00673-2 |
How Data Happened: A History from the Age of Reason to the Age of Algorithms is a 2023 non-fiction book written by Columbia University professors Chris Wiggins and Matthew L. Jones. The book explores the history of data and statistics from the end of the 18th century to the present day.[1]
Publication
It has 336 pages and was published in 2023 by W. W. Norton & Company.[1]
Synopsis
The book starts at the end of the 18th century, when European states began tabulating physical resources, and ends at the present day, when algorithms manipulate our personal information as a commodity. It looks at the rise of data and statistics, and how early statistical methods were used to justify eugenics, quantify supposed racial differences, and develop military and industrial applications. The authors also discuss the impact of the internet and e-commerce on data collection, the rise of data science, and the consequences of government-run surveillance systems collecting vast amounts of personal data for customized, targeted advertising. They emphasize the importance of privacy and democracy, and propose remedies to the problems caused by mass data collection, including stronger regulation of the tech industry and collective action by its employees. The book is a historical analysis that provides context for understanding the debates surrounding data and its control.[1][2][3]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "How Data Happened: A History from the Age of Reason to the Age of Algorithms by Chris Wiggins, Matthew L Jones". https://www.publishersweekly.com/9781324006732.
- ↑ (in en) HOW DATA HAPPENED | Kirkus Reviews. https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/chris-wiggins/how-data-happened/.
- ↑ Lepore, Jill (2023-03-27). "The Data Delusion" (in en-US). https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2023/04/03/the-data-delusion.
External links
- The wild evolution of data science and how to unpack it, book excerpt on Big Think
- From Eugenics to Targeted Advertising: The Dark Role of Data in Sorting Humanity, book excerpt on Literary Hub
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