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climateguyry's review against another edition
5.0
Brittany provides yet another lens in which to view the CA/SCL. The topic of CA/SCL and the world events that have resulted from their work highly interests me. As any good individual should, one must gather as much information to help build the best understanding they can of any subject. Brittany's book tells her personal story during her time with CA which includes the struggles and insights into her worldview. She demonstrates that she is human, she is fallible, and willing to face and then learn from her mistakes.
Her story adds credibility to Wylie's and also contrasts some of his self perception. In all, both books provide a solid enough basis to demonstrate the severity of our current vulnerabilities with respect to big players in tech. Regardless of the narrative styles and personal opinions on how the author may have conducted herself, the information she presents is valuable and useful in helping to motivate and shape the future of our digital society.
Her story adds credibility to Wylie's and also contrasts some of his self perception. In all, both books provide a solid enough basis to demonstrate the severity of our current vulnerabilities with respect to big players in tech. Regardless of the narrative styles and personal opinions on how the author may have conducted herself, the information she presents is valuable and useful in helping to motivate and shape the future of our digital society.
riddleunsolved's review against another edition
4.0
It's hard not to see [a:Brittany Kaiser|19100626|Brittany Kaiser|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] as a career opportunist, readily exchanging her purportedly progressive political and social views for a lucrative career in election interference around the world. But her story is an important one, in which she illustrates how Cambridge Analytica used data harvested from Facebook profiles to build powerful psychographic profiles used to microtarget ads in the 2016 election, helping to propel Trump to victory. The book is long and somewhat repetitive, but it's important for anyone who cultivates any sort of virtual/online presence to understand how personal data is harvested, analyzed, and ultimately used to craft a specific message designed to appeal to an individual's proclivities.
eilisnolan's review against another edition
2.0
Two stars because the book does provide insight into CA and how personal data can be taken and used to manipulate people.
Only two stars because this book belongs to a unique genre of autobiographical content where the author still comes across so poorly that I have to wonder how poor she'd come across if it wasn't literally her writing it.
Only two stars because this book belongs to a unique genre of autobiographical content where the author still comes across so poorly that I have to wonder how poor she'd come across if it wasn't literally her writing it.
drewknew's review against another edition
3.0
Part Mea Culpa, Part Apologia, targeted tells the story of Cambridge Analytica and the use and abuse of big data in Brexit, the election of Trump, and campaigns around the globe. It is also the tale of how someone can be suckered into something with the right intentions but then to find themselves acting in ways contrary to their (former) beliefs.
Kaiser makes a compelling narrator but it is hard to have sympathy as time and again she overlooks and ignores warnings that all was not right in CA. Even allowing for the various personal pressures that saw her take the job in the first place, it is baffling that she didn't seek a way out sooner. Time and again she looks naive: even for someone in their twenties at the time of the book's events.
Kaiser makes a compelling narrator but it is hard to have sympathy as time and again she overlooks and ignores warnings that all was not right in CA. Even allowing for the various personal pressures that saw her take the job in the first place, it is baffling that she didn't seek a way out sooner. Time and again she looks naive: even for someone in their twenties at the time of the book's events.
marleneostebo's review against another edition
3.0
Veldig interessant bok, som har vært på listen min i typ ett år nå. Spennende - og skremmende - lesing, men samtidig en viktig bok, selv om jeg føler Kaiser tar litt lite ansvar for det hun faktisk var med på, og det virker som om hun unnskylder alt med naivitet og det faktum at hun i bunn og grunn er demokrat.
hpy1's review against another edition
3.0
Súper interesting read about the rise and subsequent fall of CA. However, Brits version is clearly to ease her own guilt and to frame herself as a victim. It’s hard to push through those bits, especially without being judgemental. I liked reading about the political/ commercial connections all around the word
meganlee96's review against another edition
4.0
Very informative, factual book.
This book was informative and available for all using easy to understand language and explanations.
Definately gave me a shock as I didn't realise how much data I gave away by being online and even how it was used by third parties.
Definately recommend this book for all.
This book was informative and available for all using easy to understand language and explanations.
Definately gave me a shock as I didn't realise how much data I gave away by being online and even how it was used by third parties.
Definately recommend this book for all.
glitterkitter's review against another edition
3.0
As someone who didn't follow this in the news as much more than headlines, it's nice to see it all laid out together (though I'm sure there are much better and more accurate accounts than this one), but for an inside story, it doesn't actually tell you anything. Reads more like a memoir and the author is clearly trying to diminish her own responsibility in what happened. She's somehow highly in all of these things, but claims to not have known about anything important, makes a point of mentioning charitable donations or campaigns she volunteered for when she was younger, how much she really would have liked to vote for Hilary/Sanders etc etc.
meganlee3001's review against another edition
4.0
Very informative, factual book.
This book was informative and available for all using easy to understand language and explanations.
Definately gave me a shock as I didn't realise how much data I gave away by being online and even how it was used by third parties.
Definately recommend this book for all.
This book was informative and available for all using easy to understand language and explanations.
Definately gave me a shock as I didn't realise how much data I gave away by being online and even how it was used by third parties.
Definately recommend this book for all.