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amber_lea84's review against another edition
4.0
This one is hard to rate because it's not perfect. For starters, I would have liked more data and less anecdote. On top of that, it was at times a bit rambley and repetitive. I also think the author called her own credibility into question by opening with an anecdote about how her insurance got cut off and it's because she was flagged for health-care fraud by an automated system. Then she revealed that she doesn't actually know if she was flagged for fraud, she just assumes. Uhh. Probably should have scrapped that anecdote since it's based on a theory. Then she brings it up again toward the end, speaking with total certainty like it for sure happened. Bruv, you said before that you didn't know that it was true.
BUT she still makes a good argument for how the poor shouldn't be treated worse than the middle class simply because they're poor. I completely agree we should protect the privacy, agency, and self-determination of the poor just like we would anyone else, and that in some ways we make things significantly worse for the poor under the guise of "helping". And there's too much focus within different assistance programs on rooting out the undeserving at the expense of people who legitimately need help. I would say most of her points are good? Some of her points about data and technology were suspect to me, but I can't speak to anything being factually incorrect. I just suspect that, like her anecdote about being flagged for fraud, she is maybe jumping to some conclusions. At best my skepticism speaks to her making her points poorly. There were a handful of times where she threw something out there without backing it up, leaving me to decide it if it was worth it for me to look it up and all she needed to do was add like two more sentences to explain.
But I still agree with her larger over arching conclusions even if I don't completely trust her evidence. Honestly, I would probably knock this down more stars, but I'm just really passionate about the idea that the poor deserve their autonomy. I feel like that was really the main point of this book. This book is really about how we should respect the freedom of the poor, not use technology to police them as if they're criminals, and give everyone UBI. I wouldn't give this book to anyone to try to convince them of those points, but I might pull arguments from this book.
BUT she still makes a good argument for how the poor shouldn't be treated worse than the middle class simply because they're poor. I completely agree we should protect the privacy, agency, and self-determination of the poor just like we would anyone else, and that in some ways we make things significantly worse for the poor under the guise of "helping". And there's too much focus within different assistance programs on rooting out the undeserving at the expense of people who legitimately need help. I would say most of her points are good? Some of her points about data and technology were suspect to me, but I can't speak to anything being factually incorrect. I just suspect that, like her anecdote about being flagged for fraud, she is maybe jumping to some conclusions. At best my skepticism speaks to her making her points poorly. There were a handful of times where she threw something out there without backing it up, leaving me to decide it if it was worth it for me to look it up and all she needed to do was add like two more sentences to explain.
But I still agree with her larger over arching conclusions even if I don't completely trust her evidence. Honestly, I would probably knock this down more stars, but I'm just really passionate about the idea that the poor deserve their autonomy. I feel like that was really the main point of this book. This book is really about how we should respect the freedom of the poor, not use technology to police them as if they're criminals, and give everyone UBI. I wouldn't give this book to anyone to try to convince them of those points, but I might pull arguments from this book.
ignimbrite's review against another edition
Okay, I thought this was an interesting book, but I'm really curious (and kind of disturbed) about why my very banal status updates regarding this book - and only this book - have been getting a ton of "likes" by people I don't know. Why have so many strangers liked that I added this to my "Want to Read" list, or that I added it to my "Currently Reading" list, or that I listed it as "Read" but did not rate it or give it a review? (And still, over a month after I finished the book?) WHY ARE SO MANY BOTS INTERESTED IN MY READING OF A BOOK ABOUT THE DYSTOPIAN INTENTIONS AND IMPACTS OF AUTOMATED SOCIAL SERVICES? Has anyone else noticed this? It's really creeping me out...
vurawnica's review against another edition
5.0
super interesting insight into the history of public programs in the US and how they've developed into what they are now. it's crazy how bad the systems are today because they were built up from such a horrible foundation rooted in racism and classism. the book doesn't get very technical, but more provides a history and overview of how the programs function now along with interviews with people who work for or use the programs, and how the current "solutions" and automations have negatively affected people. technology isn't unbiased because it is created by humans, and despite our biases we have more ability to understand context when dealing with complicated situations and be self-aware of what biases we hold.
benrogerswpg's review against another edition
5.0
This was an extremely good book on inequality, algorithms, and social assistance.
Very important read and very appropriate read for me.
I got a lot out of this book.
An amazing companion book to the book, [b:The Divide: American Injustice in the Age of the Wealth Gap|17834864|The Divide American Injustice in the Age of the Wealth Gap|Matt Taibbi|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1403165815l/17834864._SY75_.jpg|24955022].
I highly recommend this book.
4.9/5
Very important read and very appropriate read for me.
I got a lot out of this book.
An amazing companion book to the book, [b:The Divide: American Injustice in the Age of the Wealth Gap|17834864|The Divide American Injustice in the Age of the Wealth Gap|Matt Taibbi|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1403165815l/17834864._SY75_.jpg|24955022].
I highly recommend this book.
4.9/5
charlatte_lee's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
4.0
laynescherer's review against another edition
5.0
A remarkable ethnography detailing the human cost of automation done with the intent to “increase efficiency.”
crescent_moon22's review against another edition
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.5
Eubanks talks through the history of poverty in America starting from poor houses. She then goes into automation and focuses on the automation study in Indiana. There were many things that I did not know about how big data criminalizes the poor. In accepting help and programs you add to your risk score which can lead to getting your children taken away from you. This book is essential as we move into a more automated era with technology.