I find data science interesting and it was interesting to read about its use in tech etc.

4.5 stars //This book a great overview of the insights that can be gained from big data sources like google searches, as well as the pros and cons that come from relying on big data as a source of truth. I especially liked the explanation of the weaknesses of big data, and the concrete examples given of how combining big and small data sources can help paint a more accurate picture of reality in many cases. I will definitely be referring to this book for some time to come and highly recommend it!

I sought out the book after reading an interview with the author, and it was totally worth it. The book is quite enlightening, and to be honest, deeply frightening. Internet data can work miracles for the benefit of humanity, but it can bring to life many unimaginable, Big-Brother-type nightmares (current US presidents not excluded, just sayin...). Still, it's good to know.

jennybatman's review against another edition

DID NOT FINISH

I got about halfway through and felt like I understood the author's argument and didn't need more explanation. 

I enjoyed reading the (entire) book. I hope Seth enjoyed his beer as much as I enjoyed his book.

This book was extremely interesting and was written in a simplistic way which was always understandable. I recommend reading if you want to understand more about the human psyche as represented through our not so secret secrets.

Enjoyed this very much and to make sure Big Data knows I read until the end: "I am going to get a beer with some friends and stop working on this damn conclusion. Too few of you, Big Data tells me, are still reading." Just in case someone might come looking. ;)

3.5 - a lot of interesting information which was enjoyable but not enough attention given to the darker implications of big data. Didn’t really have a conclusion which made it a cohesive read - as one if the apparent statistical anomalies who reads books to the end I didn’t appreciate the flippancy of the ‘conclusion’ (not enough of you are still reading to justify working on a proper conclusion so I’ll just wrap this up here and go for a beer)

I feel like I give every book 4 stars these days but that's what this was for me! I "really liked it". The examples and implications in this book are fascinating and make me want to learn how to manipulate data. It's not going to be my favorite book of the year but I would recommend it to anyone that's a little confused about what big data is or why it's important or how it's being used.

Motivasi awal baca buku ini sebenernya karena dorongan "Gua anak statistika masa ga pernah baca buku statistika?" Yaaaa jadi baca buku ini jadi sebuah deklarasi sih kalo w masih anak statistika yaaaa temen-temen ambisku :)

Kenapa 3 bintang?

Buku ini sesuai dengan subjudulnya menceritakan soal Big Data, bagaimana big data ini bisa mengubah semua statement yang mungkin udah mengakar di tatanan sosial saat ini. Contoh perilaku rasisme di Amerika Serikat, soal seksualitas manusia, dan lain-lain. Dari buku ini jadi semakin sadar kalau data itu penting. Penting banget. Sekecil apapun data itu bisa jadi variabel untuk memberikan informasi tertentu dan di buku ini lebih condong untuk mengungkapkan kebohongan-kebohongan yang ada di Amerika Serikat seperti bagaimana orang Amerika Serikat bilang kalau mereka sudah tidak peduli dengan warna kulit, ras, agama dalam menentukan pilihan presidennya tetapi saat Obama melakukan speech saat debat pilpres banyak orang Amerika yang melakukan pencarian di Google dengan kata "nigger" sehingga di buku ini dibilang kalau sebenernya rasisme di Amerika Serikat ya dibentuk oleh masyarakatnya sendiri. Jadi apa-apa yang mereka ucapkan melalui sebuah survei adalah kebohongan dan data melalui pencarian Google bisa lebih kita pegang untuk mengetahui informasi baru. Intinya adalah ambil apa yang mereka lakukan bukan apa yang mereka katakan.

Di buku ini ada beberapa part yang menurutku kurang nyaman karena terlalu gamblang dalam mencatumkan kata-kata seksual tapi kalau kamu fine aja dengan kata-kata ini silakan membaca dan kalau kamu kurang nyaman seperti aku hehe bagian ini bisa dilewatin aja karena jika tidak membaca part ini kalian masih bisa catching up dengan pesan-pesan yang disampaikan penulis. Selain itu, kalau kalian penyuka buku dengan gaya bahasa buku Outlier kalian akan sangat suka dengan buku ini tetapi kalo kurang suka dengan gaya bahasa buku-buku Outlier atau series Malcolm Gladwell kalian akan bosan dengan buku ini. Itulah alasan kenapa 3 bintang untuk buku ini.