Data-ism

Steve Lohr, a NEW YORK TIMES technology reporter, delivers a solid narration of his take on big-data analysis and how it will transform the world. A clear and professional-sounding speaker, he seems urgent at times, but his tone fits the book, which offers a sweeping discussion of both the benefits and threats presented by big-data analysis. He provides colorful examples of recent accomplishments in tech-enabled research, such as computers that track personal habits. With fascinating descriptions of additional applications--from air traffic control to farming and warehouse management--Lohr chronicles an important historical transition as citizens weigh how to balance the power of big data with other considerations like privacy and the public good. T.W. © AudioFile 2015, Portland, Maine

Starred review from January 19, 2015
New York Times technology correspondent and Bits Blog columnist Lohr (To Go) offers a nuanced look at the rise of big data, and the challenges the world faces in maximizing the “technological payoff” while minimizing the risk to personal privacy. He starts by illustrating the need for better ways to manage huge amounts of data, with a visit to the intensive-care unit at Emory University Hospital, noting that a typical 20-bed unit generates an estimated 160,000 data points a second. The sheer volume overwhelms human capacity for processing, but analyzing “vast amounts of data and spotting seemingly subtle patterns is where computers and software algorithms excel.” Data technology also has the potential to dramatically improve efficiency in industries such as energy and agriculture. But Lohr is not a mere cheerleader for the power of information, and he suggests that enthusiasm for “big-data decision making” must be tempered with humility, given the important aspects of life that cannot be quantified, and the power of complex algorithms to make harmful, and mistaken, data-based predictions. In this accessible introduction to a complex topic, Lohr offers insight valuable to both businesses and everyday people. Agent: Max Brockman, Brockman, Inc.

March 1, 2015

It is rare these days to read the news or browse a bookshelf without encountering the mention of "big data." In this book, New York Times journalist Lohr (Go To) uses his Pulitzer Prize-winning reporting skills to dig into and explain the power, pervasiveness, and potential downside of big data. Lohr begins with a short introduction to the concept and moves through examples from numerous industries that show how this type of data is generated and used. He goes on to describe the burgeoning role of "data scientist," and explains how much of the power of big data comes from its ability to show correlations that would not be evident through smaller-scale comparisons. He also showcases several big data projects that aim to model human behavior with a goal of providing personalized services. The final two chapters in the book address privacy concerns related to data mining and the future of big data. VERDICT A quick read that will appeal widely to readers looking to get up to speed on this popular topic.--Sara Holder, McGill Univ. Libs., Montreal

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