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on May 13, 2017
If you've ever read Seth SD'd New York Times Op Eds, you'll recognize the endearingly self-deprecating writing style only a neurotic NYC Jew raised on Woody Allen and The Yankees can pull off. The topic itself is interesting enough: using aggregate google search data analytics as a tool for sociological study. But the author ups the ante with lolzy personal anecdotes, intrinsically comical studies (hint: penis sizes and porn), and that endlessly lovable sense of humor. The book's density is offset by crystalline prose and rapid fire storytelling. Give it a read.
on May 13, 2017
This book is both data-rich and funny ... at the same time! The author is a PhD in economics from Harvard using cutting edge methods to study human behavior. Boy, is he finding great stuff ... and by great, I mean the stuff we need to know but would otherwise never find out. An essential and enjoyable read.
on May 10, 2017
This is the funniest book I've read in general in a long time. I'm a data scientist but I've read Seth SD's NY Times pieces and they were great. So I ordered this book. I read it in about two nights since I got it. He's got stories that you wouldn't believe. I'm kinda afraid of what I put into google now. It's really eye opening how much data there is and that anyone can access aggregate data like this book does to find out interesting things. The best and most serious stories are about racism, but Seth does a great job of being neutral and sticking to the facts. Just like in his Times articles. I honestly haven't read such a good book since the first Freakonomics. It's that good!! Five stars all the way!
on May 15, 2017
I read it in two days. It is an easy and fun read even for the general reader.
“Everybody Lies” is a fascinating dive into the world of “Big Data”. The core premise of the book is that by mining large data sets we can answer questions more accurately than through other methods. Behavioral and psychological questions can be addressed without the filter of a poll or questionnaire, where “everybody lies”. Thus, in theory, we capture a more accurate representation of people’s real prejudices and desires through big data searches than through polling.
Seth Stephens-Davidowitz uses quirky and often humorous examples to show the power of big data. One example from the book revealed that I was one of the 7% who finished “Thinking, Fast and Slow” (I am not sure whether that is a good or bad thing).
The data is the data, but the interpretation is subjective. My concern is that the subjective conclusions drawn from the data will be presented as fact rather than what they are – subjective interpretations of the data (however statistically significant). As such, there is a danger that such information will be misused. We still need to be cautious in determining the meaning of the data.
Seth Stephens-Davidowitz brings the topic to life with terrific story telling about a wide number of subjects. The author has performed a great service by making this very important topic comprehensible to “the rest of us”.
“Everybody Lies” is a fascinating dive into the world of “Big Data”. The core premise of the book is that by mining large data sets we can answer questions more accurately than through other methods. Behavioral and psychological questions can be addressed without the filter of a poll or questionnaire, where “everybody lies”. Thus, in theory, we capture a more accurate representation of people’s real prejudices and desires through big data searches than through polling.
Seth Stephens-Davidowitz uses quirky and often humorous examples to show the power of big data. One example from the book revealed that I was one of the 7% who finished “Thinking, Fast and Slow” (I am not sure whether that is a good or bad thing).
The data is the data, but the interpretation is subjective. My concern is that the subjective conclusions drawn from the data will be presented as fact rather than what they are – subjective interpretations of the data (however statistically significant). As such, there is a danger that such information will be misused. We still need to be cautious in determining the meaning of the data.
Seth Stephens-Davidowitz brings the topic to life with terrific story telling about a wide number of subjects. The author has performed a great service by making this very important topic comprehensible to “the rest of us”.
on May 18, 2017
If you are like me, you wake up in a panic and google things at 4am and wonder, is it just me or does everyone else have weird secret google habits. Turns out, lots of people google their deep secrets (though most often at a more reasonable time of day).
Seth Stephens-Davidowitz takes what we are all thinking about but never talk about and puts it in writing. Detailed, thoughtful, and surprising, Seth Stephens-Davidowitz has a way of making even the most upsetting facts seem accessible and even normal.
I'm not a data person, but i've already suggested Everybody Lies: Big Data, New Data, and What the Internet Can Tell Us About Who We Really Are for my Book Club because it's a must read for anyone who is looking for an accessible, fun, and informative popular science book that still challenges you to question what you think you know. A great conversation starter!
Seth Stephens-Davidowitz takes what we are all thinking about but never talk about and puts it in writing. Detailed, thoughtful, and surprising, Seth Stephens-Davidowitz has a way of making even the most upsetting facts seem accessible and even normal.
I'm not a data person, but i've already suggested Everybody Lies: Big Data, New Data, and What the Internet Can Tell Us About Who We Really Are for my Book Club because it's a must read for anyone who is looking for an accessible, fun, and informative popular science book that still challenges you to question what you think you know. A great conversation starter!
on May 28, 2017
An enjoyable, fast, amusing, and informative read. Some nice little nuggets. Not sure "everybody lies" really sums this book up...there are great examples of that, but its a stretch as unifying theme. But who cares. I was sucked in by an article summary about peer-lending which lead me to this book.
While I was reading, there were few citations of things the author claimed that I felt dubious about...and I did not see the evidence presented...just asserted....and I found this frustrating while reading. Then,at the end I discovered he DID place extensive notes at the end of the book that I did not discover until I got to the end. So, in a perfect world getting that indication from a more standard type of citation notice would have been nice. Of course, like most folks for whom this isn't their area, I won't bother looking anything up myself in an original source material...but the idea that I COULD gives me comfort. ;-)
Some reviewers don't like their perception of the political spin in this book. It'd be great to do some big data analysis on those folk.
While I was reading, there were few citations of things the author claimed that I felt dubious about...and I did not see the evidence presented...just asserted....and I found this frustrating while reading. Then,at the end I discovered he DID place extensive notes at the end of the book that I did not discover until I got to the end. So, in a perfect world getting that indication from a more standard type of citation notice would have been nice. Of course, like most folks for whom this isn't their area, I won't bother looking anything up myself in an original source material...but the idea that I COULD gives me comfort. ;-)
Some reviewers don't like their perception of the political spin in this book. It'd be great to do some big data analysis on those folk.
on May 15, 2017
Coming from a hard science background but spending most of my career in the soft social sciences, I was frustrated by gullibility of my colleagues. Surveys were the way to go and sampling need only be the minimum needed. Even observations were a foreign idea. And for data analysis, most could not operate a spread sheet.
Data and plenty of it. I only fear the monetarising of the results. We are getting dry close to the point when you can fool ALL the people.
And yes, I did finish the book.
Data and plenty of it. I only fear the monetarising of the results. We are getting dry close to the point when you can fool ALL the people.
And yes, I did finish the book.
on May 17, 2017
Sex, segregation and subterfuge. Does life boil down to this? The author explores the gigabytes of data being captured through Google to see what it says about our collective behavior. His premise and title that Everybody Lies is based on observations that people's words ( social ) are often betrayed by their actions (anonymous). That our ego is motivated seeking social acceptance while Google captures the unabashed Id. It's not a pretty picture but it's worth taking a look.
on May 30, 2017
Everybody Lies is a fast-paced, rollicking exploration into how big data helps us better understand ourselves, our predilections, and our prejudices. There is much to like here. Topically, it fits in the genre of other creative and well-researched books like Freakeconomics and Outliers. The author has a clear objective and ample skill, but to say that he is singularly devoted to showing ways big data can unearth hidden truths understates his dexterity, pluckiness, and enthusiasm. Stephens-Davidowitz hunts for truths like a pig hunts for truffles. And he’s really really good at it.
I admired the author's eagerness to take on touchy topics in part because he does so with an abundance of wit, insight, and disarming sincerity. Whether diving into dating patterns, pornhub data, exploring tax fraud contagion, or recounting an awkward meeting with Larry Summers, Stephens-Davidowitz has a knack for exceptionally vivid and engaging story-telling. Stylistically, I could see comparisons to Malcolm Gladwell and Jordan Ellenberg, but I actually found him to be more like a mathematical-minded Jonathan Ames. I lost track of how many times I burst out laughing. And, despite the author’s Klein-bottle-of-a-conclusion that it is unlikely you will ever read his conclusion (a view support by… big data), I made it to the end with a smile, and am already looking forward to his next book.
I admired the author's eagerness to take on touchy topics in part because he does so with an abundance of wit, insight, and disarming sincerity. Whether diving into dating patterns, pornhub data, exploring tax fraud contagion, or recounting an awkward meeting with Larry Summers, Stephens-Davidowitz has a knack for exceptionally vivid and engaging story-telling. Stylistically, I could see comparisons to Malcolm Gladwell and Jordan Ellenberg, but I actually found him to be more like a mathematical-minded Jonathan Ames. I lost track of how many times I burst out laughing. And, despite the author’s Klein-bottle-of-a-conclusion that it is unlikely you will ever read his conclusion (a view support by… big data), I made it to the end with a smile, and am already looking forward to his next book.
