The Numerati

Well worth the price of admission. The contribution is not so much in the reminder that we are in a data-rich information age and the tech-heads rule the world; we've known that for at least a decade (And have had plenty of time to prepare). I found useful and entertaining the broad archetypal sweep of the book, from Blogger to Lover; the data story is fully conveyed in its social and psychological context.THE NUMERATI is also helped by personalizing the narrative. The author uses notables such as Dave Morgan (Founder of Tacoda and impressive to say the least)to help carry and intepret the story. THE NUMERATI is about "towering complexities." It's also a very good read.

I found this book so interesting. I had no idea how much information I was giving out on a weekly basis. After having read the book, I noticed that when I signed up for something on the internet they wanted me to answer 5 of their preselected questions. It used be one and you could always use the same question and answer but I can see they are trying to find out more info on me like where I went to school, and on it goes.
I think big brother is definitely here or else you can't have a credit card, shop on line etc.

I really enjoyed the way he presented the information since I am not a technical person or a math wizard. The book was easy to read and written in a personal, interesting style.

Highly recommended. Baker's The Numerati reports on how the growth of large-scale databases and sophisticated analytical techniques are remaking politics, business, health care and government. An excellent companion piece to Ian Ayres book " Super Crunchers: Why Thinking-By-Numbers is the New Way To Be Smart. Ayers is a member of the Numerati (and come to think of it - sort of surprising that he is not profiled in Baker's book) where Baker is a journalist. The books taken together help round out the picture on rapid growth of data and evidence based decision making.

In terms of delivery etc., all that stuff was on time and as promised. The book itself is quite good but repetitive and, in some way, if you keep reading from newspapers and magazines often, then it offers little new.

Reading Baker's well-written and insightful book dispels any notion that numeracy is not necessary to fathom the 21st century.