The best data science audiobooks to keep you safe and savvy

Today, many people think of statistics as the enemy, numbers used to mislead and fool us. In The Data Detective, economic writer Tim Harford argues that statistics can be a powerful ally and force for good—if we understand what they mean and how they can improve our lives. Drawing on research in science and psychology, Harford sets out 10 strategies for using statistics to overcome harmful biases and, in collaboration with virtues like patience, curiosity, and common sense, promote fairness and justice, make work more fulfilling, and make the world a better place. This is a big-idea book about statistics and human behavior, and Harford's narration makes it all clear, uncomplicated, and compelling.

So much depends on the quality of our predictions, from the health of the global economy to our ability to prevent the next health crisis. When it comes to making accurate predictions, political forecaster Nate Silver is an expert. In The Signal and the Noise, he investigates how to distinguish a clear indicator of something significant happening from the glut of data. Silver draws insights from some of the most successful forecasters in a wide range of fields, from hurricanes to baseball to global pandemics. You'll learn how these forecasters think, what patterns they've unraveled, whether luck plays a role, and why probability matters. Called "one of the most momentous books of the decade" by The New York Times Book Review, this listen is definitely worth your attention.

Who says statistics are boring? Not journalist Charles Wheelan. In Naked Statistics, he explores how statistical tools are being applied to everything from batting averages to medical research, from catching schools that cheat on standardized tests to predicting which movies you'll enjoy streaming. Stripping away the arcane technical details, Wheelan clarifies key concepts such as inference, correlation, and regression analysis, reveals how biased or careless parties can manipulate or misrepresent data, and lets listeners in on how creative researchers are using valuable data and statistics to tackle all kinds of thorny questions. Narrator Jonathan Davis deftly voices this eye-opening and fascinating listen.

Basing decisions on mathematical models rather than human biases should make the world a fairer place. But as data analyst Cathy O'Neil reveals in Weapons of Mass Destruction, that's rarely the case. Used by businesses and government agencies to sort resumes, grant (or deny) loans, determine health insurance rates, set paroles, and more, algorithms directly affect people's lives and often reinforce discrimination. Narrating her own work, O'Neil shines a much-needed light on the danger of algorithms and calls for increased regulation and accountability.

Data discrimination is a real social problem, argues Safiya Umoja Noble. In Algorithms of Oppression, she exposes the way search engine results reinforce stereotypes, particularly about women of color. Combined with paid site promotion, the monopoly of a handful of search engines leads to a biased set of algorithms that privilege whiteness. While online discovery should be an equal playing field for all forms of ideas, activities, and identities, algorithms routinely perpetuate a culture of racism and sexism, as Noble shows through unsettling examples. In a world where virtually everyone turns to search engines for all kinds of information, and trusts the results, Algorithms of Oppression is a valuable contribution to our understanding of how harmful biases are created, maintained, and spread.

Pretty much any information we could possibly want is readily available on the internet. And every day, people all over the world use search engines to find answers to a staggering array of questions. In Everybody Lies, Seth Stephens-Davidowitz shares often surprising and sometimes hilarious insights into some of these questions, for starters—Do parents secretly favor boy children over girls? How regularly do we lie about our sex lives? What percentage of white voters didn't vote for Barack Obama because he's Black? The revelations say a lot about who we are and the decisions we make, both conscious and unconscious, as well as the questions we're afraid to ask that might be essential to our emotional health and healing the world.

Before debating the uses and misuses of data, you need to understand how data science works. Big Data provides a thorough introduction to the field's key concepts, methods, and applications. In this series of 24 lectures from The Great Courses, Tim Chartier, a professor of mathematics and computer science, explains the basic computational techniques and tools used in data analytics with a focus on how they're applied and the amazing results they achieve. Throughout, Professor Chartier offers case histories and relatable examples—from internet traffic analysis to the methods for filling out March Madness game brackets—that make the lessons easy to follow for beginners and entertaining for all listeners.

Interested in using data science to improve your company? Written by Foster Provost, based on an MBA course he's taught at New York University for more than 10 years, and Tom Fawcett, Data Science for Business is a must-listen. Beyond introducing the fundamental principles of data science, this guide walks you through how to make sense of the data you collect to add value to your business and navigate many different data-mining techniques. Throughout, the authors offer examples of real-world business problems to illustrate each principle. You'll come to appreciate how data science methods can support business decision-making and learn how to think data-analytically for competitive advantage.

You can collect data all day long, but if you aren't sure about how to best organize and extract information from that data, then what do you really gain from it? That's where Scott E. Page's The Model Thinker comes in. In this audiobook, you will learn how to gain real insight from mathematical, statistical, and computational models. This guide is perfect for everyone who needs to analyze data. So, in other words, it's perfect for everyone—business people, students, scientists, pollsters, and bloggers alike. The Model Thinker will make you a better thinker who can leverage data to your advantage.

How do we balance the demands of work and family with activities for our own fulfillment? When everything is top priority, is it possible to prioritize anything? In this fascinating work, Brian Christian (who holds degrees in computer science, philosophy, and poetry) and Tom Griffiths (a professor of cognitive science and psychology) show how the simple, precise algorithms used by computers can also untangle very human questions. They explain how to have better hunches and when to leave things to chance, how to deal with overwhelming choices and how best to connect with others. From finding a spouse to finding a parking spot, from organizing one's inbox to understanding the workings of human memory, Algorithms to Live By transforms the wisdom of computer science into strategies for human living.