The Secret Life of Data

Navigating Hype and Uncertainty in the Age of Algorithmic Surveillance

By: Aram Sinnreich, Jesse Gilbert

Narrated by: Jonathan Todd Ross

Length: 11 hrs and 4 mins

Publisher's summary

In The Secret Life of Data, Aram Sinnreich and Jesse Gilbert explore the many unpredictable, and often surprising, ways in which data surveillance, AI, and the constant presence of algorithms impact our culture and society in the age of global networks. The authors build on this basic premise: no matter what form data takes, and what purpose we think it’s being used for, data will always have a secret life. How this data will be used, by other people in other times and places, has profound implications for every aspect of our lives—from our intimate relationships to our professional lives to our political systems.

With the secret uses of data in mind, Sinnreich and Gilbert interview dozens of experts to explore a broad range of scenarios and contexts—from the playful to the profound to the problematic. Unlike most books about data and society that focus on the short-term effects of our immense data usage, The Secret Life of Data focuses primarily on the long-term consequences of humanity’s recent rush toward digitizing, storing, and analyzing every piece of data about ourselves and the world we live in. The authors advocate for “slow fixes” regarding our relationship to data, such as creating new laws and regulations, ethics and aesthetics, and models of production for our datafied society.

Cutting through the hype and hopelessness that so often inform discussions of data and society, The Secret Life of Data clearly and straightforwardly demonstrates how listeners can play an active part in shaping how digital technology influences their lives and the world at large.

©2024 Aram Sinnreich and Jesse Gilbert (P)2024 Recorded Books

Tackles Daunting Subject with Aplomb and Elan

I grabbed this book originally to confirm my biases and paranoias about big data and how i should pack up and live in a cabin in the woods but these talented writers talked me off the ledge with relateable, amusing anecdotes, intelligent, well informed interviews, laying out in-depth research in conversational plain speak so i wasn't confused or dashing to the dictionary ever paragraph. it did keep me on the edge of my seat and It even left me with (dare i say) a feeling of hope for the future. I also have to give props to the reader who was personable and gave FM Deejay/ Podcaster vibes that was easy on the ears and brain. This book would make a great Netflix documentary. I also have the physical version of this book so I can go back and underline passages and do further research on some ideas that were touched upon. Very curious to in a couple of years how close predictions pondered about here come to pass. Time will tell.

Good info crushed by beyond the pale bias

This book really contains some pretty important topics and information related to data protection, privacy, etc.

Unfortunately, the authors have such an over-the-top bias when it comes to presenting this information that it severely distracts from what they’re trying to convey.

Usually, it doesn’t matter to me one way or the other an authors “world view” leanings.

The problem with this book is that literally EVERY example doesn’t just ‘lean’ one way, it flat out topples and falls in a ‘massive avalanche’ one way.