Data: A Guide to Humans

by Phil Harvey, Noelia Jiménez Martinez

Data is humanity's most important new resource. It has the capacity to provide insight into every aspect of our lives, the planet and the universe at large; it changes not only what we know but also how we know it. Exploiting the value of data could improve our existence as much as - if not more than - previous technological revolutions. Yet data without empathy is useless. There is a tendency in data science to forget about the human needs and feelings of the people who make up the data, the people who work with the data, and those expected to understand the results. Without empathy, this precious resource is at best underused, at worst misused. A Guide to Humans will help you understand how to properly exploit data, why this is so important, and how companies and governments are currently using data. It makes a compelling case for empathy as the crucial factor in elevating our understanding of data to something which can make a lasting and essential contribution to your business, your life and maybe even the world.

217 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 21, 2021

Reviews

[Antonio · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book focusing on the “human” side of data like no other. The book is a mix of philosophy, data science/engineer and how to practise empathy with the other in the data world.

[Kofi Sarfo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an unusual book, containing technical information and espousing Humanity. It's co-authored by Phil, a cloud architect with a penchant for philosophy and Dr Noelia Jiménez Martinez, a data scientist with a background in computational astrophysics. You'd imagine, given their job titles, for them to have delivered text with a technical focus. Instead consideration is given largely to, well, consideration.

This book is really about Empathy, why it's necessary and how it helps, drawing inspiration from varied sources. References are highlighted so that you can later explore the related subjects without being distracted from what's being discussed.

It is quirky in that perspective starts at planet scale, highlighting the impact of human activity on the environment and urgent concern about sustainability, and later there's personal experience at the level of API and data format. Think globally, act locally, supported by data.

If you are a data practitioner, data producer in particular, I'd encourage you to start by reading the lengthy appendix first before returning to the rest of the book. It's where "Data Landscaping" is buried, arguably the most useful tool in this section.

It's a short book I plan to read again.

[Steve Fenton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book covers lots of territory, but always comes back to practical things you can actually do. Appendix 1 and 2 are far too good to be called an "Appendix". Lots of stuff to put into practice with the data In using every day.

[Chio · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesante acercamiento al mundo de los datos para alguien que no es del palo, léase sistemas/IT :)

[c e robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I met Phil at a BIMA event and pre-ordered this book - a fascinating look into communicating with and about data with humans (who have differing relationships with data).