Data-ism: Inside the Big Data Revolution Paperback – Import, 4 February 2016

This is a very entertaining and informative book that provides an overview of the scientists and researchers who shaped and are shaping the rapidly expanding use of Big Data in probably every major industry (many examples provided, including hospitality, pharmaceuticals, home electronics). Centered around the story of Jeffrey Hammerbacher (now at Mt. Sinai medical school), Lohr takes the reader to and through leading Big Data trends and the pretty brilliant people who are leading them. (Who knew that a Bell Labs researcher named John Tukey first used the terms "bit" and first published the word "software" back in 1958?) Chapter 10 deals with the downside of Big Data (privacy). All in all, unless you are already an expert in Big Data, you will learn a lot from Data-ism.

I read Steve Lohr's book Data-ism with keen interest. The author is a noted reporter for The Times that writes on technology. I was looking forward to the book and found it an interesting read. However, it's a bit patchy in certain places and tends to focus specifically on one point or illustration. I'm not sure it gives a balanced view of the emerging field of data science. That said, I particularly liked the way it talked about how data science is revolutionizing farming -- how the putting together of many sensors enables one to get an overview of the field much more so than one could get normally.

The book tries to be inspirational by telling the careers of big data players, but has almost not content apart from that.If you want to get into Big Data, get another book.

With his traditional sharp journalistic insight, Steve Lohr tells compelling information-rich stories of Big Data, by way of remarkable individuals and bold companies. Stories from Mt. Sinai Hospital, Gallo vineyards, IBM Research, and East and West Coast startups show the fast changing way algorithms are disrupting business, healthcare, and more. Mostly the stories are optimistic, but privacy concerns are covered, with some other dangers such as loss of control, data errors, incorrect predictions, and loss of individual freedoms in the face of big business power. More about education, community safety, government applications, and of course the NSA’s distressing Big Data presence would help. Some readers may want more technical descriptions, but this book makes for compelling fast reading about the personalities, excitement, and challenges for business.

I've read a lot of the recent "big data is coming" type books. I have to as part of my job.I would give this one the pass, definitely. Unacceptably large chunks of it are the bios of various big data visionaries, which are only minimally interesting. In the end I don't think the author has any insights that anybody else doesn't have.Viktor Mayer-Schönberger's "Big Data" is a LOT better. It's the book this one wanted to be.