by Steve Lohr (Get the Book)It is rare these days to read the news or browse a bookshelf without encountering the mention of "big data." In this book, New York Times journalist Lohr (Go To) uses his Pulitzer Prize-winning reporting skills to dig into and explain the power, pervasiveness, and potential downside of big data. Lohr begins with a short introduction to the concept and moves through examples from numerous industries that show how this type of data is generated and used. He goes on to describe the burgeoning role of "data scientist," and explains how much of the power of big data comes from its ability to show correlations that would not be evident through smaller-scale comparisons. He also showcases several big data projects that aim to model human behavior with a goal of providing personalized services. The final two chapters in the book address privacy concerns related to data mining and the future of big data. VERDICT A quick read that will appeal widely to readers looking to get up to speed on this popular topic. --Library Journal
