Big Data

Harkness has the perfect combination of wit, charm and statistical insight to crunch big data. It’s the book about stats, life and big data we’ve all been waiting for. – Matt Parker, Stand-up MathematicianHarkness raises some very big questions indeed, not just about the grandiose claims of the big data evangelists, but also about how in the age of universal surveillance we can defend the concept of privacy. * The Herald *A wonderful collection of fascinating data stories, all told in Timandra’s smart and chatty style. But this book also asks the important questions. If big data brings new opportunities, just what are the implications? – Hannah Fry, author and mathematicianA brilliant guide to our brave new world. – Brian CleggThis book is a great read – full of interesting stories and fun interviews. But it is not just another credulous tale of technological wonders – Harkness is suitably sceptical of the hype about data analytics, and serious about the challenges is brings. – David Spiegelhalter, author and mathematician

Timandra Harkness is a writer, comedian and broadcaster, who has been performing on scientific, mathematical and statistical topics since the latter days of the 20th century. She has written about travel for the Sunday Times, motoring for the Telegraph, science & technology for WIRED, BBC Focus Magazine and Men’s Health Magazine, and on being ‘Seduced by Stats’ for Significance (the Journal of the Royal Statistical Society). She is a regular on BBC Radio, resident reporter on social psychology series The Human Zoo as well as writing and presenting documentaries and BBC Radio 4’s FutureProofing series.