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A review by rodhilton
Data and Goliath: The Hidden Battles to Collect Your Data and Control Your World by Bruce Schneier
5.0
Data and Goliath is an eye-opening read. I mean, I understand how I'm under constant surveillance due to things like my smartphone or cookies or Facebook, and I understand that the government gets access to a lot of this information via the Snowden leaks, but I guess I never fully connected all the dots enough in a single unified understanding of my world. Bruce Schneier provides it.
Most of the book is somewhat technical, helping the reader understand how data about them is collected and used. It does a good job of disseminating the Snowden whistleblowing information as well, so it's all very informative. That being said, the level of information often made me feel hopeless, like there was nothing that could be done and I almost had to just accept that this is how life is now.
The final few chapters offer some respite from this feeling of hopelessness. It contains sections on what governments ought to do, what people should do in the macro sense, and even what people should do in the micro sense, just for themselves to avoid surveillance. Schneier isn't idealistic about it either, he's pragmatic, and fully admits that there are some data people will be willing to turn over for convenience, security, or usability. There's nothing wrong with that, everyone's got to find their sweet spot.
Mostly though, I just came away feeling like Bruce Schneier is a national treasure. Can I vote for him for some kind of public office? Anything really? In a world of seemingly limitless insanity, he's a consistently sane voice. I highly recommend everyone read Data and Goliath.
Most of the book is somewhat technical, helping the reader understand how data about them is collected and used. It does a good job of disseminating the Snowden whistleblowing information as well, so it's all very informative. That being said, the level of information often made me feel hopeless, like there was nothing that could be done and I almost had to just accept that this is how life is now.
The final few chapters offer some respite from this feeling of hopelessness. It contains sections on what governments ought to do, what people should do in the macro sense, and even what people should do in the micro sense, just for themselves to avoid surveillance. Schneier isn't idealistic about it either, he's pragmatic, and fully admits that there are some data people will be willing to turn over for convenience, security, or usability. There's nothing wrong with that, everyone's got to find their sweet spot.
Mostly though, I just came away feeling like Bruce Schneier is a national treasure. Can I vote for him for some kind of public office? Anything really? In a world of seemingly limitless insanity, he's a consistently sane voice. I highly recommend everyone read Data and Goliath.