Paired informal and scholarly essays reveal how everyday events illuminate fundamental concepts of data, including its creation, management, aggregation, and use. From questioning numbers on a scale to navigating a foreign supermarket, we engage with data in our daily lives. Melanie Feinberg argues that to handle data responsibly, we must acknowledge its human character. While the data may seem familiar, a closer look reveals its ambiguity and complexity. Using tools from information science, Feinberg illustrates a practical and critical approach to understanding data through relatable scenarios, such as choosing between products on Amazon. Each chapter features a self-contained main essay paired with a scholarly reflection, beginning with anecdotes like visiting the library or cooking rice. Feinberg emphasizes that to grasp the implications of data science, we must focus on the data itself rather than just the algorithms that manipulate it. By reflecting on common experiences, she elucidates essential data concepts and the subtle design decisions that shape its existence. Through themes like serendipity, objectivity, and locality, she highlights the pervasive role of data in our thoughts and lives, encouraging a deeper understanding of its complexities.
