Review of 'Mindf*ck: Cambridge Analytica and the Plot to Break America' on 'Goodreads'
5 stars
It's all much worse, than you think. Go read the book.
Published Dec. 4, 2019 by Random House.
Mindf*ck: Cambridge Analytica and the Plot to Break America
4 stars
(18 reviews)
Review of 'Mindf*ck: Cambridge Analytica and the Plot to Break America' on 'Goodreads'
5 stars
Essential reading if you use Facebook. I deleted my profile!!
Review of 'Mindf*ck: Cambridge Analytica and the Plot to Break America' on 'LibraryThing'
Fascinating and compelling narrative about a data scientist/political worker who was one of the brains behind Cambridge Analytica and its data-sweeping efforts to map and influence every American and British voter using Facebook data, psychological tests posing as games, and other off-the-shelf data. Especially interesting is the way CA was set up through shell companies as a quasi-legal US version of its parent company, SCL, so it could legally influence US elections. Bannon is a major player as are the Mercers and a Russian oil company - and it's all very alarming. I thought the author did an excellent job of explaining both the technical and political aspects of the company. The CEO, Alexander Nix, is quite a character - one the author obviously found a loathsome combination of talented salesmanship, ostentation, and ineptitude. Though he addresses how he got swept into working against democracy (the intellectual challenge was exciting, …
Fascinating and compelling narrative about a data scientist/political worker who was one of the brains behind Cambridge Analytica and its data-sweeping efforts to map and influence every American and British voter using Facebook data, psychological tests posing as games, and other off-the-shelf data. Especially interesting is the way CA was set up through shell companies as a quasi-legal US version of its parent company, SCL, so it could legally influence US elections. Bannon is a major player as are the Mercers and a Russian oil company - and it's all very alarming. I thought the author did an excellent job of explaining both the technical and political aspects of the company. The CEO, Alexander Nix, is quite a character - one the author obviously found a loathsome combination of talented salesmanship, ostentation, and ineptitude. Though he addresses how he got swept into working against democracy (the intellectual challenge was exciting, some of his colleagues were smart and creative, and they were doing something new - kind of like the excuses physicists who regretted working on the atomic bomb made) it's still a bit of a mystery how a centrist-to-left political operative would cooperate with Brexit and far-right Republican campaigns.
Review of 'Mindf*ck: Cambridge Analytica and the Plot to Break America' on 'Goodreads'
5 stars
It took my sooo long to finish it. No because it is boring but because it is packed with so many unbelievable details that i could not read it in one long session. Highly recommended.
Review of 'Mindf*ck: Cambridge Analytica and the Plot to Break America' on 'Goodreads'
4 stars
Behind the scenes into the morally depraved companies and individuals that create and control mass media.
Along with his personal Cambridge Analytica, Brexit, and and U.S. election timelines, the author gives excellent insight into public manipulation and data abuse. Given his unique experience with research and analytics, his personal takes on news outlets, recent political phenomenons, sub-cultures, and voter identities is fascinating. Mindfuck perfectly describes how it feels to read the book, trying to connect the author's web of experiences, and basically how these companies prefer the public to be.
The book has a couple lulls in the story and pacing. The author’s integrity could be questioned in certain regards. But what's written here, combined with the evidence provided publicly to back it up (something that’s missing from related books), makes it well worth the read. In fact it feels like some of the only honest takes you'll get on …
Behind the scenes into the morally depraved companies and individuals that create and control mass media.
Along with his personal Cambridge Analytica, Brexit, and and U.S. election timelines, the author gives excellent insight into public manipulation and data abuse. Given his unique experience with research and analytics, his personal takes on news outlets, recent political phenomenons, sub-cultures, and voter identities is fascinating. Mindfuck perfectly describes how it feels to read the book, trying to connect the author's web of experiences, and basically how these companies prefer the public to be.
The book has a couple lulls in the story and pacing. The author’s integrity could be questioned in certain regards. But what's written here, combined with the evidence provided publicly to back it up (something that’s missing from related books), makes it well worth the read. In fact it feels like some of the only honest takes you'll get on the subject.
Review of 'Mindf*ck: Cambridge Analytica and the Plot to Break America' on 'Goodreads'
5 stars
This is a powerful book that I encourage anyone and everyone to read. It’s time to re-consider the need to contribute to unscrupulous platforms such as Facebook (and all of its other social media assets). There are real-world implications of belonging to these walled-gardens for the benefit of unseen corporations and other agencies, and to the detriment of society.
Five stars.
