“Calling Bullshit: The Art of Skepticism in a Data-Driven World” by Carl T. Bergstrom and Jevin D. West delves into the pervasive misinformation in today’s data-driven society. In an age awash with data, the authors contend that many use this information to obfuscate, mislead, and confuse the public, often for personal gain or to push a particular agenda. The book provides tools to spot “bullshit”—incorrect or misleading information presented as fact—and to call it out.

Using a combination of case studies, examples, and a sharp wit, Bergstrom and West illustrate how numbers, graphs, and infographics can be manipulated to misrepresent the truth. They discuss a variety of topics from misleading graphs in the media, to the misuse of big data and algorithms, showing readers how to discern trustworthy information from deceitful data.

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