Nicole Janeway Bills is the Founder & CEO of Data Strategy Professionals. She has a proven track record of applying data strategy and related disciplines to solve clients’ challenges, and has worked as a data scientist and project manager for federal and commercial consulting teams. Nicole’s specialisms include NLP, cloud computing, statistical testing and web and application development.
In this post, Nicole shares her curated list of the best books to enhance your skills as a data professional. This isn’t just an essential resource for anyone looking to improve their performance and decision-making capabilities – Nicole has included books on topics such as psychology and ethics, which offer new ways to think about data:
Authors: Jodi and Justin Daniels
Time to read: 6 hrs 44 min (202 pages)
Rating: 4.8/5 (28 total ratings)
SUMMARY: This is a realistic and practical view of how personal data is used in the real, commercial world. There will always be trade-offs. The data will always flow. This book sets the reader thinking about how personal data should be collected, used, stored and secured so that everyone is kept as safe as possible.
Data Reimagined will help you fast-track your approach, create trust in your data collection, and safeguard this trust with proper data use and sharing practices.
You’ll learn security measures for common vulnerabilities and how to use forward thinking as a competitive advantage to attract and build customer trust. Get ahead of the curve with this must-read for all business leaders searching for ways to build customer trust and protect their business.
TL;DR: The authors have done a great job of explaining the complex principles of data privacy and security in an engaging, easy-to-understand manner.
Authors: Brian Christian and Tom Griffiths
Time to read: 12 hrs 16 mins (368 pages)
Rating: 4.5/5 (3,460 total ratings)
SUMMARY: This book describes how algorithms can be used to improve the quality of life. Co-written by a computer scientist and a psychologist, it explores themes of order versus spontaneity, finding balance in life, and how technology influences the way we think. The authors show how algorithms can be used to untangle very human questions. For example: How to have better hunches? When to leave things to chance? How to deal with an overwhelming number of choices? How best to connect with others?
Algorithms offer quick fixes that can provide a framework, helping us work through issues that could seem overwhelming at first. The concepts in this book are designed to cut down on decisionmaking time and free up mental resources for other important tasks.
TL;DR: Describes how algorithms can aid in decision-making, how to approach optimisation, and how to use data to guide our choices.
Author: Leonard Mlodinow
Time to read: 8 hrs 10 mins (252 pages)
Rating: 4.5/5 (1267 total ratings)
SUMMARY: The author’s storytelling skills and imaginative approach vividly demonstrate the impact of randomness on our lives. He demonstrates how wine ratings, school grades, political polls, and corporate success are all less reliable than we think. It also highlights how our perception of control is a seductive illusion and that we are surrounded by complexity and chance encounters.
Throughout the book, Mlodinow draws on insights from probability theory and statistical analysis to explain why seemingly random events are often not as random as they appear. He also discusses the ways in which our cognitive biases can lead us to misunderstand the role of chance in our lives. Mlodinow also explores the history of probability theory and how it has evolved over time. He discusses the contributions of early thinkers such as Blaise Pascal and Pierre-Simon Laplace, and how their work laid the groundwork for modern statistical analysis.
In revealing the fragility of control, as well as uncovering the multitude of biases and fallacies which exert their forces on our minds, Mlodinow invites us to think deeper about the decisions we make in our lives.
TL;DR: Not all events and outcomes are well thought through and calculated. Chance and randomness play more critical roles in our lives than we think.
Author: Seth Stephens-Davidowitz
Time to read: 11 hrs 24 mins (352 pages)
Rating: 4.4/5 (2,592 total ratings)
SUMMARY: Stephens-Davidowitz explores new data available to researchers – amalgamations of thousands if not millions of data points collected from social media and online search engines – ‘big data.’ By describing what big data is, how it came to be, and how we may use it to better understand ourselves, Everybody Lies will open your eyes to the unspoken truths of human nature. Stephens-Davidowitz has carefully researched examples from these data sources to support his claims that big data can revolutionise how we look at society. Information collected from today’s largest social media platforms, as well as search engines, can teach data analysts unspoken truths about human nature which might contain hints as to how we can improve society in unexpected ways.
For data practitioners and internet users, the book’s dive into the lighter and more useful side of data collection is a welcome addition to conversations around data privacy. Your usage of the internet and consent to the collection of your information may one day, however inadvertently, help save someone’s life.
In all, Everybody Lies is a thought-provoking book and a good read for anyone interested in the insights that can be gained from big data.
TL;DR: Big data reveals communal secrets that individuals may be unwilling to disclose.
Author: Ray Dalio
Time to read: 19 hrs 12 mins (576 pages)
Rating: 4.6/5 (5,884 total ratings)
SUMMARY: In this book, legendary investor Ray Dalio examines why nations succeed and fail. He examines history’s most turbulent economic and political periods to reveal why the times ahead will likely be radically different from those we’ve experienced in our lifetimes. He offers practical principles to guide those working with data who seek to ‘predict the future’ when our past data will not necessarily reflect what is to come.
In his new book, Dalio argues that the times ahead will be very different from anything that we have experienced in our lifetimes. He examines the history of the last 500 years, the rise and fall of major empires, significant economic, political, and social cycles. Writing in a way that is both intuitive and enjoyable to read, Dalio focuses on fundamental ideas and recurring patterns. The book provides a fresh perspective on the current state of the world. It offers insight into how to navigate future changes. Overall, this one is a must-read for anyone thrilled by world affairs and interested in how to best navigate the changes ahead.
TL;DR: This truly fascinating book offers a broad perspective on the changing state of the world. It will teach you how to think in systems, and how to learn from the past to predict what’s to come.
Author: William MacAskill
Time to read: 9 hrs 4 mins (272 pages)
Rating: 4.5/5 (806 total ratings)
SUMMARY: MacAskill explores the essential questions that readers should ask themselves in order to make strategic, well-informed choices about how to best invest their time and energy into making the world a better place. MacAskill provides a methodology to determine how we can do the most good in our day-to-day lives. With the critical thinking skills inspired by this book, ordinary people can leverage the incredible opportunity of improving the world we live in.
One startling statistic stands out: the most effective charities can be 10x as effective as the average charity, and 100x as effective as an underperforming organisation. Effectiveness is largely about cause selection, and MacAskill argues that we should carefully consider top cause areas such as farmed animal welfare, global poverty, and catastrophic risk reduction opportunities that can have an outsized impact relative to their cost. Interested readers can check out Give Well and Giving What We Can for some ideas.
Despite the weighty message, MacAskill writes in an easy, conversational style. His excellent book will leave you feeling inspired and empowered to make change.
TL;DR: Offers a data-driven approach to maximising positive impact.
Author: Toby Ord
Time to read: 16 hrs 4 mins (480 pages)
Rating: 4.4/5 (747 total ratings)
SUMMARY: In beautifully crafted prose, Ord presents a comprehensive and thoughtprovoking examination of the potential risks that threaten humanity’s survival. And yet The Precipice is an imminently uplifting work. Ord emphasises that humanity’s future is in our hands – we must act now to protect ourselves and generations to come.
We are positioned at a time that Ord compares to adolescence – we face great uncertainty, but we have the tools to ease escalating risks and safeguard our future.
The Precipice explores a range of subjects, offering a thorough study of the potential hazards of each. Ord considers unaligned artificial intelligence, bioterrorism, nuclear war, climate change, supervolcanos, asteroids, and other potential sources of existential risk. He uses careful statistical analysis to conjecture about the harms posed by each.
One of Ord’s many merits is his ability to communicate difficult scientific and technological concepts in a straightforward way. He offers careful analysis of the moral and ethical ramifications of potential risk mitigation steps.
Ord underlines the significance of assessing existential hazards from a broad and long-term viewpoint throughout the book. He exhorts people to think about immediate repercussions and potential effects on future generations.
TL;DR: Comprehensive analysis of existential risks the world may face in the near future.
Author: Allen B. Downey
Time to read: 7 hrs 32 mins (226 pages)
Rating: 4.3/5 (140 total ratings)
SUMMARY: Learn computational statistics (distributions, probability laws, visualisation, and more) with this book.
Dow ney takes the reader through various exploratory data analysis techniques such as probability mass functions, cumulative distribution functions, and the like. Additionally, he covers crucial subjects including regression analysis, hypothesis testing, and probability distributions. This book’s use of actual data sets to demonstrate the ideas discussed makes it simple to comprehend and put the strategies into practice. The book also has a ton of problems and exercises that support the information presented. This straightforward reference introduces fundamental statistical ideas alongside Python code. It’s an excellent starting place for aspiring data analysts looking to streamline and advance their work.
Think Stats is a favourite of self-learners because the book teaches you statistics in practice rather than through theory, mathematical equations, or proofs.
TL;DR: Alongside simple Python code, the principles of basic statistics are laid out in a readily understandable format.
Authors: Kevin Simler and Robin Hanson
Time to read: 13 hrs 52 mins (416 pages)
Rating: 4.4/5 (790 total ratings)
SUMMARY: Explores unconscious motives and how they drive our personal decisions, business interactions, and social institutions.
The ‘elephant’ refers to the selfish motivations we inherited from our evolutionary ancestors.
The main goal of The Elephant in the Brain is to teach us to use our conscious thought processes to improve our behaviour rather than trying to justify selfish behaviours. The acknowledgment that you are not always making rational decisions is an uncomfortable revelation, which simultaneously represents a beneficial opportunity to make more thoughtful decisions in the future.
Simler and Hanson demonstrate that while the motivating factors behind the behaviour of most animals may be opaque to us compared to human behaviour, there are likewise motivations behind human behaviour which remain unacknowledged in most social situations.
TL;DR: Recognising the egoistic ‘elephant in the brain’ helps a data practitioner become more aware of potential biases in their decision-making. With more clarity, they can make better decisions in conditions of ambiguity.
Author: Julia Evans
SUMMARY: These brief, inexpensive, incredibly useful guides provide clear explanations of challenging concepts in technology. Wizard Zines is a collection of short and succinct tech publications by Julia Evans that use comic-style graphics to explain complex concepts in a fun and easy-tounderstand way.
The Wizard Zines Collection includes 12 zines, and the Bite Size Collection , which includes 4 zines on topics like debugging, command line, Linux, and networking. The zines can be purchased individually for $10 to $12 each or as a whole collection for $117.
The collection is targeted towards young adult and teen creatives but can be useful for those in their 30s and data practitioners who may find Evans’ approach (sticking to fundamentals, avoiding jargon, encouraging universal learning) a doctrine that can be incorporated into their workflow. The collection covers a wide range of technical subjects such as debugging, Linux, networking, SQL, Git, containers, and more. This provides a set of complementary skills thus making them a handy tool for data practitioners.
Overall, Wizard Zines is a highly recommended collection. The use of enticing visuals and concise explanations make these zines a great resource for anyone looking to expand their knowledge in a variety of computer science fields.
TL;DR: Learning complex concepts is way easier when we understand the fundamentals on which they are built.
Author: Steven Johnson
Time to read: 11 hrs 12 mins (336 pages)
Rating: 4.5/5 (1,116 total ratings)
SUMMARY: Johnson examines the origins of innovation in this book. From the ‘slow hunch’ to the ‘eureka moment,’ Johnson examines the numerous environments and circumstances that have contributed to some of the most important discoveries in human history. He also looks at how technology and the development of social networks have affected how we come up with and share ideas. His analytical style attempts to identify commonalities across the situations that engendered truly novel concepts, in order to provide data practitioners and general readers with practical advice on how to innovate in their own lives.
Johnson draws parallels between the innovative persistence of life in constant evolution and the need of the modern professional to innovate in order to pursue excellence in their field. He reveals that making connections in the mind isn’t necessarily about absorbing tons of new information. Rather, it is about connecting what we already know in new ways. The brain is by far the most dense, complex network on earth. In order to make the most of the information we have, we have to be able to access it. In a way that is slightly metaphysical, Johnson proposes that we already hold all the answers – they are internalised.
This is a must-read for anyone looking to better understand the patterns behind genuine innovation. The diversity of your personal network is what will make your ideas more sophisticated.
TL;DR: Anyone thrilled by the history of innovation, the creative process, or who wants to learn more about the patterns that underlie true invention should read it.
Author: Robert Sapolsky
Time to read: 26 hrs 50 mins (800 pages)
Rating: 4.7/5 (6,492 total ratings)
SUMMARY: Behave is a masterpiece survey of ‘the biology of humans at our best and worst,’ from the endocrine system to cultural influences on our neurology. From subjects like empathy to war, language, and free will, Sapolsky builds on his experience as a university professor with his humourful and enlightening tone while incorporating experimental data and statistical examples into each subject. Sapolsky argues that understanding the complex interplay between biology and environment is essential for understanding and addressing the most pressing social and political issues of our time, from poverty and inequality to war and conflict. Sapolsky’s bestseller represents a combination of multidisciplinary material on human behaviour woven through with rigorous data analysis, hand-in-hand with anecdotal storytelling, which is sure to delight any reader. His work can help us better understand not only ourselves, but the whole human world around us.
L;DR: This bestseller combines scientific research from every discipline with data-driven analysis to arrive at a complete picture of – not good, not bad, but fundamentally human – behaviour.
Author: Eric Barker
Time to read: 10 hrs 8 mins (304 pages)
Rating: 4.7/5 (665 total ratings)
SUMMARY: In this self-help book that examines the science behind interpersonal interactions, Barker dives into age-old maxims, drawing on science to reveal the truth beyond the conventional wisdom about human relationships. The book provides a thorough explanation of how people behave, particularly in forming close relationships. Barker emphasises the importance of community in determining a person’s level of happiness. Additionally, it gives practical information for recognising and resolving issues in romantic partnerships as well as for enhancing interpersonal communication. No wonder the book has been described as a ‘cure-all for our increasing emotional distance and loneliness.’
It provides effective advice on how to improve relationships, rekindle love, and approach new people whether you’re an extrovert or an introvert, socially confident or anxious. The author uses humour and anecdotes to explain the similarities between hostage negotiation strategies and marital disputes, how a skilled con artist lied his way into a twenty-year professional soccer career, and why people with opposing viewpoints may end up being our best friends.
For people who work in data management, this book gives important insights on how to be the ideal colleague, how to work effectively with others, and how to resolve problems scientifically and empathically.
TL;DR: Through concise, timely, and enjoyable stories, this book vividly illustrates difficult theories and concepts, and it concludes in a memorable, impactful way.
Authors: Nicole Forsgren PhD, Jez Humble, and Gene Kim
Time to read: 9 hrs 36 mins (288 pages)
Rating: 4.5/5 (2295 total ratings)
SUMMARY: Forsgren, Humble, and Kim present years of groundbreaking research conducted across more than 30,000 organisations on measuring software delivery performance and what drives it, presenting a collaborative approach to software development and operations that emphasises continuous improvement and delivery.
Uniting two thought leaders in DevOps with a world-class researcher has led to a real path to advancement in organisational design, software development culture, and systems architecture. Their research identified a set of key metrics and practices that are correlated with high-performing technology organisations, including frequent deployments, low change failure rates, and fast mean time to recovery. Using rigorous statistical methods, this book presents not only their findings, but the science behind the research, making the information accessible to readers from all backgrounds. Similarly, the authors offer actionable practices to improve company culture, leading to high-performing teams and improved outcomes. The clarity and easy functionality of their findings make this book a friend of management at every level. Overall, Accelerate is a comprehensive and practical guide to implementing a DevOps approach in technology organisations. It offers a data-driven and evidencebased perspective on how to achieve high performance in software development and operations and provides a roadmap for organisations seeking to improve their software delivery capabilities.
TL;DR: The authors present their findings on how to measure and improve the performance of software development teams, making concrete suggestions for management at every level.
Author: Atul Gawande
Time to read: 7 hrs 28 mins (224 pages)
Rating: 4.6/5 (7,327 total ratings)
SUMMARY: Gawande presents a convincing argument in favour of the use of checklists. Any data practitioner who is battling complexity will find motivation to bring this structure into life and work.
Gawande is an accomplished medical practitioner – he practises general and endocrine surgery at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, MA. He also finds time to write for The New Yorker and has written four best-selling books. So I would imagine he’s learned a thing or two about time management and not letting things slip through the cracks.
The Checklist Manifesto offers a thorough study across a variety of disparate fields in an effort to discover how to achieve success in the face of overwhelming complexity. Particularly if you find yourself moving from task to task with little time for reflection, you will benefit from the insights in this highly practical book. For example, you can start your checklist journey by looking at lessons learned from past projects. Working from this list of potential failure modes, pick one and create a checklist of no more than 5–9 items that aim to ensure your next project will avoid known errors. Move on to your next failure mode and repeat. Be sure to keep the set of checklists close at hand and update them frequently with new learnings and improved processes. While a checklist isn’t a magical formula, it can be a helpful communication tool to your future self, or others, about how to develop good routines. Checklists can be a great way of identifying and mitigating risk upfront.
TL;DR: Checklists bring standardisation and rigour to repeated processes. This book walks through why to use checklists, what makes for a good one, and how to use them.
Authors: Alfred Z. Spector, Peter Norvig, Chris Wiggins, and Jeannette M. Wing
Time to read: 11 hrs 8 mins (334 pages)
Rating: 5/5 (3 total ratings)
SUMMARY: Data science underlies applications used by billions of people every day. This book addresses this important field and raises fundamental questions about data quality, fairness, and privacy. The book offers frameworks for critically evaluating the ethical considerations needed to apply data science productively and conscientiously, which makes it a must-read for data practitioners. It also explores the fundamental ideas of data science and its effects on contemporary society, including the development of new tools, forms of entertainment, economic development, and potential answers to challenging, complex issues.
All teams working with data and data scientists will need to read this book. To apply data science more effectively and morally, students and professionals should thoroughly understand this perspective. The book is a collaboration between Alfred Spector, Peter Norvig, Chris Wiggins, and Jeannette M. Wing, all experts in their fields, and their combined knowledge and experience has resulted in well-written, informative and insightful resources for data stakeholders and practitioners. Read it for free at datascienceincontext. com, and check out author Peter Norvig’s class Practical Deep Learning for Coders
TL;DR: This book offers a highly comprehensive, compelling, and readable overview of data science with a range of real-life examples and a keen awareness of the ethical challenges involved.
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