WIN $150 GIFT VOUCHERS: ALADDIN'S GOLD

Close Notification

Your cart does not contain any items

Mindmasters

The Data-Driven Science of Predicting and Changing Human Behavior

Sandra Matz

$54.99

Hardback

Forthcoming
Pre-Order now

QTY:

English
Harvard Business Review Press
07 January 2025
A refreshingly relatable exploration of how algorithms penetrate the most intimate aspects of our psychology, and how we can regain mastery over our lives

from the pioneering expert of psychological targeting.

There are more digital pieces of data than stars in the universe. This data helps us monitor our planet, decipher our genetic code, and take a deep dive into our psychology.

As algorithms become increasingly adept at accessing our minds, they also become more and more powerful at controlling it

enticing us to buy a certain product or vote for a certain political candidate. Some of us say this technological trend is no big deal. Others consider it one of the greatest threats to humanity. But what if the truth is more nuanced and mind-bending than that?

In Mindmasters, Columbia Business School professor Sandra Matz offers a fascinating insider perspective on the art and data-driven science of psychological targeting. By relating her own personal story of growing up in a small village

where few aspects of life remain truly private

to her groundbreaking research in computational psychology, Matz reveals how Big Data offers insights into the most intimate aspects of our psyche and how these insights empower external influence over the choices we make.

Filled with Ted-Talk-like explanations and real-life examples from Matz's research and consulting work, Mindmasters paints a nuanced picture of the power of psychological targeting. Like nosy neighbours, it can be creepy, manipulative, and downright harmful

with scandals like Cambridge Analytica being merely the tip of the iceberg. Yet, like any tight-knit, supportive village community, it also holds enormous potential to help us live healthier and happier lives

for example, by improving our mental health, encouraging better financial decisions, or enabling us to break out of our echo chambers.

With passion and clear-eyed precision, Matz shows us how to manage psychological targeting and redesign the data game in a way that empowers us to take back control and ask more of our personal data.

Mindmasters is a riveting look at what our digital footprints reveal about us, how they're being used

for good and for ill

and how we can gain more control and power over the data that define us.
By:  
Imprint:   Harvard Business Review Press
Country of Publication:   United States
Dimensions:   Height: 235mm,  Width: 155mm, 
ISBN:   9781647826314
ISBN 10:   1647826314
Pages:   224
Publication Date:  
Audience:   General/trade ,  ELT Advanced
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Forthcoming

Dr. Sandra Matz is the David W. Zalaznick Associate Professor of Business at Columbia Business School, in New York. As a computational social scientist with a background in psychology and computer science, she studies human behavior and preferences using a combination of big data analytics and traditional experimental methods. Her research uncovers the hidden relationships between our digital lives and our psychology with the goal of helping businesses and individuals make better decisions. Sandra's work is frequently covered in major news outlets, including the Economist, the New York Times, BBC, CNBC, the Wall Street Journal, Business Insider, Inc., WIRED, the Washington Post, the Independent, the Guardian, the Chicago Tribune, Psychology Today, Scientific American, Fortune, Forbes, and more.

Reviews for Mindmasters: The Data-Driven Science of Predicting and Changing Human Behavior

Advance Praise for Mindmasters: ""Mindmasters is about one of the most exciting—and terrifying—developments in human history: big data's ability to understand us better than we know ourselves. Sandra Matz shows fascinating examples of the insights embedded in big data, frightening examples of its dangers, and concrete proposals for how to make big data work best for society. A rare book that is fascinating, provocative, scary, exciting, wise, and undeniably important."" — Seth Stephens-Davidowitz, New York Times bestselling author, Everybody Lies ""A riveting read, Mindmasters reveals how algorithms predict your personality traits and shape your behavior—and why it matters. Witty, accessible, and packed with interesting insights about human nature, this book will leave you with a deeper appreciation of both the potential and the pitfalls of this new trend in the digital age."" — Katy Milkman, Wall Street Journal bestselling author, How to Change ""For anyone who has wondered—or worried—about their digital footprints and who might be following them, Mindmasters tells all. And I don't know anyone who knows more about big data and the new science of psychological profiling than its brilliant author, Sandra Matz. Best of all, Matz offers specific suggestions for making the global digital data village safer, more equitable, and happier for everyone."" — Angela Duckworth, New York Times bestselling author, Grit ""Mindmasters offers a uniquely human perspective on the power of big data. Matz masterfully relates her own personal story, from growing up in a small village to her groundbreaking research on psychological targeting. The result: a riveting look at how algorithms penetrate our inner mental lives and how we can redesign and win the data game. A must-read!"" — Dan Ariely, bestselling author, Predictably Irrational and Misbelief


See Also