Includes bibliographical references and index.

Part 1 Introduction - Data Stories - Part 2 The Life of Data - Blind Data - The Nature of Data - Gridlock- In Data We Trust - How to Lose (and Regain) 3.6 Billion Euros - Harmonizing Data Is Hard - Open and Shut Case - The Politics of Building Civic Tech - So More Trumps Better? - Hustling for Funding - The Secret Science of Formulas - The End of the Data Lifecycle - Part 3 Living With Data - Traces and Shadows - Recommended Life -The Quantified Self - Fighting Fires - Management by Metrics - Guinea Pigs - Big Brother Is Watching and Controlling You - Security Theatre - When a Country Ignores Its Own Data -Data Theft - Data for the People, by the People - Black Data Matters - Part 4 Conclusion - A Matter of Life and Death - Data Futures

The word `data' has entered everyday conversation, but do we really understand what it means? How can we begin to grasp the scope and scale of our new data-rich world, and can we truly comprehend what is at stake? In Data Lives, renowned social scientist Rob Kitchin explores the intricacies of data creation and charts how data-driven technologies have become essential to how society, government and the economy work. Creatively blending scholarly analysis, biography and fiction, he demonstrates how data are shaped by social and political forces, and the extent to which they influence our daily lives. He reveals our data world to be one of potential danger, but also of hope.