Tom Vanderbilt examines the hidden systems that determine our cultural choices. He investigates how recommendation algorithms at Netflix, Amazon, and Spotify decide what content reaches our screens and speakers. Vanderbilt reveals the psychology behind our preferences and the business models that profit from predicting them. He explores how data scientists analyze our clicks, purchases, and viewing habits to build profiles of our tastes. The book uncovers the tension between discovering genuinely new experiences and falling into filter bubbles that reinforce existing preferences. Vanderbilt shows how these systems both expand and limit our cultural horizons, offering readers insight into the invisible forces shaping modern taste.
Genres: business, non-fiction, technology, 21st-century, cultural-studies, algorithms
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: investigative-journalism
Paperback · Simon & Schuster UK