Robin Hood Math

 
　　數位時代，普羅大眾的消費、選擇和行為，被記錄成一筆又一筆的數據，這些資料隨即成為科技巨頭與財閥間爭奪的高價資源。演算後的資料，讓政府機構運作更有效率，科技公司和財閥也從中獲取更可觀的利潤。儘管我們每個人都參與其中，貢獻了個人資料，卻僅僅成為系統中的一個微小數字。這種現象導致「劫貧濟富」的社會現況持續加劇，有權有勢者能夠透過數學工具與演算法進一步擴大優勢；試問個人是否也能掌握機會，化被動為主動，善用數學來反擊？
 
　　數學家諾亞．吉安西拉庫薩（Noah Giansiracusa）在新書《羅賓漢數學》（Robin Hood Math）中主張，該是翻轉劫貧濟富方程式的時候了！他站在普羅大眾這一方，幫助讀者活用基礎數學，認識演算法的運作邏輯，進一步掌握這項強大的工具，應用在生活之中。
 
　　本書以淺顯易懂的方式，解說科技巨頭與金融機構如何利用公式搶占先機，更重要的是，作者將引導讀者把演算法的觀念落實到投資、決策、社群媒體管理……等個人生活各層面，讓數學成為數位時代全民共享的平權力量。讓數學幫助我們思考，提升勝率，創造個人更多優勢，活出精彩富足的人生。(文/博客來編譯)

How the rich and powerful use math to exploit you, and what you can do to beat them at their own game

Everything we do today is recorded as data that’s sold to the highest bidder. Plugging our personal data into impersonal algorithms has made government agencies more efficient and tech companies more profitable. But all this comes at a price. It’s easy to feel like an insignificant number in a world of number crunchers who care more about their bottom line than your humanity. It’s time to flip the equation, turning math into an empowering tool for the rest of us.

Award-winning mathematician Noah Giansiracusa explains how the tech giants and financial institutions use formulas to get ahead--and how anyone can use these same formulas in their everyday life. You’ll learn how to handle risk rationally, make better investments, take control of your social media, and reclaim agency over the decisions you make each day.

In a society that all too often takes from the poor and gives to the rich, math can be a vital democratizing force. Robin Hood Math helps you to think for yourself, act in your own best interests, and thrive.

Noah Giansiracusa is an Associate Professor of Mathematics at Bentley University, Visiting Scholar at Harvard University, and the author of How Algorithms Create and Prevent Fake News. His writing has appeared in Scientific American, TIME, WIRED, Slate, and the Washington Post, among others, and he has been featured as a guest on CNN, BBC Radio 4, and Newsmax. Giansiracusa lives in Acton, Massachusetts, with his wife, two kids, two dogs, and 12 chickens.