Everybody Lies Book Summary - Everybody Lies Book explained in key points
Listen to the Intro
00:00

Everybody Lies summary

Big Data, New Data and What the Internet Can Tell Us About Who We Really Are

4.1 (133 ratings)
18 mins

Brief summary

Everybody Lies by Seth Stephens-Davidowitz is a fascinating exploration of the insights we can gain from big data. Based on Google searches and anonymous online behavior, the book challenges our assumptions about human nature and exposes the truth about what people really think and do.

Table of Contents

    Everybody Lies
    Summary of 7 key ideas

    Audio & text in the Blinkist app
    Key idea 1 of 7

    Data science is more intuitive than you think.

    You’ve heard the term, but what exactly is big data?

    The clue is in the name. Big data refers to an immense volume of data. A volume that’s so vast, in fact, that the human mind can hardly comprehend it. In other word, big data is data for which computational power is required to recognize patterns. Paradoxically, however, despite its remarkable scale, data science has an intuitive aspect to it. After all, if you think about it, we’re all data scientists in a way.

    The author points to his grandmother. One Thanksgiving, she started suggesting to the author what his ideal partner should be like – at least as far as she was concerned! The partner needed to be clever, nice, funny, sociable and pretty (though no supermodels needed apply).

    At 88, his grandma had seen plenty of relationships come and go. She was using years of information and data gathering to articulate the characteristics she saw as essential in successful relationships. She was utilizing information to spot patterns and predict how certain variables would impact one another – just as a data scientist would.

    However, although data science is an intuitive process, intuition itself isn’t actually science. That’s why utilizing gathered data correctly is essential to refining one’s worldview. Data provides us with the material to confirm or rebut our initial gut feelings. It helps us identify more precise patterns and predictions than personal experience alone ever could.

    Let’s return to grandma; she was convinced that relationships last longer if partners have mutual friends. This notion was based on her own experience, as she and her husband had spent many an evening with their friends in Queens, New York.

    But in reality, her sample size was too small and the hard data suggests that she was mistaken. A 2014 study by Lars Backstrom and Jon Kleinberg, based on Facebook data, showed couples with more friends in common were more likely to change their relationship status from “in a relationship” to “single.”

    This goes to show that though a gut feeling may get us far, data refine even the most intuitive person’s perspective.

    Want to see all full key ideas from Everybody Lies?

    Key ideas in Everybody Lies

    More knowledge in less time
    Read or listen
    Read or listen
    Get the key ideas from nonfiction bestsellers in minutes, not hours.
    Find your next read
    Find your next read
    Get book lists curated by experts and personalized recommendations.
    Shortcasts
    Shortcasts New
    We’ve teamed up with podcast creators to bring you key insights from podcasts.

    What is Everybody Lies about?

    Everybody Lies (2017) is about the data collected in vast quantities by computers and over the internet. This data can help reveal fascinating information about the human psyche, behavior and quirks, because, as it turns out, people aren’t always so willing to communicate their true hopes and desires to others.

    Everybody Lies Review

    Everybody Lies (2017) is a fascinating exploration of the hidden truths we reveal online and what they say about our society. Here's why this book is worth reading:

    • With a data-driven approach, it uncovers surprising insights about human behavior, challenging conventional wisdom and offering a fresh perspective.
    • By analyzing vast amounts of internet search data, the book reveals unfiltered truths that people may not openly admit, shedding light on our deepest desires and fears.
    • Through compelling storytelling and thought-provoking examples, it presents a thought-provoking examination of the digital age, making it a captivating read that is anything but boring.

    Who should read Everybody Lies?

    • Anyone interested in the complex nature of human behavior
    • Media studies experts and social scientists
    • Anyone concerned about the power of the internet and online privacy

    About the Author

    Seth Stephens-Davidowitz is an expert on internet data and big data in particular. He holds degrees from Stanford and Harvard Universities and worked previously as a data scientist at Google.

    Categories with Everybody Lies

    Book summaries like Everybody Lies

    People ❤️ Blinkist 
    Sven O.

    It's highly addictive to get core insights on personally relevant topics without repetition or triviality. Added to that the apps ability to suggest kindred interests opens up a foundation of knowledge.

    Thi Viet Quynh N.

    Great app. Good selection of book summaries you can read or listen to while commuting. Instead of scrolling through your social media news feed, this is a much better way to spend your spare time in my opinion.

    Jonathan A.

    Life changing. The concept of being able to grasp a book's main point in such a short time truly opens multiple opportunities to grow every area of your life at a faster rate.

    Renee D.

    Great app. Addicting. Perfect for wait times, morning coffee, evening before bed. Extremely well written, thorough, easy to use.

    People also liked these summaries

    4.7 Stars
    Average ratings on iOS and Google Play
    34 Million
    Downloads on all platforms
    10+ years
    Experience igniting personal growth
    Powerful ideas from top nonfiction

    Try Blinkist to get the key ideas from 7,500+ bestselling nonfiction titles and podcasts. Listen or read in just 15 minutes.

    Start your free trial

    Everybody Lies FAQs 

    What is the main message of Everybody Lies?

    Everybody Lies reveals the hidden truths about human behavior through big data analysis.

    How long does it take to read Everybody Lies?

    It takes several hours to read Everybody Lies. The Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.

    Is Everybody Lies a good book? Is it worth reading?

    Everybody Lies is definitely worth reading for its fascinating insights into human behavior.

    Who is the author of Everybody Lies?

    Everybody Lies is written by Seth Stephens-Davidowitz.

    What to read after Everybody Lies?

    If you're wondering what to read next after Everybody Lies, here are some recommendations we suggest:
    • What Makes Us Human? by Charles Pasternak
    • Spy the Lie by Philip Houston
    • Born Liars by Ian Leslie
    • Find Out Anything From Anyone, Anytime by James O. Pyle and Maryann Karinch
    • How to Win Friends & Influence People by Dale Carnegie
    • Building Your Money Machine with ChatGPT by Larry Wheeler
    • Single, Dating, Engaged, Married by Ben Stuart
    • The Art of the Tale by Steven James
    • Of Boys and Men by Richard Reeves
    • Principles by Ray Dalio