522. Is Google Getting Worse?

The book tells the story of the Oakland Athletics' 2002 season, where General Manager Billy Beane and his assistant Paul DePodesta used advanced statistical analysis, known as sabermetrics, to assemble a competitive team despite a limited budget. The approach, pioneered by Bill James, focused on metrics such as on-base percentage and slugging percentage rather than traditional measures like batting average and runs batted in. This data-driven strategy allowed the Athletics to compete with teams having much larger payrolls, like the New York Yankees, and achieve significant success, including a 20-game winning streak and a playoff appearance.

Subprime Attention Crisis explores how the digital advertising market, which fuels the internet's free services, is plagued by fraud, inefficiency, and overvaluation, drawing parallels with the financial crises of the past. Hwang argues that if this bubble bursts, it could lead to a significant shift in how the internet is funded and accessed. The book proposes reforms to address these issues and ensure a more sustainable digital economy.