The Curious Autodidact

I heard this short piece on Fresh Air and it was at once spooky and fascinating. Terry Gross interviewed Joseph Turow the author of The Aisles Have Eyes.  Ever wonder when you download a free app where what information is collected and where it goes? Turow explains how the information is used and sold and what you agree to when you mindlessly click okay to the permissions. He also tells of some really clever ways that pricing can be changed, people are lured into buying things, and people outsmart the various companies formulas. It’s a fascinating listen and may make Terry Gross re-think her relationship with her frequent shopper’s card, at her favorite neighborhood drug store.

Seth Godin is also an interesting listen on Debbie Millman’s Design Matters, he is a wizard of marketing and a great story teller. He has many books and is featured in many internet videos for his expertise.

Both these are a look into a world many of us may not think about but these two men certainly are the wizards.