The WIRED：THE TOP TECH BOOKS OF 2017 PART I

In Technically Wrong, Sara Wachter-Boettcher holds a magnifying glass to the tech with which we interact everyday. On a case-by-case basis, Wachter-Boettcher carefully analyzes the apps and algorithms that run our lives, pointing out their inherent biases, flawed algorithms, and blatant design oversights. But unlike other doom-and-gloom reviews, Wachter-Boettcher offers solutions. For every failing to which she draws our attention, Wachter-Boettcher also explains how the technology came to be, how it’s managed to persist, and the practical steps tech companies might take to mitigate or repair the damage moving forward.

The book takes on Silicon Valley’s tendency to dismiss any user experience outside of a decided-upon norm as an “edge case.” This approach is flawed, and you can see its effects in the industry’s notorious lack of diversity. In reality, we are all edge cases, she argues. Instead, let’s call them “stress cases,” and try addressing them, rather than labeling them as issues on the fringe that are beyond concern. The book moves quickly from one topic to the next, never boring you but never missing a beat. One anecdote after another will have you saying, “Oh yeah! I have seen that!” and will leave you wondering how, even in this post-euphoric era of Facebook, you’ve managed to stay blind to so many of tech’s shortcomings. — Ricki Harris