THE NUMERATI are the people who data mine your every click on the Internet, analyze your every purchase at the checkout counter, and monitor your cell phone calls and texting. Stephen Baker describes how YAHOO and GOOGLE slice and dice your data in order to sell your information to advertisers. CMU seems to be heavily involved in this kind of research. There’s also a chapter on the activities of the National Security Agency (NSA) to fight terrorism with algorithms. Readers who believe in privacy rights should expect to be disturbed by this book.