Speak Data: Artists, Scientists, Thinkers, and Dreamers on How We Live Our Lives in Numbers

by Giorgia Lupi, Phillip Cox

The first pop nonfiction book to explore the definition of data and how we can learn to speak that language features thought-provoking conversations with 17 extraordinary leaders in business, tech, medicine, psychology, health, art, and more who share new ideas about data, unpacking its powerful ability to reveal patterns, tell stories, stir emotion, and illuminate complexity. Data may be the most powerful force in society today. Data is everywhere, present in every moment, every event, every transaction, or interaction with someone else. Every time you send a text, call a friend, fill out a form, hail a taxi, stream a movie, surf the web, pay a bill, buy groceries, buy anything, take your temperature, count your steps, swipe right (or left), you generate data. There's data in the weather, in the air, in the ground, in outer space. If you own a smartwatch, you carry data on your body. If you have a cardiac pacemaker, you carry data in your body. So, what is data, really? It's a question that is surprisingly hard to answer. To some, data means figures on a screen, dots on a graph. It's also often (falsely) equated with facts, an invariable form of concrete knowledge that always tells the truth. But in reality, data is hardly so incontrovertible. Data is an abstraction of reality, a useful but imperfect representation of real life. Like life, it's full of nuance, imprecision, and ambivalence. It's quantitative and it's qualitative. And it's made by us—humans. These are some of the ideas that information designers Giorgia Lupi and Phillip Cox explore in their fascinating new book Speak Artists, Scientists, Thinkers, and Dreamers on How We Live Our Lives in Numbers. Speak Data invites us to see data differently—not just as numbers on a chart, but as a way to understand and communicate who we are, how we connect, and how we make sense of the world. It's grounded in the principles of Data Humanism, a concept developed by coauthor and award-winning information designer Giorgia Lupi, which centers on people, rather than numbers, in its conception of data. In this beautifully illustrated book, the authors present data as a vocabulary that anyone can use, showing that when we truly learn to "speak data," we can open up new worlds of meaning about ourselves and everything around us. Interviews in Speak Data Tech pioneer John Maeda on the value of data visualization during global emergencies. Marketing legend Seth Godin on how to use data to get people to really care about climate change. Museum curator Paola Antonelli on whether data is art. Atomic Habits author James Clear on the ways data can (and can't) describe human identity. Al data artist Refik Anadol on how big datasets can dream. Organizational psychologist Adam Grant on using data to communicate nuance and uncertainty. Activist Andy Marra on how to count something that's never been counted before—and why it matters who is asking the questions. Writer Naresh Ramchanda on why he's a "data optimist" and how data can close the empathy gap. Economist Max Roser on using data to see stories, and not just trends. Neuroscientist and physical therapist David Putrino on how tracking long Covid has taught him to think differently about patient data versus patient experience. Physician and design researcher Bon Ku on how data revealed a better way to design hospital emergency departments. Al scholar Kate Crawford on why questions about the future of AI are really questions about the future of democracy. Artist Ekene ljeoma on why we have all the data we need to make change. And many more.

Genres: Nonfiction, Science

269 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 11, 2025

About the author

Giorgia Lupi is an award-winning information designer, author and artist.

She is co-author of Dear Data (www.dear-data.com) published by Penguin in the UK and Princeton Architectural Press in North America,

She is co-founder and design director at Accurat a data-driven design firm with offices in Milan and New York.

Her work in information visualization frequently crosses the divide between digital and print, exploring visual models and metaphors to represent dense and rich data-driven stories.

Giorgia received her M-Arch at FAF in Ferrara and she then earned a PhD in Design at Politecnico di Milano in 2014. Her design work has been featured on the New York Times, Wired, the Guardian, Popular Science, Time Magazine, The Washington Post, Forbes, among all.

Her work has been exhibited at: The London Scienc eMuseum, the New York Hall of Science, The Storefront for Art and Architecture in New York, Triennale Design Museum in Milan, Milano Design Week and Somerset House in London.

www.giorgialupi.com
www.accurat.nyc
@giorgialupi

Reviews

[Sarah Jensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book Review: Speak Data: Artists, Scientists, Thinkers, and Dreamers on How We Live Our Lives in Numbers by Giorgia Lupi and Phillip Cox

Overview
Speak Data is a groundbreaking pop-nonfiction exploration of data’s omnipresence in modern life, blending vibrant visual storytelling with interdisciplinary insights from 17 global thought leaders. Award-winning information designer Giorgia Lupi and co-author Phillip Cox redefine data as a deeply humanistic force—shaping identity, creativity, health, and activism—through bold graphics, playful illustrations, and interviews with figures like Seth Godin, James Clear, and Refik Anadol. Far from a dry technical manual, the book transforms abstract datasets into relatable narratives, proving data’s capacity to “make us more human” (Lupi). I didn't really anticipate the artistic value of this book. I've read tons of books on data, but none are like this!

Strengths

- Visual Innovation: The book’s kaleidoscopic design—unexpected for a data-centric text—elevates complex ideas into accessible, even whimsical, visual essays. Lupi’s signature style (reminiscent of her Dear Data project) turns bar charts and algorithms into art.
- Interdisciplinary Lens: By juxtaposing perspectives (e.g., Paola Antonelli on data-as-art vs. Kate Crawford on AI ethics), the authors reveal data’s contested role across fields. The “Modern Love-style” approach personalizes stats, as in Lupi’s reflection on long COVID.
- Provocative Interviews: Standout dialogues include John Maeda on emergency data visualization and Sougwen Chung on human-AI collaboration, challenging readers to see data as a creative medium. I don't think that's a very common perspective (at least in my field of public health).

Critiques

- Depth vs. Breadth: While the 17 interviews offer wide-ranging insights, some topics (e.g., climate activism) could benefit from deeper analysis beyond soundbites.
- Niche Appeal: The heavy reliance on visuals, though stunning, may distract readers seeking traditional textual analysis.

How I would describe this book:

- Speak Data turns spreadsheets into poetry—proof that numbers can feel.
- A visual feast for data skeptics and enthusiasts alike—like Humans of New York meets Big Data.
- Lupi and Cox redefine data literacy as a life skill—playful, profound, and deeply human.
- Perfect for fans of Atomic Habits and Invisible Women—where stats meet soul.

Acknowledgments
Thank you to Chronicle Books for the advance review copy. Lupi and Cox’s work exemplifies the publisher’s commitment to reimagining scholarly discourse through design.

Conclusion
Speak Data is a triumph of form and function, merging rigorous research with artistic flair. While its fragmented structure may frustrate purists, the book’s core thesis—that data is “the most powerful force in society” and a canvas for empathy—resonates urgently. A must-read for graphic designers, educators, and anyone curious about the invisible systems shaping our lives.

Rating: ★★★★☆ (4.5/5) — A visually dazzling, thought-provoking manifesto with minor trade-offs in analytical depth.

[Rob GQ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.00

[Annie Reads The World · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for providing this ARC.

I work with data every day so I'm obviously someone who thinks data is fun and spreadsheets are beautiful, so I was intrigued by this book.

The book starts with the statement that data is the most powerful force in the world and I don't feel like it really proves that at all. I do agree that data is everywhere and that it's important, but I think that is way overinflating its importance in the world in a pretty tone deaf way.

The designs in the book are of course beautiful, but I often felt like they were overshadowing the book. Felt like one of those data visualizations that's very pretty, but unnecessarily complicated to read.

[Brenten Gilbert · Rating 2 out of 5]

RATING 2.47 STARS

This was an intriguing read for me, until I read it. I like to nerd out sometimes and this seemed like a great book to get under the shiny exterior of the concept of "data" - especially with the heavy emphasis of data and data centers these days.

Unfortunately, this really devolved into an exercise of key data figures saying the quiet part out loud.

Long story short: data is neutral, but when it is presented correctly, we can rule the world. (And we should because obviously we are smarter than you.)

*Insert eye roll here*

[Jed Walker · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting concept. I had great expectations and there were some inspiring moments but the book quickly became repetitive, disconnected, and disproportionately centered on polarized COVID discussions. The graphical representation of the data was the strongest aspect of the book.

[Beth · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was...not what I expected. Rather than a book where people used data to tell stories or reveal insights, it was a bunch of people talking ABOUT data. Not specific data, or information derived from data, but just, like, DATA. Sort of interesting, I suppose, if that's your thing. It's not mine.