Data Baby: My Life in a Psychological Experiment

"And Susannah Breslin’s intriguing Data Baby: My Life in a Psychological Experiment jumped out at me. It’s a memoir based on her experiences as a subject of the renowned Block Study , a longitudinal research project that followed her (and 127 others) from childhood into adulthood, searching for factors that might predict a child’s future success. Breslin, the daughter of Berkeley academics, was constantly observed and interviewed throughout her early years and came to view these researchers as stand-in parental figures. She became a successful journalist but also battled cancer and found herself trapped in an abusive marriage. In Data Baby, Breslin reflects on her experiences: How much of her present was predicted by her past? How much of her future has been pre-ordained? How much has all of ours? Unfortunately much of the early data collected during the study has been destroyed, but her story serves as a curious thought experiment that poses interesting questions. What psychology and self-help books did you enjoy in 2023? Let us know."