This book critiques the pervasive influence of data and statistics in global politics and everyday life. Lorenzo Fioramonti, a professor of political economy, examines the consequences of what he terms 'data fever,' exploring how the increasing reliance on numbers shapes political decisions and societal structures. The book investigates both the direct impacts of this quantification and its more subtle, indirect implications, while also highlighting emerging efforts to challenge or subvert the dominance of mainstream statistical measures through alternative metrics or a rejection of quantification.

The book is regarded as a timely and insightful critique of the pervasive influence of data in contemporary society. It is noted for its examination of how statistics shape political discourse and decision-making, offering a necessary counterpoint to the uncritical acceptance of numerical metrics. The work is recognized for its exploration of resistance to this 'data fever' through alternative measurement strategies.