It's not often that a book is captivating, informative, terrifying, and infuriating. The Hank Show by McKenzie Funk hit all those notes for me. Big thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for gifting me with this ARC to read and review. The Hank Show is out NOW!

It is the story both of a man but also of technology, security, and surveillance as we know it. Hank Asher is someone I have never heard of. Considering the current state of technology and how it has been both used and weaponized, it is truly WILD to learn about Hank's history and how we got here.

I'm not gonna lie - there was a lot about this that was really hard to stomach. While technology has given us a lot, the lack of oversight has also led to a tremendous amount of errors and injustices. But there is also tremendous power in knowledging and understanding these systems

Highly recommend this one!

Will post on goodreads, retail sites and my bookstagram @scottonreads

Wow. I wasn't sure what I was getting into with this book, but after reading it I want to hide in a bunker. OK, not really but what starts out as a story of Hank Asher and his start as a drug smuggler and painter becomes so much more about all of our privacy.

What Hank started, pulling bits of data together morphed over the years to everything we have ever done, registered for, bought or traveled to being mined by companies making millions of dollars. I am appalled and yet fascinated by what info is held by data firms. The book looks back at how this all started in the 90's but follows through to how Facebook sold our info info by apps that we didn't even use but one of our "friends" used. It also takes a look at how medical facilities used data during the heights of Covisd-19.

Well-written and again, fascinating look at our privacy and how one man started it all.
Highly recommend! Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

I was issued this book by NetGalley for my unbiased review.

I am more of a mystery, police, law reader. This book was a little heavy in tech talk and history, but Hank was a very interesting individual. Very intelligent and loaded with personal demons. His impact on the internet and tech was immense.

The whole situation of the knowledge that is out there about each of us is extremely scary. It seems like any and everything we have said, done, or watched is known. At this pace our thoughts will be known soon. With the info known it seems that our actions and reactions are already very well anticipated.

The Hank Show is a biography that reads like fiction. It's a surreal account of Hank Asher, who went from drug smuggling to data fusion genius and became a multimillionaire. It's a bizarre and fascinating tale and very relevant in today's data-driven world. It would make a great movie. Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC..

The life of titular Hank Asher reads like a movie anti-hero with a story arc like a Shakespearean tragedy. Flashy drug runner turns successful data entrepreneur largely serving law enforcement agencies while setting up our effective surveillance state. Isn't that interesting that unlike the threat of Big Brother from [book:1984|61439040] etc., private enterprises like Asher's have used the data we have provided under basically our own laws and agreements to surveil ourselves? Adding to this tragic arc, the manic behavior borne of the same energy and drive is the basis for self-destructive behavior and unprofessional antics. For some of the time, Asher is on the sideline with non-compete restrictions, but the story continues as competitors like LexisNexis, TransUnion, etc. keep the trend going of uniquely identifying citizens in data bases with ways make connections between them and track them. Some concerning even unsettling cases of individuals having their lives upended by misidentification are explored. Usage of the same techniques during the COVID pandemic appears to have had a positive impact allow ventilator need to be predicted and also, sadly, giving proof to the systemic racism and classism in the US as the the most egregious outcomes are analyzed in the context of effective segregation.

Fascinating read. Highly recommended to everyone who wants to understand how a genius initiated the pathway for An electronic diary for each of us. Everyone should read this.

[arc review]
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.
The Hank Show releases October 3, 2023

<i>“I set out to investigate not privacy, but power.”</I>

The Hank Show is based on a true story of Hank Asher — a man who went from being a high school dropout, to painter, drug runner, and then a computer programmer that owned and created one of the largest private databases.

The content is a little too far outside of my wheelhouse to be able to provide a nuanced review, but it wholly fascinates me; all of the intricacies of surveillances, data storing and monitoring, and digital footprints.

Funk has provided an extremely factual account spanning many decades, going back as far as the 1950s, and it feels well researched.

I definitely recommend the audiobook format as it’s a much easier way to stay engaged with the large amount of information at hand.


<i>“See yourself through Asher’s inventions, and you see that what may be scariest is not when the machines are wrong about you—but when they’re right.”

“As long as your exhaust is still out there in a database, your history still indexed and easily scored, you won’t be given every opportunity. You’ll be given every opportunity that’s deemed optimal for you.”</I>

"The bizarre and captivating story of the most important person you've never heard of." is a great way to describe this book. Interesting read.

“The Hank Show,” by McKenzie Funk, is a non-fiction biography of Hank Asher, someone most people have never heard of before (I asked two older computer folks if they knew his name - they didn’t - and that surprised me as they’re my “go to” for anything regarding the computer industry). But it’s okay if you don’t know Hank’s name … read this book and you’ll understand why you don’t know his name, but why, also, you should. Mr. Asher had a strange journey to becoming a computer programmer. Once he found computers, he “got” them - he understood intuitively what they could do and how to make them do what he wanted. I think like many people, Mr. Asher had an idea and concept of what he wanted to create - and it did happen - but then it morphed into something that he probably saw as being possible but hoped wouldn’t happen (but then he was hoping to always be in charge of what would happen to his company and the idea). I will admit to not being a computer science person, but I found that Mr. Funk did a great job at explaining technical things enough things so that “mere mortals” could understand them (one of my computer folks added more detail if I needed it, which wasn’t often), which I appreciated. I will admit that at times I got confused by ALL the companies mentioned - in one section it became akin to alphabet soup - not the author’s fault as those were the names of the companies, but I felt myself skimming a bit during those paragraphs. I liked the Epilogue and knowing what Mr. Asher’s daughters are doing with the technology. I also liked how Mr. Funk gave both the good and the bad about constantly being tracked - and how it has changed over time. Also, there are a lot of footnotes in this book - in fact the last 30% of the book is about the footnotes, so it’s well noted and referenced. This book, being non-fiction, isn’t a quick light beach read - and I did find myself consulting search engines for more information, so it took a bit of time to go through, but I’m glad I read this book.

This is a nonfiction book about Hank Asher, who had no use for formal education. He taught himself how to code, and thus completely changed how our personal data was used by police, government, financial institutions, and political parties. Sometimes this technology helped police hunt down child pornographers or serial rapists, and sometimes it was used to kick black people without felony conviction off voter rolls, contributing to Bush 43 and Trump 45 narrowly winning thanks to our ridiculous electoral college system.

Before he became a multimillionaire father of data mining, Asher was a young condo-painting tycoon and then a drug runner. The drug runner aspect of his past kept coming up to bite him in the butt—he would create companies only to voluntarily-ish resign so the government agencies could invest in these technologies without a felon running the helm.

He's compared to the person portrayed in the movie A Beautiful Mind. He could be incredibly violent or incredibly generous. He obviously had some kind of mental issues, but that seems to have contributed to the technology he created, which could be used for good things or sort of terrifying things--much more than target marketing.

While there is a ton of interesting information in this nonfiction book, the amount of facts and statistics is just relentless, so I would describe this as an intriguing but not enjoyable read. If you care about how your information—not just social media, but merely having a driver’s license, address, and friends and family—can determine what kind of medical care you get and if you can get a credit card or loan, I would recommend this dense read.

NetGalley provided an advance copy of this book, which RELEASES OCTOBER 3, 2023.

Thanks to the publisher for early access to this fantastic book. I was so excited to read this, and enjoyed the book. Part "Catch Me If You Can" and part "Minority Report", this book profiles the man that created data fusion, the technology used by banks, governments, and businesses to profile us.

This was a great nonfiction book! I really enjoyed how this book read and progressed through the life of Hank. It was really interesting learning some information on this person that had such a huge impact on how todays world works. It was a thorough account on Hanks life and how he came to play such a major part in todays world. I loved being able to have the resources at the end of this book to do more research on this topic. Definitely a very enjoyable and intriguing nonfiction read that I’d recommend if you enjoy nonfiction, learning about the history of some of today’s technology, and learning about someone whose work affects our lives to this day!

Thank you to the author McKenzie Funk, publishers St. Martins Press and SMPI, and as always NetGalley, for an advance digital copy of THE HANK SHOW.

I never thought I'd find myself saying this about a biography, but this story is gripping. Hank Asher is essentially the godfather of data consolifation and integration. His research and computer coding efforts are ultimately responsible for contemporary credit reporting, law enforcement databases, terrorism watch lists, marketing email and phone lists, and so much more. If you think this sounds a bit like a movie, well so did Asher; he named one of his most invasive projects "The Matrix."

This nonfiction is of the sort that you keep waiting for someone to admit that it's all a story. Half of it is too outlandish to believe. The implications are far-reaching and sometimes suggestive. Let it all be a story. Except that it's not. That makes for great reading in my book, and I was completely breathless at the end. I highly recommend this one. A favorite of the first half of this year!

It may be nonfiction, but it reads like a thriller, and it blew my mind!

Rating: 📈📈📈📈📈 / 5 growth trends
Recommend? Definitely!
Finished: July 7 2023
Format: Advance Digital Copy, NetGalley
Read this if you like:
💰 Stories about big money finance
🖱 Coding history
💸 Corruption
🗣 Scandal

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book in return for an honest review.

The subtitle is: “How a House-Painting, Drug-Running DEA Informant Built the Machine That Rules Our Lives.” Meet Hank Asher, a larger than life personality and a tortured genius. It is Hank’s computer algorithms that corporations and governments use to track every minuscule detail of our lives. Good or bad? It depends, and that contradiction creates a moral dilemma.

Hank Asher began his career as a house painter, moving from Indiana to Florida. He soon found a way to paint condominium projects faster and cheaper than the competition, building his business into an estimated $10 million per year business with 100 painters. He loved the Bahamas, and the thrill-seeking Asher became a drug-running pilot to an alleged CIA asset. Next on his resume is data fusion, the power to know everything about someone without actually knowing them. Along with various partners, Asher formed a few data fusion companies. Asher didn’t always treat his partners equitably, and in a bit of poetic justice he was forced out of some of the companies he had founded. While Asher passed away a decade ago, his algorithms live on and use of them in all facets of business and government have increased exponentially.

The book contains a lot of disturbing information, which I think we all kind of know but prefer to just not think about. Seeing them together in one book really makes you think about the ethics, morals and principles of using information as determinants and predictors. Anyone can purchase your data for peanuts and the reality is that China’s social credit score system is already in place. In the U.S. Did you know health insurers negatively view minivan or Cutlass Ciera ownership? Or that health insurers are also of the opinion that whole person care starts with whole person data? There is such a dichotomy in the use of the information. How do we, separately and collectively, decide what is appropriate and when it is an invasion of privacy or actual surveillance by others, including our own government?

https://candysplanet.wordpress.com/

I appreciate that this may be a perfect fit for most readers. The reviews are great. For me, it didn't really work out that way. I am thankful to have had the opportunity to learn about Hank and his life.

The Hank Show by McKenzie Funk is truly a magnificent non-fiction read.
I loved diving into the life of Hank Asher.
I can't even begin to express how much I enjoyed this book.
It was very engaging and honestly I found it to be addicting in some way.
Highly readable story of Hank Asher’s time.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Thank You NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

This was a random fascinating read..At times I felt that it was a little overly detailed and drawn out, and probably 25% longer than it had to be, but on the whole it was a very engaging and surprisingly informative and entertaining tale. The writing style is generally easy going, with the exception of the occasional sidebar to explain a point that often led to a little more description of related events than I needed. But what a wild story!

How did I not know about Hank? I was active in computers and security during the same time and at the same places, and even knew some of the people mentioned. This is an amazing story in the same vein as Catch Me If You Can. But on top of that, it documents the erosion of our civil liberties and expectations of privacy. The protagonist of this book was instrumental in setting up the systems that electronically monitor and record our every move on and offline.

This is a very scary book showing how we lost our way as a nation and why anyone with a few cents can purchase our personal data. And there's nothing you can so about it. Everyone needs to read it.

The Hank Show offers readers a fascinating glimpse into the life of Hank Asher, a man whose remarkable abilities and idiosyncrasies have left a permanent mark on our world. Spanning from his early days as a pilot involved in drug-running to his subsequent rise as a computer programmer and billionaire, Hank's journey is an enthralling blend of mystery, innovation, and controversy. As the founder of multiple data mining companies, Hank's impact on the data landscape is both impressive and unsettling, highlighting the extensive collection and utilization of personal information. His collaborations with law enforcement, insurance companies, and efforts in locating missing persons underscore the significance of his work. "The Hank Show" is a gripping non-fiction read, particularly suited for those intrigued by data scandals like Cambridge Analytica, or seeking a fast-paced narrative that explores the complex intersections of technology and society.

Step into the twisted world of The Hank Show, where reality blurs with illusion and secrets lurk in the darkest corners. McKenzie Funk's tale of mystery and intrigue takes readers on a captivating journey into the enigmatic life of Hank, a man with a talent for illusion that borders on the supernatural. With every turn of the page, the boundaries between truth and deception become increasingly blurred, leaving readers spellbound and craving more.

Set in a mysterious, dimly lit cabaret that seems frozen in time, The Hank Show unveils a surreal universe where nothing is what it seems. From the moment the curtains rise, Funk's skillful prose engulfs readers in a whirlwind of wonder and suspense, weaving a web of secrets and surprises that keeps them guessing until the very end.

Hank is a true marvel—a magician extraordinaire whose performances defy logic and challenge reality. But as the show progresses, it becomes evident that there is more to Hank than meets the eye. With each act, the line between illusion and truth becomes increasingly tenuous, leaving readers to question the very nature of reality itself. Is Hank a mere performer, or does he possess a power that goes beyond the stage?

Funk's writing is chock full of suspense, enthralling readers with vivid descriptions of the haunting cabaret and its eccentric characters. Funk's ability to create an atmospheric setting that drips with intrigue is remarkable. The dimly lit stage, the hushed whispers of the audience, and the palpable tension in the air all contribute to the sense of impending revelation that permeates every page.

As the story unfolds, layers of mystery are peeled away, revealing a complex tapestry of deception, hidden motives, and buried secrets. The supporting cast of characters, from Hank's loyal assistant to the elusive patrons who frequent the show, each play their part in a carefully crafted dance of shadows. With every interaction and revelation, readers are drawn deeper into the intricate web spun by Funk, desperate to uncover the truth behind the enigma that is The Hank Show.

Funk has the ability to mesmerize and captivate readers. The Hank Show is a tale that transcends genres, blending elements of mystery, suspense, and the supernatural. With each passing chapter, the stakes grow higher, the twists more unexpected, and the allure of the unknown more irresistible.

Funk has crafted a mystery that will leave readers breathless, questioning their own perceptions, and yearning for the magic that lies just beyond the veil. The Hank Show is a dance with shadows—a literary tour de force that will haunt your thoughts long after you turn the final page.