Practical Python Data Wrangling and Data Quality

Preface

Welcome! If you’ve picked up this book, you’re likely one of the many millions of people intrigued by the processes and possibilities surrounding “data”—that incredible, elusive new “currency” that’s transforming the way we live, work, and even connect with one another. Most of us, for example, are vaguely aware of the fact that data—collected by our electronic devices and other activities—is being used to shape what advertisements we see, what media is recommended to us, and which search results populate first when we look for something online. What many people may not appreciate is that the tools and skills for accessing, transforming, and generating insight from data are readily available to them. This book aims to help those people—you, if you like—do just that.

Data is not something that is only available or useful to big companies or governmental number crunchers. Being able to access, understand, and gather insight from data is a valuable skill whether you’re a data scientist or a day care worker. The tools needed to use data effectively are more accessible than ever before. Not only can you do significant data work using only free software and programming languages, you don’t even need an expensive computer. All of the exercises in this book, for example, were designed and run on a Chromebook that cost less than $500. You can even just use free online platforms through the internet connection at your local library.

The goal of this book is to provide the guidance ...