In this small book full of funny examples, the author warns us against the danger of misuse of statistics. He makes his points in a very entertaining, highly readable manner.
From the comments following. . .
First published in 1954, the book remains relevant as a wake-up call. The language of statistics, so appealing in a fact-minded culture, is employed to sensationalize, inflate, confuse, mislead, and oversimplify," warns Huff. Although many of the examples used in the book are charmingly dated, the cautions are timeless.Homeschoolers' Comments
"I used this book 20+ years ago in a college statistics course and have kept it on my shelf since. The content is as relevant now as then and I just purchased ten copies to share with a number of my colleagues. If you are looking for a sometimes-cheeky, but always-interesting, view of how to make the facts fit the story, this is your book!"
Paul Cottey
"There is terror in numbers," writes Darrell Huff in How to Lie with Statistics. And nowhere does this terror translate to blind acceptance of authority more than in the slippery world of averages, correlations, graphs, and trends. Huff sought to break through "the daze that follows the collision of statistics with the human mind" with this slim volume, first published in 1954. The book remains relevant as a wake-up call for people unaccustomed to examining the endless flow of numbers pouring from Wall Street, Madison Avenue, and everywhere else someone has an axe to grind, a point to prove, or a product to sell.
"The secret language of statistics, so appealing in a fact-minded culture, is employed to sensationalize, inflate, confuse, and oversimplify," warns Huff.
Although many of the examples used in the book are charmingly dated, the cautions are timeless. Statistics are rife with opportunities for misuse, from "gee-whiz graphs" that add nonexistent drama to trends, to "results" detached from their method and meaning, to statistics' ultimate bugaboo--faulty cause-and-effect reasoning. Huff's tone is tolerant and amused, but no-nonsense. Like a lecturing father, he expects you to learn something useful from the book, and start applying it every day. Never be a sucker again, he cries!
Even if you can't find a source of demonstrable bias, allow yourself some degree of skepticism about the results as long as there is a possibility of bias somewhere. There always is.
Read this book whether you encounter statistics at work, at school, or in advertising. You'll remember its simple lessons. Don't be terrorized by numbers, Huff implores. "The fact is that, despite its mathematical base, statistics is as much an art as it is a science." --Therese Littleton
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How to Lie with Statistics
"'How to Lie with Statistics' is a small, paperback book that was originally written in 1954. It has been reprinted at least thirty-six times according to my copy of the book.
The author introduces us to all of the shady ways that statistics can be interpreted to say whatever one desires. In a very humorous way, he talks about how advertisers carefully choose just the right numbers, and manipulate those numbers to enhance their products.
Advertisers are not the only culprits targeted by Mr. Huff. Pollsters and politicians are equally exposed. While teens can read this on their own, it is the type of book that is fun when shared out loud. Watch out for a few references to the Kinsey sexual research. These can easily be skipped. Also, be aware that data has not been updated since the original printing. Even so, the author’s point still comes across clearly - we have to be alert and thinking logically when we evaluate information, such as that in advertisements and commercials, that has been designed to influence our behavior."
from Cathy Duffy at www.CathyDuffyReviews.com - my favorite source for online home school information. |
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$11.95
On Sale! $9.45
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