Reading in statistics
A number of authors have penned books to help readers better understand how statistics are used (and misused) in various aspects of everyday life. The following list includes those designed to be easy to read and understand. If you are interested in statistics, want to practice thinking more statistically, consider adding one or more of the following to your study of statistics.
Highly relevant to the study of statistics
Ayers, Ian (2008). Super Crunchers:Why Thinking-By-Numbers is the New Way To Be Smart. Random House Digital, Inc. ISBN 978-0553805406.
Best, Joel (2009). Stat-Spotting: A field guide to identifying dubious data. University of California Press. ISBN 978-0520257467.
Best, Joel (2004). More Damned Lies and Statistics: How numbers confuse public issues. University of California Press. ISBN 978-0520238305.
Best, Joel (2001). Damned Lies and Statistics: Untangling numbers from the media, politicians, and activists. University of California Press. ISBN 978-0520219786.
Gonick, Larry and Woollcott Smith (1993). The Cartoon Guide to Statistics. Harper Collins. ISBN 978-0062731029
Huff, Darrell (1954). How to Lie with Statistics. W. W. Norton. ISBN 978-0393094268. A still-very-relevant classic.
Mlodinow, Leonard (2008). The Drunkard's Walk: How randomness rules our lives. Random House Digital, Inc. ISBN 978-0375424045.
Salsburg, David (2001). The Lady Tasting Tea: How statistics revolutionized science in the twentieth century. W. H. Freeman. ISBN 978-0716741060.
Seife, Charles (2011). Proofiness: The dark arts of mathematical deception. Penguin. ISBN 978-0143120070. Thought of as a modern version of How to Lie with Statistics.
Interesting tangents
Bernstein, Peter (1996). Against the Gods: The remarkable story of risk. Wiley. ISBN 978-0471121046.
Koomey, Jonathan (2003). Turning Numbers into Knowledge: Mastering the art of problem solving. Analytics Press. ISBN 978-0970601902.
Levitt, Steven and Stephen Dubner (2005). Freakonomics: A rogue economist explores the hidden side of everything. HarperCollins. ISBN 978-0060731328.
Tufte, Edward (1997). Visual Explanations: Images and quantities, evidence and narrative. Graphics Press. ISBN 978-0961392123.
Tufte, Edward (1990). Envisioning Information. Graphics Press. ISBN 978-0961392116.
Tufte, Edward (1983). The Visual Display of Quantitative Information. Graphics Press. ISBN 978-0318029924.
| Project to Create Statistics Content Modules | |
|---|---|
| Project | StatisticsContent |
| Design | Objectives | Learning Design |
| Resources | Reading in statistics | By type | By topic |
| Content | Learn by doing |
| Intro Stats course | Syllabus | Online course schedule | Schedule for in-person meetings | Plans for in-person meetings |
| GSE Stat Methods II | Review notes | Topic resources |
