Difference between revisions of "Darrell Huff"
(New page: '''Darrell Huff''' was an expert in statistics whose introductory book was published {{years ago|1954}} years ago. Entitled ''How to Lie with Statistics'', it shows the reader how to f...) |
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'''Darrell Huff''' was an expert in [[statistics]] whose introductory book was published {{years ago|1954}} years ago. | '''Darrell Huff''' was an expert in [[statistics]] whose introductory book was published {{years ago|1954}} years ago. | ||
Entitled ''How to Lie with Statistics'', it shows the reader how to fight back against advertising hype and political propaganda by recognizing basic deceptions. The math is accessible to anyone with a 6th grade education. | Entitled ''How to Lie with Statistics'', it shows the reader how to fight back against advertising hype and political propaganda by recognizing basic deceptions. The math is accessible to anyone with a 6th grade education. | ||
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| + | {{quotation|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. [http://www.amazon.com/How-Lie-Statistics-Darrell-Huff/dp/0393310728] }} | ||
Revision as of 13:12, January 3, 2009
Darrell Huff was an expert in statistics whose introductory book was published 72 years ago. Entitled How to Lie with Statistics, it shows the reader how to fight back against advertising hype and political propaganda by recognizing basic deceptions. The math is accessible to anyone with a 6th grade education.
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. [1]