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How to Lie with Statistics
"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,...more
Hardcover, 142 pages
Published
January 19th 1954
by R.S. Means Company
(first published 1954)
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Eric Phetteplace
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Recommends it for:
People who don't want to be ignoramuses their whole lives
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lis-web
This is one of those rare books I would recommend to almost anyone. It's clear, concise, funny, not too complex, and above all important for anyone who wants to understand politics, economics, science, or life in general. Statistical analysis is so vital to determining how things actually stand and where we should be moving that people lacking awareness of basic logical/statistical fallacies are doomed to live within delusions. Being informed necessitates understanding and being skeptical of sta...more
Yes, it has all the stuff you hear about: how people use stats to subtly (and not-so-subtly) misdirect the reader/listener, how to systematically recognize (or create) misinterpretations, and a strong implicit call to action for clearer information in public discourse.
But in the billion years since this classic came of age, we've all learned that other ways, some of them better presented. When it was written, many people believed the information they received in the papers, in magaz...more
But in the billion years since this classic came of age, we've all learned that other ways, some of them better presented. When it was written, many people believed the information they received in the papers, in magaz...more
I'm just going to quote the Amazon.com review:
"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 ca...more
"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 ca...more
An oldie but a goodie, Huff's classic is a quick informative guide to taking statistics and figures with a healthy dose of salt. In this book, Huff gives numerous examples of statistics that on the surface seem incredibly accurate, but upon closer examination reveal flaws in the reasoning and how people can truly bend the numbers into whatever shape they desire. Finally, Huff presents the reader with a set of questions and guidelines to help them think critically when presented with a set of sta...more
This book was published in 1954 and some of the examples are dated but the principles it puts forth are still valid today--if not more so than ever--and the material is delivered in clear, concise, and even entertaining anecdotes and illustrations. It is also an easy read that can be easily finished in one day of concentrated effort.
How often do you hear statistics bandied about in the media or used to try to prove some special-interest point? "Of course" the people quoting t...more
How often do you hear statistics bandied about in the media or used to try to prove some special-interest point? "Of course" the people quoting t...more
أحب الرياضيات و تستهويني الأرقام ، لكن علم الإحصاء كان حاجزا لم أكن أستطيع تجاوزه ، و بالأخص ثلاثة مفاهيم (عقدتني) :
mean, mode, & medium
كنت دائما أقرأها في الدراسات التي أطلع عليها دون أن أفهمها أبدا ، و أشتهي لو أني أستطيع توظيفها في أبحاثي التي تعتمد على الأرقام .
فكّ هذا الكتاب عقدتي ! ، أخيرا فهمت ما تعنيه هذه المفاهيم من خلال تخطيط رسمي مبسط (<- بديل منزلي للسكانر العطلانة) ، لم أجده في أي من كتب الإحصاء !. متعة أني أخيرا عرفت معنى هذه المصطلحات تفوق الكثير من ال...more
mean, mode, & medium
كنت دائما أقرأها في الدراسات التي أطلع عليها دون أن أفهمها أبدا ، و أشتهي لو أني أستطيع توظيفها في أبحاثي التي تعتمد على الأرقام .
فكّ هذا الكتاب عقدتي ! ، أخيرا فهمت ما تعنيه هذه المفاهيم من خلال تخطيط رسمي مبسط (<- بديل منزلي للسكانر العطلانة) ، لم أجده في أي من كتب الإحصاء !. متعة أني أخيرا عرفت معنى هذه المصطلحات تفوق الكثير من ال...more
Recommended by both Jamie S. Z. and my Statistical Foundations professor. Really engaging and common-spoken, eager to make us adroit critical thinkers of statistical information. The main problem, of course, is its age, which enthusiastically describes plush neighborhoods with an average income of $15,000 and the enormous profits of $42 a week. Still, it has the fervor to educate us because, as H.G. Wells once prophesied, "Statistical thinking will one day be as necessary for efficient citi...more
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It seems a little shallow to rate this semi-pamphlet at four stars, as one of the must-read books, but that's exactly what I'm going to do.
This book earns four stars from me simply from its concisiveness and practicality. You can churn through this beauty in one sitting. It is entertaining, has excellent examples, introduces concepts in a wry, witty tone, and after ten years of courses, articles, books, and opinions, I have yet to learn a single thing about misleading statistic...more
ever have the feeling that all 97.2% of statistics are bullshit? that's probably a low estimate. everyone should read this book. bogus statistics (58% of americans believe x) are everywhere. huff systematically destroyed this crap 50 years ago. unfortunately, some of the examples are dated, but you'll get the idea.
Valerie
added it
This was required reading in a speech course in college. Badly in need of an update, true. But also in need of supplements in other fields. It wasn't until I got to grad school (post-master's, in fact) that I actually got a course in analyzing scientific studies--something people should be started on in elementary school. If enough people knew how to detect bias and suchlike in scientific studies, we might hear less wide-eyed reporting about 'obesity epidemics' (created by redefining obesi...more
This book is really interesting and enjoyable to read.
All the knowledge about statistics in this book is not complicated; it is indeed basic and easily understandable and appears in many science textbooks (with content about scientific method). However, the author comes up with many interesting and surprising ways to use such simple statistical tools for the purpose of deceiving the general public. Together with this are plenty of examples from the media and the press, which makes i...more
All the knowledge about statistics in this book is not complicated; it is indeed basic and easily understandable and appears in many science textbooks (with content about scientific method). However, the author comes up with many interesting and surprising ways to use such simple statistical tools for the purpose of deceiving the general public. Together with this are plenty of examples from the media and the press, which makes i...more
This book cracked me up. The actual information contained in it is all about how the media, marketeers, and others use statistics to lie. However, it was written quite awhile ago and it makes many references to pop culture events happening in the 1940s. That's what makes this book a true gem. The knowledge contained in it is priceless but with the backdrop of the historical references, it makes this book both helpful and comedic.
Despite when this was written, the same statistical man...more
Despite when this was written, the same statistical man...more
This booked taught me nothing. If you have been around me, I have given the confounding variables are in every comparison. All the author talks about are the confounding variables that writers leave out in order to make there comparisons seem relevant. You do not want to be lied to, then the more sample the merrier. I did learn one thing so I lied from the first sentence I wrote. Starting to make sense now. I liked the chapter about Post Hoc. If A then B and if B then A. Example is smokers in c...more
Many people I've met are fearful of the subject of statistics, finding it hopelessly dry and soul-sappingly boring.
While I can't say the stat course I took in college made me enthusiastic about the subject, it strengthened my appreciation of the subject.
Statistically-based reasoning--or distortions masquerading as such--rule our lives, however. So if people read nothing else on statistics in their entire lives, they should read this book, for it focuses directly on how stati...more
While I can't say the stat course I took in college made me enthusiastic about the subject, it strengthened my appreciation of the subject.
Statistically-based reasoning--or distortions masquerading as such--rule our lives, however. So if people read nothing else on statistics in their entire lives, they should read this book, for it focuses directly on how stati...more
This book is older than I am, written in 1954, but it is still highly rated and Amazon reviewers said that it is still relevant. The basic principles are true and the way people lied with statistics then is still as popular and prevalent as ever. But the book is not only outdated in its examples (e.g., average per capita income is $5,000, or "is one cigarette really better than the next?"), the conversational style of writing is antiquated. The author sounded like an old TV commerci...more
Marvelous little book. It's from 1954 and some things are obviously dated. That makes some things, like mentions of prices, very funny. However, his points are timeless.
This is easily read and easy to understand. I have never had statistics in school and I am trying to make up for that. This is perfect. There is a lot of sensible wisdom that any responsible citizen can benefit from. You use this when reading the newspaper, advertisements, news from the government, etc., etc. A friend lent m...more
This is easily read and easy to understand. I have never had statistics in school and I am trying to make up for that. This is perfect. There is a lot of sensible wisdom that any responsible citizen can benefit from. You use this when reading the newspaper, advertisements, news from the government, etc., etc. A friend lent m...more
Everyone should be familiar with the message in this book, whether you read the book or not. Basically, it is incredibly easy to manipulate statistics to say anything you want. And so when you see political polls, market research, or whatever, you can count on the fact that the organization publishing the data has skewed the way it is being presented to maximize the point they are trying to make. Sometimes, this can be simply "aggressive interpretation." But statistical data is so ...more
This book was published in 1954, before Excel, and it hasn't been updated yet it's still being reissued. After reading this, I can only assume that B.E. (Before Excel) statistics were presented more often with illustrations rather than bar graphs and pie charts, which would just be weird now since it's so easy to prepare graphs in Excel. Or maybe the whole point of the book is that if you use illustrations you will be able to confuse your audience with more ease. Either way, I didn't really lea...more
Wish I'd read this 30 years ago, despite having little in the way of maths it does teach a rational sceptical approach to that main tool of the manipulative - statistics.
The examples from the 1930s through the 1960s are quaint but don't detract.
I mark it down by 1 star for its lack of math content - I want to see a book that takes a popular approach while explaining the underlying math - like what sample size gives what confidence level.
Not the book's fault, b...more
The examples from the 1930s through the 1960s are quaint but don't detract.
I mark it down by 1 star for its lack of math content - I want to see a book that takes a popular approach while explaining the underlying math - like what sample size gives what confidence level.
Not the book's fault, b...more
The title is somewhat misleading. A more representative, but less punchy title would be "How not to get lied to with statistics."
This little book (my copy is a 'little red book') is wonderfully handy for teaching about statistics. If given the choice, it would be mandatory reading for all students, beginning in elementary school, as it provides a basic understanding in statistical (critical) thinking.
If you've ever heard "4 out of 5 dentists recommend Tride...more
This little book (my copy is a 'little red book') is wonderfully handy for teaching about statistics. If given the choice, it would be mandatory reading for all students, beginning in elementary school, as it provides a basic understanding in statistical (critical) thinking.
If you've ever heard "4 out of 5 dentists recommend Tride...more
I first read this slender book in college statistics and had often thought of revisiting it. It's as superb a book as I had remembered. Given that stats are freely tossed about from product advertisements to political speeches, everyone should do themselves a favor and read it.
Despite its title, the author's goal isn't to teach the reader to lie but rather to educate on how statistics are often abused, sometimes subtly. It's not a textbook, so you aren't asked to calculate standard ...more
Despite its title, the author's goal isn't to teach the reader to lie but rather to educate on how statistics are often abused, sometimes subtly. It's not a textbook, so you aren't asked to calculate standard ...more
32% of all people know that 57% of all statistics are made up on the spot. That being said, this is a good primer on how to read and understand the statistics that are sold as "FACT". If the rate of increase of our debt is declining, the debt is still increasing. Polls are not always accurate. The word "average" means nothing taken out of context.
This was a very good book, accessible even to those that don't know pi to 11 digits.
This was a very good book, accessible even to those that don't know pi to 11 digits.
Huff's short book/ long pamphlet is tandard reading before you pass the Writing Requirement at my undergrad school (Marlboro College). Unlike Strunk & White's _Elements of Style_, it is not brilliantly written. However, it amusingly and very clearly illustrates Twain's (?) quote:
There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics.
You'll never be swayed by numbers in an article again without checking out their stats methodology.
There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics.
You'll never be swayed by numbers in an article again without checking out their stats methodology.
This is an incredibly easy read, and will teach the novice about the questions to ask when reading about or citing statistical studies. Every journalist should understand statistics to at least this level, or give up the practice. The author's annoyances pretty well match my own; I would have rated the book higher if he had presented some angles I didn't already understand fairly well. For total novices, this may approach 5-star reading.
Awesome. Especially if you're particularly gullible when someone invokes a statistic or two (guilty). The numbers and issues are outdated (sometimes hilariously so) but the method is still the same. Definitely not as shocking now as it was 60+ years ago, but still totally relevant. Jon firmly believes that a course in statistics should be required in both high school and college. After reading this I heartily agree.
buku ini pernah direkomendasikan oleh seorang dosen muda pada mata kuliah tingkat akhir jur HI UNPAD, nyarinya mpe blingsatan akhirnya ketemu jg, eh, begitu punya malah dikasi hadiah buku ini jg dari seorang teman.. lupa aq kasi siapa gtu ;p
intinya buku ini membahas soal statistik dan sejumlah kebohongan yang bisa dilahirkan dari susunan angka-angka tersebut... jd inget waktu diskusi dengan adek, kita menyimpulkan memang statistik dibuat agar kita tahu arah dan angka dari sebuah perh...more
intinya buku ini membahas soal statistik dan sejumlah kebohongan yang bisa dilahirkan dari susunan angka-angka tersebut... jd inget waktu diskusi dengan adek, kita menyimpulkan memang statistik dibuat agar kita tahu arah dan angka dari sebuah perh...more
This is a short and really fun book on the techniques and fallacies people using statistics. It’s triply as fun for someone like me who works with numbers on a regular basis. The engineer in me aiming for exact and truthfulness has always been bothered by the researcher in me that has use sample sizes and leaps of faith on stats formed by formulas and not research.
How to Life with Statistics is armed with wit and cartoons that illustrate the points and adds tremendously to the readab...more
How to Life with Statistics is armed with wit and cartoons that illustrate the points and adds tremendously to the readab...more
Very dated, especially when providing examples using dollar values from the 1950's, but still both educational and entertaining. For an updated version, I'm considering "Proofiness: The Dark Arts of Mathematical Deception," by Charles Seife. Nevertheless, the examples could be more timely, but the analysis unlikely to be any more insightful than this old gem.
Truly a numbers racket. The author adeptly demonstrates how simply and cleverly statistics can represent a gross distortion of truth.
By creating a correlation between 2 otherwise unrelated facts, we the public are hoodwinked into accepting the resultant relationship - unquestioningly accepting the derived 'FACT'.
A must read for all.
By creating a correlation between 2 otherwise unrelated facts, we the public are hoodwinked into accepting the resultant relationship - unquestioningly accepting the derived 'FACT'.
A must read for all.
Everyone who dabbles in the statistical interpretation of data should read this book. Considering this includes anyone who has ever seen a graph or watched an advertisement, you should probably go read this. It'll take no longer than an afternoon, and both the writing and the illustrations are funny and engaging.
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