Reminiscences of a Statistician: The Company I Kept

by Erich L. Lehmann

This relatively nontechnical book is the first account of the history of statistics from the Fisher revolution to the computer revolution. It sketches the careers, and highlights some of the work, of 65 people, most of them statisticians. What gives the book its special character is its emphasis on the author's interaction with these people and the inclusion of many personal anecdotes. Combined, these portraits provide an amazing fly-on-the-wall view of statistics during the period in question. The stress is on ideas and technical material is held to a minimum. Thus the book is accessible to anyone with at least an elementary background in statistics.

309 pages, Paperback

First published November 26, 2007

Reviews

[Elly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Autobiographical story connected to the mathematicians and statisticians Lehman met. It includes short biographies of those others. Extended bibliography of both subject and historical works, but no full list of his own publications. Separate indexes of persons and subjects. Limited descriptions of statistical work, especially in the later chapters.

A nice book, but due to the subject matter mostly suited for statisticians and mathematicians with interest in the history of their subjects and for historians with interest in the history of science.

[Dean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lehmann is one of the most important statisticians of all time, delightful read for those interested in the history of the field.