Rating: 
Summary: This book is a "must read".
Review:
For an excellent short introduction to the problems of polling, as well as other statistical nightmares,
check out "How to Lie With Statistics" by Darrell Huff. This little book, which you can read in an
afternoon, was written in the 50's and is *still* the definitive bible on how statistics can be misused.
It's fun to read, too, and I laughed out loud a number of times while reading it. A more accurate (but
less catchy) title for the book would be "how other people lie with statistics, and how you can
recognize it when they try to snow you." Each section describes a way that statistics or graphs are
misused, and then gives real-life examples from advertisements or newspaper articles or political
speeches of the author's day which illustrate the misuse in action. Sad to say, Huff's examples from
the 50's look just like the crap we get shoved at us today. Some things never change.
The book only costs about $5, and from it you'll learn as much as an entire college course. Get a copy,
read it, and lend it to friends. If I had to throw away all my books and could only keep a dozen, this
would be one of the keepers.
Rating:
Summary: Defend yourself from the number-tossers
Review: How to Lie with Statistics, by Darrel Huff, should be required reading for everyone. The cachet of numbers are used all the time in modern society. Usually to end arguments--after all, who can argue with "facts"? Huff shows how the same set of numbers can be tweaked to show three different outcomes, depending on where you start and what you use. The fundamental lesson I learned from this book is that mathematical calculation involves a whole set of conditions, and any number derived from such a calculation is meaningless without understanding those conditions. He also mentions that colleagues have told him that the flurry of meaningless statistics is due to incompetence--he dispatches this argument with a simple query: "Why, then, do the numbers almost always favor the person quoting them?" Huff also provides five questions (not unlike the five d's of dodgeball) for readers to ask, when confronted with a statistic: 1. Who says so? 2. How does he know? 3. What's missing? 4. Did somebody change the subject? 5. Does it make sense? All this is wrapped up in a book with simple examples (no math beyond arithmetic, really) and quaint 1950s prose. In addition humor runs from the beginning (the dedication is "To my wife with good reason") to the end (on page 135, Huff says "Almost anybody can claim to be first in something if he is not too particular what it is"). This book is well worth a couple hours of your time.
Rating:
Summary: Great intro
Review: -- with no equations. This book really is for every one. In fact, if you're a no-equations reader, this book will be especially helpful.
It shows all the little tricks that advertisers and propagandists, government agencies included, throw at you every day. One, p.85, is an impressive sounding news article about teachers' pay. At first, it looks as if a generous government outlay had doubled or tripled teachers' salaries. Looking closer, however, one sees an odd cluster of unrelated numbers flying in close formation. None of the numbers quoted has any bearing on any other, at least none that the article's reader can discover.
Duff also points out the fallacy of correlation. Oh, it's a useful enough measure, if (!) a number of mathematical requirements are met. It is not causation, however. For example, there is a strong correlation between a school child's height and the child's score on a given spelling test - taller kids do better. The fact is a lot less surprising when you see that first graders tend to be smaller than sixth graders, and tend to know fewer words. Maybe the example sounds silly, but no sillier than lots of the numbers in the news every day.
This is a quick and approachable read, and true even if the examples are now dated. Despite its name, this book really is aimed at honest people, readers who want real understanding of the data thrown at them, and presenters who want their numbers to be understood properly. And best, you don't have to be a mathematician to see what's going on.
//wiredweird
Rating:
Summary: A true classic
Review: Having reread this over the last 25 years, this is still truly the best to demonstrate "fun with numbers". The true measure of this book can actually be found (for those who remember) in Perot's '92 campaign. Perot had the audacity to show as a supporting graph in one of his infomercials the US states colored to purport the tax burden. His graph showed all of the Western and most of the Midwestern states paying all of their income to support the Federal government. Only problem is that what he was showing (the Western, unpopulated, but much larger, states) was straight out of this little classic.
Highly recommended!
Rating: 
Summary: Much less devious than the name suggests
Review: A more appropriate title would be, "Self defense against people lying with charts and statistics" This book is a great light primer on ways others can manipulate statistics to use against you.
This is important, as Mark Twain asserted, "There are 3 types of lies: Lies, Damn Lies, and Statistics." There are so many techniques available to manipulate statistics, one might first disregard them all. But with all due respect to Mr. Twain, statistics really are important, so having this book to understand some of these techniques is vital.
Just take the lesson with a grain of salt. The book is thin, making it an easy read, but the lessons of universe are not contained in it's pages. Best to view it as the first class of Statistical Self Defense 101, rather than a master course.
Rating:
Summary: This book is above average
Review: The book I chose to read is "How to Lie With Statistics." This book is a classic from 1954, but because it is about statistics it stays a timeless classic. Darrell Huff wrote a witty explanation and guide of all the uses of statistics. With Irving Geis's humorous illustrations this book is a perfect read for everyone. The book is important because it helps discredit all of the numbers, averages, and rates thrown to you from the media, advertisers, bankers, and anyone else who wants to prove their point. The book also shows you how you can prove your point by using the same methods. As with the information gathered in Dr Howard's class, this kind of information will help you in your career, simply because it helps to persuade others and influence them with your ideas.
The book begins with an easy to relate incident, where the authors' father notes on how much more crime there is in California than in his little home back in Iowa. Right from the start he gives an example that demonstrates bias and other tricks used to swindle the unaware. Huff gives many kinds of examples, one of which became our assignment in Dr. Howard's class. We are always exposed to averages. We are bombarded by statistics whether we are choosing the neighborhood of our residence to the number one glass of orange juice next to our cornflakes. The principle of the average can be stretched to fit any means. The one that we were asked to further explore in our assignment was for finding the best way to represent the average income of company employees. In a large corporation you can have very few workers who earn millions compared to the millions of workers who earn very little. By this you can come up with really high arithmetical average, a semi smaller median, or most likely a small mode. As an example, when applying for a job, an employer may tell you some statistical data of their salary and employment status; after already reading this in the book, the acquired knowledge will give you the upper hand in the conversation.
Furthermore another aspect that makes this a good read is the style. Huff writes in a simple language that does not require a college degree in arithmetic to understand what he is talking about. There is no complicated arithmetic vocabulary that you would need to look up. On the contrary it is meant for everyone who wants to better educate themselves. The straightforward writing makes this book a quick page turner and it is not hard to retain the given information. This makes the book very effective because it makes its purpose easy to understand and apply in your life.
The book was first published in the 1950s so most people overlook it; thinking is completely out of date. Most people would think that the information just doesn't apply to the 21st century, but likewise advertising has not changed a lot, except for maybe the new sex appeal. A lot of products are still marketed using statistical data in favor of their merchandise. Also, in my own little research I have found a lot of websites that use statistical data too. A good example is www.landlord.com, they have a page of web statistics that informs the visitor of the frequency of hits, of what percentage of viewers are real estate holders, investors and developers.
The book doesn't only read as a warning guide. It offers a great deal on what to watch out for, and it shows you how easily you have been lied to. It also presents you with the information needed to learn all the tricks for yourself. The book is filled with examples of the use of statistics for every category, and it follows up with how to make them work to reach a certain goal. Huff didn't want this book to be a "manual for swindlers." Instead he justifies it "in a manner of the retired burglar whose published reminiscences amounted to a graduate course in how to pick a lock and muffle a footfall." Further on he explains that "the crooks already know these tricks; honest men must learn them in self-defense." This works perfectly for the simple American mom buying the cough medicine with the most favorable statistical data, or the psychotic conspiracy-theory buff who blames the media for his rash. Furthermore, this book is good read, even if it's going to be the only math book you will read.
After reading this book you don't have to let anyone deceive you using statistical data. With everything there is to learn about statistics in this book, you can comprehend its daily exploitation and utilize it yourself. There are so many ways that you could apply what you learned to daily life. "The fact is that, despite its mathematical base, statistics is as much an art as it is a science" -Darrell Huff.
Rating:
Summary: A book about statistics for small kids and, um, big kids
Review: I read this book when it first came out, fifty years ago, and thought it was hilarious. The examples are a little dated by now, but it is still plenty of fun. You don't need a math background to understand it. Maybe it's most enjoyable for grade school kids, but grown-ups can look at it too.
Rating:
Summary: wicked awsome
Review: This book gives a briljant understanding in the relation between the numbers of statistics (abstract things for many students and even professionals) and what they actually mean. Far from adopting the idea that numbers hold the 'hard truth' the author shows how (sometimes obvious, sometimes subtle) different ways of representing the data can lead to completely different conclusions, or at least perceptions by the reader. Everyone that aims to publish statistic results either in science, advertising or the media should read this book to learn to realise the power of representation.
But not only the content is a reason to read it: the book is short, it reads easily and is often funny
Rating:
Summary: Please read this book!
Review: Many say we live in a world that is advanced. Some would have us believe that everything can be measured and understood. However if this is the case, why are we presented with such diverse explanations and remedies for the "simplest" things from everyday life?
This book does not attempt to give you the answers to any of the questions you might have about the world. The book does an outstanding job of giving insight into understanding the arguments people use to attempt to manipulate us into adopting their beliefs.
Most of the techniques of manipulation are simple and old. They are often as simple as drawing a graph that while technically accurate, is completely misleading. Another simple technique is collecting a statistic that in reality has little to say about something else, yet due to a historical coinsidence they appear to be related. This book is a catalog of techniques used to distort the truth and to convince people to believe in what is not true.
The book is small and easily read in a couple of hours. It is as suitable for a 12 year old as it is for a college professor. Use it not to be taken in by those who seek to manipulate you. Read it long before you vote, read it before you panic over over the latest doom and gloom reported on the news or in the paper, read it before you are taken in by the latest and greatest hype that is designed to snag you and your money.
When you are done, please pass it along to your kids or a friend!
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