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Synopsis
The first edition of Tufte's now classic text on the design of statistical graphics was published in 1983. Tufte published it himself with the help of a second mortgage in order to have complete control over the book's design, which he wanted to reflect the intellectual principles put forth in its c
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First Sentence
Excellence in statistical graphics consists of complex ideas communicated with clarity, precision, and efficiency. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
Excellence in statistical graphics consists of complex ideas communicated with clarity, precision, and efficiency. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
26 of 26 people found the following review helpful
By Warren
Format:Hardcover
This book should be a compulsory read for all graphic designers dealing with data visualisation.
The clearly focused chapters, all with superb illustrations, take the reader through some of the best and worst graphics and charts ever printed, with Tufte providing crystalline insights and techniques that will stick in your mind and make your own work better.
Whilst this book deals only with printed graphics, I think that the lessons learned are even more valuable as a foundation for interactive media designers. With the added dimensions of time and user involvement comes the potential to commit far worse design-crimes than many of the examples laid bare in this book!
Like I said: Read it before you make a really bad mistake!
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
A must read for anyone regularly graphically presenting quantitative information
3 Nov 2009
By AK
TOP 500 REVIEWER
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
The book is simply stunning. It consigns most of the graphical designs of the consulting industry into the dustbin of bad practice and presents some slightly unconventional alternatives, which actually do look more compelling on second thought. The standard rules of avoiding lie factors in graphics, maximising the data / ink ratio, the integration of graphics and text are all spot on and show how statistics, when done right, is far from boring, tending far more towards the fascinating instead.
The book also provides some splendid examples of good graphical design, shockingly most of them fairly old - i.e. the field did not progress nearly as much as should be expected, with most of the progress being pre-20th century, with several unfortunate steps back from the 1920s to 1970s (shown as well). Another interesting facet is the historical development of methods for presenting quantitative information, which is interesting in its own right.
This book should be essential reading for anyone who relies on visually presenting quantitative information and is an absolute must in management consulting.
The book also provides some splendid examples of good graphical design, shockingly most of them fairly old - i.e. the field did not progress nearly as much as should be expected, with most of the progress being pre-20th century, with several unfortunate steps back from the 1920s to 1970s (shown as well). Another interesting facet is the historical development of methods for presenting quantitative information, which is interesting in its own right.
This book should be essential reading for anyone who relies on visually presenting quantitative information and is an absolute must in management consulting.
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
By Philip H
Format:Hardcover
This book is very well produced and executed. Heavy use of graphics, clear text, excellent glosses on the side of each page to highlight important reading. The graphics are generally lovely examples of how to optimise your graphic design so as to "channel" the reader toward the take-home messages of quantitative data.
These examples intersperse the text very neatly. Indeed, the layout of the book itself is meant to be a talking point, and is certainly very rational and a pleasure to flick through.
However, I find the examples given can be repetitive and the text can lack depth without a sense of depth to the analysis. I would have preferred something a little academic in the reading. As it is, it reads quite like an online tutorial (which are freely, widely available...). In fact, I think you could perhaps garner more from a well-chosen blog or two.
Much of the "exemplar designs" selected by Tufte are also repetitive, especially between his books. While the examples in question are undeniably outstanding (e.g. particularly elegant train schedules and Minaud's military escapades from Paris to Moscow), I find myself feeling, "I get the point! Show me something new!"
Lovely as a reference book, but if you've already done extensive reading on this sort of thing (on blogs or otherwise), you're probably looking for more depth -- so maybe try elsewhere. If you're looking for a reference book that will consolidate the basics in a beautiful way, then this is an excellent, appealing solution!
(I am very happy with my purchase!)
These examples intersperse the text very neatly. Indeed, the layout of the book itself is meant to be a talking point, and is certainly very rational and a pleasure to flick through.
However, I find the examples given can be repetitive and the text can lack depth without a sense of depth to the analysis. I would have preferred something a little academic in the reading. As it is, it reads quite like an online tutorial (which are freely, widely available...). In fact, I think you could perhaps garner more from a well-chosen blog or two.
Much of the "exemplar designs" selected by Tufte are also repetitive, especially between his books. While the examples in question are undeniably outstanding (e.g. particularly elegant train schedules and Minaud's military escapades from Paris to Moscow), I find myself feeling, "I get the point! Show me something new!"
Lovely as a reference book, but if you've already done extensive reading on this sort of thing (on blogs or otherwise), you're probably looking for more depth -- so maybe try elsewhere. If you're looking for a reference book that will consolidate the basics in a beautiful way, then this is an excellent, appealing solution!
(I am very happy with my purchase!)
18 of 22 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
These books appeal on so many levels. They are informative, interesting and entertaining. Beautifully produced and very well written. One hardly notices one is being educated.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Every management consultant should look at the pictures.
This is excellence in story telling.
This is excellence in story telling.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By M.I.
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
This book provides suggestions and ideas about how to represent data in a graphically meaningful and elegant way. The focus is set on how to maximize the information shown without producing chartjunk, in order to reveal the meaning and the complexity of the data in a visually effective way. Guidelines are given for producing better graphics, such as maximising data ink and erasing non data one, and many examples of good and bad graphics taken from present and past scientific literature following such guidelines are shown. I found interesting the point made by the author about graphical data integrity, which means that graphics are supposed of telling the truth and not distort graphically the information content. The sizes of the graphical elements shown must represent the magnitude of the data correctly, without distortions. On the contrary, nowadays graphics published in newspapers and magazines often lack such integrity, and the message conveyed by the data is altered and telling a lie. Readers aren't usually aware of such subtleties! In conclusion, anybody dealing with scientific data and its representation should own a copy. Well done!
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By SLConAmazon
Format:Hardcover
Most of us who routinely produce data graphics are not graphic designers. This book shows that by stripping away unnecessary graphical features (that we often do not have the skills for anyway) we can dramatically improve the effectiveness of the message. Who would have thought we could find such elegance in data illustrations.
The historical examples are stunning ... beautiful and advanced data illustration using simple technology that allowed the data designer to focus on the sole task of producing an effective design. Our lack of progress is embarrassing.
Many of the simple rules that Tufte has developed for us seem applicable to other forms of illustration. I look forward to improving my PowerPoint presentations, as well as my Excel charts.
The historical examples are stunning ... beautiful and advanced data illustration using simple technology that allowed the data designer to focus on the sole task of producing an effective design. Our lack of progress is embarrassing.
Many of the simple rules that Tufte has developed for us seem applicable to other forms of illustration. I look forward to improving my PowerPoint presentations, as well as my Excel charts.
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4.3 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Classic!
The reproductions are wonderful and the text is informative. A great book to have and read. Get it now!
A classic for every thinking-man's shelf!
A classic for every thinking-man's shelf!
Published 21 days ago by Paul Janka
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very good book
Nice print
Easy to read
Full of quality illustrations
A very good book to have.
I would say worth the money.
Easy to read
Full of quality illustrations
A very good book to have.
I would say worth the money.
Published 1 month ago by taufiq
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Book
Amazing book, amazing service! Really apreciate!
This book began in 1975 but is still so trendy now days. Read more
This book began in 1975 but is still so trendy now days. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Leo
4.0 out of 5 stars
well regarded classic on the subject, but a bit too old-fashioned...
well regarded classic on the subject, but a bit too old-fashioned style, avoiding colour as the tool for some reason. Read more
Published 19 months ago by ReviewerX
5.0 out of 5 stars
Beautiful
The ideal introductory book to Tufte, an absolutely beautiful book, an essential read for all those working in the data visualisation field. Perfect.
Published 21 months ago by Howie
4.0 out of 5 stars
Worth reading
This is a great "classic" and would even make a good coffee table book with its images and high quality paper! There are plenty of useful tips on how to visualise data. Read more
Published 21 months ago by Simon Gifford
3.0 out of 5 stars
Quite technical and historical
Molto più tecnico e storico di quello che mi aspettassi, ma in fin dei conti fa il suo lavoro, ancora non l'ho finito di leggere, ma promette bene, impatto buono
Published 22 months ago by Sion
5.0 out of 5 stars
Economists, econometricians and statisticians all need this book
This book is perfect for anyone who must present data and information visually in their career. I am an econometrician and find this book, and others like it by the author, a great... Read more
Published on 2 April 2011 by Tommy
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of the best reference books I have read.
I first read this book 20+ years ago but I find it as useful today as I did then. I have given it as a present to severall colleagues.
Published on 23 Oct 2010 by GRS
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