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Product Description

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This delightful book should be compulsory reading for everyone responsible for presenting data and for everyone who consumes it. --Sunday Telegraph

Review
...this is one of those maths books that claims to be self-help, and on the evidence presented here, we are in dire need of it... --Daily Telegraph

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Customer Reviews

13 Reviews

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23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

Making numbers interesting, 1 Oct 2007

By	Mary "Mary" (London) - See all my reviews

I used to have nightmares about maths exams. But this book illuminates how important numbers are in news and public policy, and how not to be caught out by them.

From reports about risks from mobile phone masts to child growth charts, Dilnot and Blastland use engaging examples to probe some of the common mistakes people often make with numbers.

Journalists frequently get stories wrong by failing to examine what a number on a press release really means. After reading this book you'll start to see the holes in many headlines. And you'll understand much more about the world.

I just recommended it to a friend who teaches A level maths for her students. It will help instil an understanding of the importance of numbers which I never had at school.

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30 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

Read this book!, 22 Sep 2007

By	Marian (uk) - See all my reviews

If you think you are average, read this book! If you've ever worried about a 20% increase in the risk of getting cancer if you drink one unit of alcohol a day, read this book!

I am the least numerate person imaginable, but I couldn't put it down. Fascinating, informative, and, yes, funny in places, shocking in others, never dull, a real page-turner. I have gained a more balanced view of the numbers thrown at me day after day, and have learnt to say "What does this mean for me? what is the human scale of this?"

It is said there's no gain without pain, but that certainly doesn't apply to this book.

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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

Is it a lie? or a damned statistic? or simply a misinterpretation?, 30 Nov 2007

By	D. Heaney - See all my reviews

Stimulating reading for the generally curious. Drawing on loads of interesting real-life examples, this book gives you a simple set of questions that allow you to get behind the headlines and understand the significance of the numbers in the news. It's easy to read, well-informed and should be a Christmas bestseller.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

everyone should read this
All journalists, reporters, politicans and anyone who deals with numbers in the public domain should be forced to read this book before starting their career. Read more

Published 1 month ago by K. Shaw

Excellent, very accessible look at how numbers are misinterpreted
This book should be compulsary reading for... well, everyone. Don't be put off by that ominous word 'numbers' on the front cover. Read more

Published 1 month ago by BookWorm

Good for statistics beginners
This book gives a gentle introduction into the statistical background to many newsworthy topics such as speed cameras, league tables and drug testing. Read more

Published 1 month ago by R. WOOD

Excellent book
This book has good suggestions, illustrated by superb true-life examples, many of which I found extremely interesting in their own right. Read more

Published 3 months ago by Matthew Leitch

Shows how numbers can be used to fool you
An excellent book. Not dull and boring maths but is full o