Summaries of books about Statistics:
Factfulness
Ten Reasons We're Wrong About the World--and Why Things Are Better Than You Think
Hans Rosling|Anna Rosling Rönnlund|Ola Rosling
The book challenges common misconceptions about global progress and development by presenting a data-driven analysis that illustrates how the world has improved in various aspects such as health, wealth, and education. It introduces ten instincts that distort our perspective and provides practical advice on how to overcome these biases to see the world more factfully.
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The Undoing Project
A Friendship That Changed Our Minds
Michael Lewis
The book chronicles the collaboration between two Israeli psychologists, Daniel Kahneman and Amos Tversky, whose groundbreaking work laid the foundation for behavioral economics. It delves into their personal lives, the evolution of their partnership, and how their theories challenged conventional wisdom about decision-making and probability.
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Everybody Lies
Big Data, New Data, and What the Internet Can Tell Us About Who We Really Are
Seth Stephens-Davidowitz
The book explores how the vast amounts of data generated by internet searches and online activity can reveal deep truths about human behavior, preferences, and prejudices that are often hidden in traditional surveys or studies. It uses real-world examples and research to demonstrate how this "big data" can provide insights into topics like sexuality, racism, health, and economics, challenging our understanding of how society truly functions.
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SuperFreakonomics
Global Cooling, Patriotic Prostitutes, and Why Suicide Bombers Should Buy Life Insurance
Steven D. Levitt|Stephen J. Dubner
The book delves into unconventional analysis of real-world issues using economic principles, exploring topics like climate change, the economics of prostitution, and counterintuitive insights into terrorism. It challenges conventional wisdom through data-driven stories and examines incentives that drive human behavior in surprising and provocative ways.
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Superforecasting
The Art and Science of Prediction
Philip E. Tetlock|Dan Gardner
The book delves into the world of prediction, examining the techniques of "superforecasters" who are exceptionally skilled at forecasting significant events. It explores the cognitive styles, habits of thought, and methodologies that enable these individuals to make remarkably accurate predictions about politics, economics, and other areas of interest.
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The Signal and the Noise
Why So Many Predictions Fail-but Some Don't
Nate Silver
The book explores the world of prediction, examining a wide range of fields including baseball, politics, weather, and economics to understand why some forecasts succeed and others fail. It delves into the science of probability and statistics, and how the understanding and misuse of these tools lead to the success or failure of predictive models.
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Naked Statistics
Stripping the Dread from the Data
Charles Wheelan
The book demystifies the fundamental concepts of statistics and showcases their real-world applications, using humor and accessible language to explain how data analysis informs decision-making in various aspects of life. It covers topics such as central tendency, correlation, probability, and regression analysis, aiming to make statistics approachable and engaging for readers without a mathematical background.
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The Art of Statistics
Learning from Data
David Spiegelhalter
The book serves as an introduction to statistics and data analysis, explaining how to interpret and communicate statistical information effectively. It covers various statistical concepts, from basic measures and probability to regression and machine learning, using real-world examples to demonstrate their application in decision-making and problem-solving.
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Numbers Don't Lie
71 Things You Need to Know About the World
Vaclav Smil
The book presents a collection of 71 short essays that delve into various statistics and facts about technology, energy, the environment, and global development, offering insights into how numbers reveal essential truths about the state of the world. Each chapter uses data and evidence to debunk myths, clarify complex issues, and provide a clearer understanding of how the world really works.
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Statistics
Inc. BarCharts
The book serves as a concise reference guide that covers key statistical concepts, formulas, and tables. It is designed to provide students and professionals with a quick and easy way to review statistical methods, distributions, probability, and hypothesis testing.
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