WHAT ARE THE ODDS YOU''LL WIN THE LOTTERY?
How long will your kids wait in line at Disney
World?
Who decides that "standardized tests" are
fair?
Why do highway engineers build slow-moving
ramps?
What does it mean, statistically, to be an "Average
Joe"?
NUMBERS RULE YOUR WORLD
In the popular tradition of eye-opening bestsellers like
Freakonomics, The Tipping Point, and Super Crunchers, this
fascinating book from renowned statistician and blogger Kaiser Fung
takes you inside the hidden world of facts and figures that affect
you every day, in every way.
These are the statistics that rule your life, your job, your
commute, your vacation, your food, your health, your money, and
your success. This is how engineers calculate your quality of
living, how corporations determine your needs, and how politicians
estimate your opinions. These are the numbers you never think
about-even though they play a crucial role in every single aspect
of your life.
What you learn may surprise you, amuse you, or even enrage you.
But there''s one thing you won''t be able to deny: Numbers Rule
Your World…
"An easy read with a big benefit."
-Fareed Zakaria, CNN
"For those who have anxiety about how organization data-mining
is impacting their world, Kaiser Fung pulls back the curtain to
reveal the good and the bad of predictive analytics."
-Ian Ayres,Yale professor and author of Super Crunchers: Why
Thinking By Numbers is the New Way to Be Smart
"A book that engages us with stories that a journalist would
write, the compelling stories behind the stories as illuminated by
the numbers, and the dynamics that the numbers reveal."
-John Sall, Executive Vice President, SAS Institute
"Little did I suspect, when I picked up Kaiser Fung''s book,
that I would become so entranced by it - an illuminating and
accessible exploration of the power of statistical analysis for
those of us who have no prior training in a field that he explores
so ably."
-Peter Clarke, author of Keynes: The Rise, Fall, and Return of
the 20th Century''s Most Influential Economist
"A tremendous book. . . . If you want to understand how to use
statistics, how to think with numbers and yet to do this without
getting lost in equations, if you''ve been looking for the book to
unlock the door to logical thinking about problems, well, you will
be pleased to know that you are holding that book in your
hands."
-Daniel Finkelstein, Executive Editor, The Times of
London
"I thoroughly enjoyed this accessible book and enthusiastically
recommend it to anyone looking to understand and appreciate the
role of statistics and data analysis in solving problems and in
creating a better world."
-Michael Sherman, Texas A&M University, American
Statistician
An infinitely entertaining look at everyday statistics that help
readers beat the odds-- at work, play, and life!
What are the chances that you'll strike it rich? That you'll get
to work on time? That your kids will get to ride Space Mountain in
under 90 minutes? Whether you're good at math or not, numbers play
a huge role in life. This endlessly fascinating book by renowned
statistician Kaiser Fung reveals the everyday applications of
statistics in action, from stock charts and test scores, to theme
parks and traffic jams. You'll discover what it means to be an
"average Joe," how Disney calculates waiting times, and why highway
engineers build ramps. You'll also learn behind-the-scenes,
time-saving business tips, calculated stock risks, and odds-on
lottery strategies. It's one wild ride on the number-crunching
rollercoaster that adds up to one terrific read.
