Against the Gods: the Remarkable Story of Risk by Peter ...



1. Against the Gods: the Remarkable Story of Risk by Peter Bernstein

This well-crafted book traces the history of probabilistic thought and its application to measuring and controlling risk. If you are interested in statistics, you'll love this book; if you have only a passing interest in statistics or probability, you'll still find this a basically enjoyable read.

Bernstein, P. (1996). Against the Gods: the Remarkable Story of Risk. New York: Wiley.

2. The Cartoon Guide to Statistics by Gonick and Smith

This book gives a gentle introduction to statistics in cartoon format. It's actually surprisingly effective--the visual approach makes statistical concepts easy to grasp. Recommended for anyone who needs to get a feel for what statistics are all about and the basic reasoning behind statistical methods, but doesn't want to wade through a traditional textbook.

Gonick, L. and Smith, W. (1993). The Cartoon Guide to Statistics. New York: Harper Collins.

3. How to Lie with Statistics by Darrell Huff

A classic, written in 1954 but every bit as relevant today as it was then. This book describes how, if misused, statistics can lead people far astray. Many pitfalls are described in humorous fashion, along with suggestions for how to avoid problems.

Huff, D. (1993). How to Lie with Statistics. New York: W. W. Norton & Co.

4. Innumeracy: Mathematical Illiteracy and Its Consequences by John Allen Paulos

An insightful look into the phenomenon of mathematical illiteracy, some of the causes of it, the detrimental effects of it, and ways to improve the situation. One example: people who refuse to travel due to fear of terrorism, when the risk of being killed in an auto accident is roughly 300 times greater than the risk of dying at the hands of terrorists. By encouraging readers to develop a feel for numbers (especially large ones) and an appreciation for the workings of probability, he does much to combat innumeracy (at least in his readers).

Paulos, J. A. (1988). Innumeracy: Mathematical Illiteracy and Its Consequences. New York: Vintage Books.

5. The Lady Tasting Tea: How Statistics Revolutionized Science in the Twentieth Century.

by David Salsburg.

W. H. Freeman and Company, 2000.

6. 200% of Nothing: An Eye-Opening Tour Through the Twists and Turns of Math Abuse and Innumeracy.

by A. K. Dewdney.

John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1993.

7. The Power of Logical Thinking: Easy Lessons in the Art of Reasoning . . . and Hard Facts About Its Absence in Our Lives.

by Marilyn vos Savant.

St. Martin’s Press, New York, 1996.

8. Damned Lies and Statistics: Untangling Numbers from the Media, Politicians, and Activists.

by Joel Best.

University of California Press, 2001.

9. Full House.

by Stephen Jay Gould.

Harmony Books, New York, 1996.

10. The American Plague

by Molly Caldwell Crosby

The Penguin Group, 2006.

11. An American Plague: The True and Terrifying Story of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793 (Newbery Honor Book)

by Jim Murphy

Clarion Books, 2003.

12. The Great Influenza: The story of the deadliest pandemic in history

by John M. Barry

Penguin Books; Revised edition (October 4, 2005)

13. The Ghost Map: The Story of London's Most Terrifying Epidemic--and How It Changed Science, Cities, and the Modern World

by Steven Johnson

Riverhead Trade; 1 Reprint edition (October 2, 2007)

Lucky list of 13 – Why is 13 considered unlucky? If you don’t know, ask Alex Shinn – he does.

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