Visual This / Data Points: The FlowingData Guide to Design, Visualization, and Statistics / Visualization That Means Something

by Nathan Yau

Visualize This  is a guide on how to visualize and tell stories with data, providing practical design tips complemented with step-by-step tutorials. It begins with a description of the huge growth of data and visualization in industry, news, and gov't and opportunities for those who tell stories with data. Logically it moves on to actual stories in data-statistical ones with trends and human stories. the technical part comes up quickly with how to gather, parse and format data with Python, R, Excel, Google docs, etc and details tools to visualize data-native graphics for the Web like ActionScript, Flash libraries, PHP, JavaScript, CSS, HTML. Every chapter provides an example as well. Patterns over time and kinds of data charts are followed by proportions, chart types and examples. Next, examples and descriptions of outliers and how to show them, different kinds of maps, how to guide your readers and explain the data "in the visualization". The book ends with a value-add appendix on graphical perception.

Data Points  focuses on the approach to visualization and data. Visualization is a medium that can be used as a tool, art, a way to tell stories, etc.,  Data Points  guides readers through making data approachable through visualization techniques and best practices. The focus is on designing with a purpose in mind.  Data Points  discusses why recipes (from the rules) work and expands on how readers can make their own recipes. The book is example-driven, featuring work from people in areas of art, design, business, statistics, computer science, cartography, and online media, as well as many of the author's own illustrations. The major sections of the book cover: Data Points  digs deep into the foundations of data visualization:

358 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2014