Storytelling with Data: Before and After - Practical Makeovers for Powerful Data Stories

by Cole Nussbaumer Knaflic, Mike Cisneros, Alex Vélez

How do you turn a forgettable graph into a compelling data story?

For more than a decade, the team at storytelling with data has helped leading organizations and countless professionals transform their business communications into action-inspiring narratives. Now, they're bringing the best of those lessons to you—in the beloved before-and-after format synonymous with their popular workshops. Through twenty powerful makeovers, watch ineffective charts evolve into engaging visuals that captivate, inform, and lead to smarter decisions.

World-renowned data storytellers Mike Cisneros, Alex Velez, and SWD founder Cole Nussbaumer Knaflic guide you through proven methods to strengthen your communications, sharing the thought process behind each redesign so you can confidently apply the concepts to your work. Building on core principles from the international bestseller storytelling with data, refined through thousands of workshops, they demonstrate the straightforward, intentional changes—like simplifying visuals, eliminating clutter, and emphasizing key insights—that will transform your graphs and slides from the expected to the extraordinary.

In storytelling with before and after, you'll learn how

Structure stories that connect with your audience Create visuals that clarify complex information Apply color, layout, and design to focus attention on what matters most Overcome common challenges like time constraints and poorly designed templates Craft narratives that make an impact and influence outcomes Every page of storytelling with before and after is packed with insights drawn from real-world experience, distilled into easy-to-implement strategies. No matter your role, experience level, or comfort with data, you'll learn practical lessons you can apply right away. Each transformation delivers meaningful takeaways to help you create data stories that resonate—and get results.

This book is your ultimate blueprint for turning graphs into persuasive, decision-driving stories.

Genres: Business

432 pages, Paperback

Published September 23, 2025

Reviews

[Samuel Mills · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am grateful and completely impressed with the Storytelling with Data series of books for business professionals and kids. As an avid reader of professional development, business, and kids books (having kids aged 10 months to 9 years old, I am constantly reading the latest children's book), I have found that SWD provides something most books typically don't have, which is a "teach, show, practice and master" structure to their content which is exactly needed for helping individuals grow their skill set with data storytelling. Their latest book, Storytelling with Data: Before and After did not disappoint. The colorful graphics and transformations catch the eye while teaching the theory and execution of good design. The practicality of this book is worth it's weight in gold. I love the voice that they use in the book to guide readers to consider every aspect of building a successful visualization and communication piece. As a data professional, I cannot express enough gratitude and thanks for the entire SWD team and the content in this book. Their work has been helpful as I constantly share concepts that I have learned from SWD in my coaching of teammates or in my everyday work.

[Marika · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a fantastic book! A must-read for anyone who works with data and incredibly valuable for anyone who communicates anything at all. It’s packed with practical tips, clever methods, and—most importantly—before-and-after makeovers that show exactly how to make your message clear, compelling, and impossible to ignore. The step-by-step processes are full of energy, with a handful of genuinely funny moments that make the lessons stick. They guide you from confusing visuals to ones that tell the story you really need to succeed. I also loved experiencing the three authors’ voices and techniques—each brings something unique to the table. Every chapter includes clear bullet-point summaries and before-and-after examples of charts, graphs, PowerPoints, dashboards, and emails. It’s amazing how small, intentional changes can turn a cluttered visual into something immediately powerful. I’ll be applying these lessons to all aspects of my communications—not just the ones covered here.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm excited to have another SWD book to draw inspiration from and incorporate into my university course! This book stands out with twenty practical, real-world makeovers guiding readers step by step through common challenges, such as conveying everything on a single slide or crafting a compelling data story in under an hour. The visually engaging transformations are both inspiring and accessible, with simple and straightforward lessons that can be applied immediately. This latest release is an invaluable resource for helping students and professionals alike strengthen their storytelling and data visualization skills.

[Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I find the examples in this book (and the others by Cole) so helpful. The writing is easy to follow and understand. This book is great for anyone working with data, presenting it or viewing it. Spoiler alert: that's EVERYONE! This approachable data nerd can't recommend this book enough. Get your copy today!

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Transforms raw numbers into compelling narratives, this book teaches you how to show your data so your audience truly sees it.