Summary of How Not To Be Wrong: by Jordan Ellenberg | Includes Analysis

by Instaread Summaries

Summary of How Not To Be by Jordan Ellenberg | Includes Analysis

 



How Not to Be Wrong by Jordan Ellenberg attempts to demonstrate real-life applications of mathematics. In schools, students learn math principles in abstract contexts. Math in the real world is used to make accurate predictions, measure impact, evaluate the best choice when a trade-off is needed, and gauge complicated facts. Mathematical understanding gives individuals the ability to determine when unsound logic has been used to arrive at a factually inaccurate conclusion, and how to correct that logic in order “not to be wrong.”

Inferences require a strong understanding of the implications of certain mathematical tools. Linear projections are one common observations tend to regress back to the mean of a set of observations, but people tend to draw linear conclusions even when a curve better describes and predicts the data.

Observed data can also be manipulated because there is always a chance that false positives will give the impression of an effect where none exists…

 

PLEASE This is key takeaways and analysis of the book and NOT the original book.

 

Inside this Instaread Summary of How Not To Be

 

·        Overview of the Book

·        Important People

·        Key Takeaways

·        Analysis of Key Takeaways

 

About the Author

With Instaread, you can get the key takeaways, summary and analysis of a book in 15 minutes. We read every chapter, identify the key takeaways and analyze them for your convenience.

38 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 28, 2019

About the author

With Instaread, you can get the summary and analysis of a book in 15 minutes. We read every chapter, summarize and analyze it for your convenience.

Reviews

[Charles · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a professional mathematician, I am generally in favor of books written for the more general public. The more the general population can intelligently interpret the statistical and numerical data that is used to explain the world, the more effectively public policy decisions can be made. Therefore, I am initially predisposed to be favorable to the book being described.
According to the summary, the content of the book is more within the realm of math literacy, it is the goal of the author to explain mathematical concepts to the general reader. However, a significant error is made in the summary.
The following sentence appears in the overview:
“In addition, mathematicians can use their understanding of probability to manipulate real-life mathematics problems, as in lotteries and other games of chance.”
There is also mention in takeaway six about mathematicians “. . . on the application of their theories to government lotteries.” If a government run lottery is properly run (no cheating), it is impossible to manipulate it, so any claim to do so is a scam. All proficient mathematicians understand this.
Other topics, such as the avoidance of false causality or linking two disparate events simply because their numeric descriptors are the same, are also covered. The examples given in the summary are absurd, yet they make a valid point.
The content and point of the book is summarized very well in the passage in the “Author’s Style” section.
“Nevertheless, there is little material to instruct readers how to make better decisions or apply mathematics to their individual lives. Most of the lessons appear tailored to making the reader a more educated consumer of statistics and data.”
While it is to some extent internally contradictory, a more educated consumer will make better decisions, this passage summarizes what the book is about.
There is a claim in the summary that Ellenberg makes frequent use of humor to make the points. It would have been valuable if an example of this humor would have been included in order to give the reader a taste of what is done. Math humor to many is a contradiction in terms.

This book was made available for free for review purposes.

[John Weiler · Rating 1 out of 5]

I’ve heard the book was good. I know the SUMMARY is not!

[Charles Ray · Rating 4 out of 5]

We can all remember studying math in school, and wondering how the formulae and theorems we were forced to memorize had any relationship to real life, right? Well, Jordon Ellerberg’s book, How Not to Be Wrong, offers a demonstration of real-life applications of mathematics. While some parts of the book are quite technical, much of it is in layman’s language, showing even the less-mathematically inclined how to understand numbers and apply them in making rational decisions.
Summary of How Not to Be Wrong by Jordon Ellerberg by Instaread is a comprehensive analysis of the book, breaking down the main sections and discussing the author’s credentials. This 15-minute summary is a neat way to get a look inside new books without having to spring for the full price first.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my unbiased review.

[Xan Heusuff · Rating 5 out of 5]

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