What the Numbers Say: A Field Guide to Mastering Our Numerical World

by Derrick Niederman, David Boyum

Our society is churning out more numbers than ever before, whether in the form of spreadsheets, brokerage statements, survey results, or just the numbers on the sports pages. Unfortunately, people’s ability to understand and analyze numbers isn’t keeping pace with today’s whizzing data streams. And the benefits of living in the Information Age are available only to those who can process the information in front of them.

What the Numbers Say offers remedies to this national problem. Through a series of witty and engaging discussions, the authors introduce original quantitative concepts, skills, and habits that reduce even the most daunting numerical challenges to simple, bite-sized pieces. Why do the nutritional values on a Cheerios box appear different in Canada than in the U.S.? How is it that top-performing mutual funds often lose money for the majority of their shareholders? Why was the scoring system for Olympic figure skating doomed even without biased judges?

By anchoring their discussions in real-world scenarios, Derrick Niederman and David Boyum show that skilled quantitative thinking involves old-fashioned logic, not advanced mathematical tools. Useful in an endless number of situations, What the Numbers Say is the practical guide to navigating today’s data-rich world.

Genres: Nonfiction, Mathematics, Science

288 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2003

Reviews

[Ted · Rating 3 out of 5]

See this review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... for comment which applies to both this book and The Numbers Game

I found this book interesting enough to read it in a relatively short time, but was probably a little too familiar with much of the material to get a lot of new knowledge out of it. For some reason I remember being a bit more excited about The Numbers Game by Michael Blastland, which I read more recently. The goal of the two books is similar, basically they are trying to make the average person more comfortable and more skillful in dealing with the sorts of numbers and number-based "evidence" that we encounter in day to day living, and particularly in the news nowadays.

[Manuel Frias · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good reminder of the importance of developing quantitative thinking skills whether you work with data or not.

I like the definition of a good quantitative thinker: "what distinguishes good quantitative thinkers is not their skill with pure mathematics, but rather their approach to quantitative information".

The book goes through all the skills necessary to survive in the Quantitative Information Age in plain English with lots of examples. My problem was that it is focused on American readers which means there are a lot of examples of politicians and baseball that I didn't really understand.

I liked especially the last chapter where the authors explain the different schools there are in teaching mathematics.

[John Fredrickson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very informative guide to how we mess up our appreciation for what numerical arguments are indicating. The book is easy to follow; the math is not calculus, but rather takes as its focus the math that we get exposed to on a regular basis, and how we foul up its interpretation. It is well worth reading.

[Greg · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a pretty important book that I think most adults and certainly all educators should read. Although it got a little ramble toward the end, this will probably be one I get a copy of and keep close by in my office. I plan to take some notes on a few ideas to use for workshops in my role as the assessment coordinator for the division. The main function, I think, will be to help people be less afraid of numbers and data an develop some strategies that, the authors contend, we all should have become proficient in during high school. The distinction between mathematics and quantitative reasoning and the simple, straightforward responses to the age-old question, "why do we have to learn this" are really key. I would love to see some of the ideas promoted here become more ingrained in our curriculum.

[Russell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Get this book. Today. Here's an Amazon.com link to the book. Or check out from your local library. Doesn't matter, just get this book.

Why? Because this is the best book I've read that teaches you how to understand the numbers thrown at us daily and how to be a quantitative thinker.

It explains the math tools you can use to cut through the deluge of numbers and 'facts' and how to glean meaningful data.

After reading this, pass it on to someone else.

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid book on the nuances of how numbers are represented to the public. I am a CPA and often have to present numbers in a simplified yet complete way. This book talks about how quantitative facts and calculations can be misleading (intentionally or unintentionally). I recommend reading this to give perspective to every day stories like the federal deficit, measuring flour, olympic scoring, etc.

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very practical tool for improving your quantitative reasoning. For those that are numerically lazy (like me), this is a good reminder of the many benefits of taking the time to think through a problem before reaching for the calculator and it provides an excellent toolbox for making the most of the quantitative world in which we live.

[Abby Jean · Rating 3 out of 5]

good enough straightforward discussion on using math and common sense in everyday life. didn't love the obscure stock market examples. a bit basic, although the section on pareto's law was especially interesting. engaging with good examples.

[Peter]

Statistics, their use and misuse, and how much they matter in daily life. Gives a lot of hints of what to look for to identify misleading statistics and how much of an impact their deliberate misuse can have. Very interesting, and funny enough for any reader.

[Kyle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yes. I am a geek.

[Raine Carraway · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting

[Leendert · Rating 5 out of 5]

hugely entertaining ...