Errors, Blunders, and Lies Audiobook By David S. Salsburg cover art

Errors, Blunders, and Lies

How to Tell the Difference

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Errors, Blunders, and Lies

By: David S. Salsburg
Narrated by: John Chancer
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About this listen

We live in a world that is not quite "right." The central tenet of statistical inquiry is that Observation = Truth + Error because even the most careful of scientific investigations have always been bedeviled by uncertainty. Our attempts to measure things are plagued with small errors. Our attempts to understand our world are blocked by blunders. And, unfortunately, in some cases, people have been known to lie.

In this long-awaited follow-up to his well-regarded bestseller, The Lady Tasting Tea, David Salsburg opens a door to the amazing widespread use of statistical methods by looking at historical examples of errors, blunders, and lies from areas as diverse as archeology, law, economics, medicine, psychology, sociology, Biblical studies, history, and war-time espionage. In doing so, he shows how, upon closer statistical investigation, errors and blunders often lead to useful information. And how statistical methods have been used to uncover falsified data. Beginning with Edmund Halley’s examination of the Transit of Venus and ending with a discussion of how many tanks Rommel had during the Second World War, the author invites the listeners to come along on this easily accessible and fascinating journey of how to identify the nature of errors, minimize the effects of blunders, and figure out who the liars are.

©2020 Taylor & Francis (P)2020 Chapman and Hall/CRC
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Critic reviews

"…so compelling that I read it in one sitting." Ann Cannon, Cornell College

"Salsburg covers a wide range of subtle issues in statistical modelling, made easily digestible through a delightful collection of historical stories. These show the true power of statistics: from determining the risks of heart attacks for the inhabitants of Framingham, to checking how many books were written by Davy Crockett." –David Spiegelhalter, University of Cambridge

"This is a delightful read that takes us through a gentle tour of statistical concepts in non-technical language. Readers with prior exposure will enjoy the lively historical context that is usually not provided in other introductions. Dr. Salsburg offers a broad audience an accessible way to understand the most important topics in statistics." –Jeff Gill, Washington University

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