The Art of Statistics

How to Learn from Data

By: David Spiegelhalter

Narrated by: Jonathan Davis

The definitive guide to statistical thinking

Statistics are everywhere, as integral to science as they are to business, and in the popular media hundreds of times a day. In this age of big data, a basic grasp of statistical literacy is more important than ever if we want to separate the fact from the fiction, the ostentatious embellishments from the raw evidence - and even more so if we hope to participate in the future, rather than being simple bystanders.

In The Art of Statistics, world-renowned statistician David Spiegelhalter shows listeners how to derive knowledge from raw data by focusing on the concepts and connections behind the math. Drawing on real world examples to introduce complex issues, he shows us how statistics can help us determine the luckiest passenger on the Titanic, whether a notorious serial killer could have been caught earlier, and if screening for ovarian cancer is beneficial. The Art of Statistics not only shows us how mathematicians have used statistical science to solve these problems - it teaches us how we, too, can think like statisticians. We learn how to clarify our questions, assumptions, and expectations when approaching a problem, and - perhaps even more importantly - we learn how to responsibly interpret the answers we receive.

Combining the incomparable insight of an expert with the playful enthusiasm of an aficionado, The Art of Statistics is the definitive guide to stats that every modern person needs.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2019 David Spiegelhalter (P)2019 Hachette Audio

Good book

The book is hard to follow at times but overall this is the best I found on Data Science on audible.

very good statistics overview

If you've had statistics in the past, the first half of the book will be largely review of statistical concepts. if you haven't- it's a very good overview.

In the second half there is time spent on bigger statistical implications in technology and science.

It's a bit of a text book - and as an audio book. you may need to go slow and leverage the supplementary content. That said - the information in this book is stuff everyone should know. We would be a better population if we better understood how the numbers worked and could more readily identify sources of bias.

good book just not for commuting

this is no a commuter book you need to view the tables and graphs to really get the full value from the book. Still very much worth it.

great listen, relies on pdf for visuals.

I enjoyed the audiobook. you do need a working knowledge of statistics or at least a class or two. no maths equations for the most part. great examples of how statistics is applied as well as some of the abuses.

good book audiobook format is a challenge

the book is really good and informative. It covers some complex topics which really benefit from a lot of diagrams and figures. the audible app doesn't help because when you look at the PDF it always restarts at the first figure so by the end of the book you have to flip through 50 figures to try and get to the one you want to see.

Bueno

Introductorio al mundo de la estadística
Bastante bueno
Muy profesional
Didáctico
Pedagógico y avanzado, muy bueno

A Good Overview of Stats for Data Literacy

This book does, at times, get a bit more technical than some people might prefer, but explanations are always followed by relevant examples.

The most important aspect of this book is the way it explains how statistics can be used to mislead, or even how they can mislead unintentionally. It brings up people's poor intuitive understanding of probability, common issues with data sets, pressure on researchers to publish new ideas, various ways researchers can "massage" data, how framing the results affect people's interpretation of results, and many other relevant topics.

I don't think many people will actually be following the checklist for figuring out if the numbers they read in an infographic on Facebook are misleading, but an understanding of basic principles as well as the numerous issues in interpreting statistics should give people a healthy level of skepticism about claims being made.

Get the print or eBook version too

This audiobook is much easier to follow when one has the print or electronic version on hand. Sir Spiegelhalter’s deep knowledge of statistics is demonstrated by his ability to explain the concepts in plain English. I also particularly enjoyed learning more about the people whose names were previously only associated with the different statistical tests and methods taught in class.. Fisher, Neymar, Pearson, Bayes, and the mysterious Student!

I didn't understand a lot of it

This is a very informative book!
No fluff!
No filler!
Just the information delivered with the humor of statistician.....perfect.

I purchase audio books to listen to while driving or using an elliptical trainer.
Since this book requires the use of PDF's, safe driving habits and the potential of dying an embarrassing death on an elliptical machine caused me to give it a go without the visuals.

However, I got the book to listen to prior to taking a college course in statistics, and what I did retain is helping me greatly. Primarily with the overall picture, and the lingua franca of the subject.

Once I've finished my class (it's a Statistics 101 type class), I'm going to listen to this book again while using the PDF's
- from the safety zone I call my sofa.

Highly recommended.

Andrew

The graphics are an essential part of the book

I teach statistics and enjoyed this book a great deal. The only reason for not awarding 5 stars is that it is essential that listeners have ready access to the many detailed tables and figures from the book. I was continually referring to the figures and had to wait from listening in my car to get the book (or pdf) to examine the figures to complete the experience. Spiegenhalter nice a nice job with the stories of the statistical personalities like Fisher, Neyman & Pearson. Salsburg's 'The Lady Tasting Tea' and Stigler's 'Statistics on the Table' does a better job with those stories of the battles among statisticians and statistical disciplines. He does a good job with the replicability crisis in statistics. He might have added a note about Hurlbert's pseudoreplication problem which results in the majority of published studies in many fields of natural science being statistically flawed. He presents the current controversy leading to the banning of the phrase 'statistically significant' but doesn't go all the way in agreeing that the term shoud be banned from the statisical literature.