The Data Detective

Ten Easy Rules to Make Sense of Statistics

By: Tim Harford

Narrated by: Tim Harford

From “one of the great (greatest?) contemporary popular writers on economics” (Tyler Cowen) comes a smart, lively, and encouraging rethinking of how to use statistics.

Today we think statistics are the enemy, numbers used to mislead and confuse us. That’s a mistake, Tim Harford says in The Data Detective. We shouldn’t be suspicious of statistics - we need to understand what they mean and how they can improve our lives: they are, at heart, human behavior seen through the prism of numbers and are often “the only way of grasping much of what is going on around us”. If we can toss aside our fears and learn to approach them clearly - understanding how our own preconceptions lead us astray - statistics can point to ways we can live better and work smarter.

As “perhaps the best popular economics writer in the world” (New Statesman), Tim Harford is an expert at taking complicated ideas and untangling them for millions of readers. In The Data Detective, he uses new research in science and psychology to set out ten strategies for using statistics to erase our biases and replace them with new ideas that use virtues like patience, curiosity, and good sense to better understand ourselves and the world. As a result, The Data Detective is a big-idea book about statistics and human behavior that is fresh, unexpected, and insightful.

©2021 Tim Harford (P)2021 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"Lively, crystal-clear, and insightful explanations of how data are increasingly affecting our lives - a phenomenon that every educated person should understand.” (Steven Pinker, author of Rationality: What It Is, Why It Seems Scarce, Why It Matters)

“[Harford] expertly guides us through the many ways in which data can trick us.... Though numbers are at the core of The Data Detective, it’s emotion that wields...power, affecting not only how we respond to data but also how we absorb it in the first place.” (The Wall Street Journal)

“Harford is right to say that statistics can be used to illuminate the world with clarity and precision. They can help remedy our human fallibilities.” (The New Yorker)

BE CURIOUS

Tim Harford gives listeners a practical application of “Thinking Fast and Thinking Slow” in the art of statistical analysis. Sounds boring, just as the title “The Data Detective” but in this day of media overload Harford castes a warning. Be skeptical of conclusions drawn by statistical data, whether accumulated by business interests, science nerds, or algorithms. Think slow because thinking fast obscures understanding of statistical analysis. Above all, be curious when reading a statistical analysis that either adds or subtracts from your understanding. With that admonition, Harford offers ten ways to question the veracity and truthfulness of statistical analysis.

Harford concludes with an appeal to discordant interest groups to be curious about why they disagree with each other. Reputable statistical analysis can improve one’s belief in probable truth and decrease echo chamber‘ adherence of disparate interest groups.

They should teach this in schools

This is a well organized and well reasoned book with great stories, simple yet powerful lessons, and told in an engaging way. I'm a big fan of Cautionary Tales, so going in I was well versed in Tim Harford's story telling style. He does not disappoint. At times, he seems to imply it is easy to find the truth if you just look, which I would take issue with. Today's world, both online and offline, is littered with detritus and you need some common sense, vigor, and genuine curiosity to sift through it all. Otherwise, stellar work Tim!

Great stories and examples for data interrogation

Explains the many things to consider when understanding data. Good explanations and examples to remember. There are so many , you may have to refer back to this book for time to time 🤔 . But the main theme is to be curious. 👌

Like it.

This world right now maybe misinformed or polarized, at least over-informed. How do you deal with it? This book offers an answer with a statistical view. A lot of historical stories in it. Even you have heard about them before, new details or perspectives will inspire you. Try yourself.

well worth listening

Very informative and contemporaneous. Some of the stories are in Harford's podcast cautionary tales. Tim harford is an amazing storyteller.

Solid Introduction to Media Literacy

While the focus here is statistics, this is more a general guide to media literacy. it’s very basic but has some interesting studies mentioned. i was hoping for more discussion on data procurement and how people manipulate data or find issues in their data but i think a bit more research on my end would have shown that’s not the purpose of this. if your goal is to learn how to better read statistics and consume media with bias then this is an entertaining and quick look into that!

Stoke your curiosity!

Tim is a very good narrator. I loved the way this book made me stop and think about my own perceptions of the world.

Awesome

great listen! kept me entertained. good job switching between statistical theory and anecdotal stories. would recommend

The Data Detective

I loved every moment. This is Cautionary Tales and more. Tim tells his stories in a very engaging way.

Meh

I struggled to get through this book and to stay interested. After loving books like Weapons of Math Destruction and Think Again, this book just didn't trigger my curiosity. I think it was because the author did not present anything novel, this is more a summary of other great books, but lacks the unique perspective of the investigator.