Naked Statistics

While a great measure of the book's appeal comes from Mr. Wheelan's fluent style-a natural comedian, he is truly the Dave Barry of the coin toss set-the rest comes from his multiple real world examples illustrating exactly why even the most reluctant mathophobe is well advised to achieve a personal understanding of the statistical underpinnings of life. -- New York Times The best math teacher you never had. [Naked Statistics] is filled with practical lessons, like how to judge the validity of polls, why you should never buy a lottery ticket, and how to keep an eye out for red flags in public statements. -- San Francisco Chronicle Naked Statistics is an apt title. Charles Wheelan strips away the superfluous outer garments and exposes the underlying beauty of the subject in a way that everyone can appreciate. -- Hal Varian, chief economist at Google I cannot stress enough the importance of Americans' need to understand statistics-the basis for a great deal of what we hear and read these days-and I cannot stress enough the value of Wheelan's book in giving readers an approachable avenue to understanding statistics. Almost anyone interested in sports, politics, business, and the myriad of other areas in which statistics rule the roost today will benefit from this highly readable, on-target, and important book. -- Frank Newport, Gallup editor-in-chief A fun, engaging book that shows why statistics is a vital tool for anyone who wants to understand the modern world. -- Jacob J. Goldstein, Planet Money on NPR Two phrases you don't often see together: 'statistics primer' and 'rollicking good time.' Until Charlie Wheelan got to it, that is. This book explains the way statistical ideas can help you understand much of everyday life. -- Austan Goolsbee, professor of economics at the University of Chicago and former chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers