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The Tiger That Isn't: Seeing Through a World of Numbers

Authors: Michael Blastland, Andrew Dilnot
Publisher: Profile
Category: Book

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Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars

13 reviews
Sales Rank: 5383

Media: Paperback
Pages: 256
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.6
Dimensions (in): 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.8

ISBN: 1861978391
EAN: 9781861978394
ASIN: 1861978391

Publication Date: August 23, 2007
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: Brand New. Shipped from UK Mainland. Delivery is usually 2 - 3 working days from order by Royal Mail, International Delivery is by Airmail.

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Customer Reviews: Read 8 more reviews...

5 out of 5 stars

everyone should read this April 12, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful

All journalists, reporters, politicans and anyone who deals with numbers in the public domain should be forced to read this book before starting their career. It would lead to a much more informed debate than the one we currently get. I write as a qualified statistician (and you certainly don't need to be that to understand this book). It superbly helps the reader disentangle the huge volume of statistics and numbers that they are bombarded with on a daily basis.

The only disappointment with the book was the fact that it didn't deal with the MMR controversy, which is an outstanding example of the misuse of statistics in an area of very real concern to many parents. But it remains an excellent buy.

5 out of 5 stars

Excellent, very accessible look at how numbers are misinterpreted April 6, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful

This book should be compulsary reading for... well, everyone. Don't be put off by that ominous word 'numbers' on the front cover. This might be a book about numbers, but the most maths phobic of readers has nothing to fear. It's written in a clear and accessible style, full of interesting and relevant examples from every day life, most of which are easily recognisable from recent news stories. There's no actual maths involved - it's a story about how numbers are presented (spun, if you like), and misinterpreted.

In a society where we are barraged with figures and statistics, it is important for us all to know when to believe and when - and how - to question the numbers we are presented by press and politicians. This accessible little book will change the way you read and think about the news, and is an engaging and enjoyable read in itself. No interest in or understanding of maths or statistics is necessary. I would particularly highly recommend it to anyone working journalism, politics or the public sector, or who has to meet targets or is numerically assessed in their work.

3 out of 5 stars

Good for statistics beginners March 21, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful

This book gives a gentle introduction into the statistical background to many newsworthy topics such as speed cameras, league tables and drug testing. There are no equations and the book can be read in a couple of hours. To those who are already familiar with concepts such as regression to the mean, skewed distributions and relative risks then the content may be too lightweight. I enjoyed the book but those looking for something more substantial should try "The Lady Tasting Tea . . ." by David Salsburg. You can find out more about the topics in the book by listening to the archive of BBC Radio 4's More or Less programme (the author is the creator of that radio series). The book is certainly aimed at the UK reader.

5 out of 5 stars

Excellent book February 10, 2008
This book has good suggestions, illustrated by superb true-life examples, many of which I found extremely interesting in their own right. I had no idea how much people earn, or what proportion of tax is paid by high earners, or that babies on breast milk grow more slowly, or....

Brilliant. At least 95% interesting and well written too. This is one of those rare non-fiction books that I will read from cover to cover.

5 out of 5 stars

Shows how numbers can be used to fool you January 3, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful

An excellent book. Not dull and boring maths but is full of interesting examples of how numbers (statistics, averages, risks, etc.) can be made to look important or frightening by politicians and journalists that, in fact, aren't. The authors give some simple guidelines as to how to think about the flood of numbers that hit us every day in the media to see if they make sense and thus whether or not we should be as concerned or as comforted as we are told that we should be.