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Damned Lies and Statistics
- Untangling Numbers from the Media, Politicians, and Activists
- By: Joel Best
- Narrated by: Patrick Lawlor
- Length: 5 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged
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Does the number of children gunned down double each year? Does anorexia kill 150,000 young women annually? Do white males account for only a sixth of new workers? Startling statistics shape our thinking about social issues. But all too often, these numbers are wrong. This book is a lively guide to spotting bad statistics and learning to think critically about these influential numbers. Damned Lies and Statistics is essential listening for everyone who reads or listens to the news....
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No Lie, I Loved It
- By Robbie on 11-21-12
- Damned Lies and Statistics
- Untangling Numbers from the Media, Politicians, and Activists
- By: Joel Best
- Narrated by: Patrick Lawlor
A very enjoyable and important read
Reviewed: 09-30-22
I must admit that the study of statistics and accounting are generally subjects that I don't approach with much enthusiasm. When Freakonomics came out in 2005, I truly appreciated the "outside of the box" type of analysis of social statistics that was described and encouraged. I have that same feeling after reading Damned Lies and Statistics by Joel Best. I recently read the book via Audible and Kindle for a university senior seminar course. Best took what is often a dry subject and created an enjoyable read concerning the importance of always looking at the numbers with a critical eye. The book looked at ways that statistics are often compiled using erroneous samples, bad definitions and compiled using less than scientific means. And at worst, numbers are simply pulled from thin air to support social and political agendas. After reading the book, hopefully readers will lose the inclination or habit of just accepting (as true) all of the numbers that we are constantly bombarded with everyday.
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