Numbersense ─ How to Use Big Data to Your Advantage

How to make simple sense of complex statistics--from the author of Numbers Rule Your World


We live in a world of Big Data--and it's getting bigger every day. Virtually every choice we make hinges on how someone generates data . . . and how someone else interprets it--whether we realize it or not.



Where do you send your child for the best education' Big Data. Which airline should you choose to ensure a timely arrival' Big Data. Who will you vote for in the next election' Big Data.



The problem is, the more data we have, the more difficult it is to interpret it. From world leaders to average citizens, everyone is prone to making critical decisions based on poor data interpretations.



In Numbersense, expert statistician Kaiser Fung explains when you should accept the conclusions of the Big Data "experts"--and when you should say, "Wait . . . what'" He delves deeply into a wide range of topics, offering the answers to important questions, such as:
How does the college ranking system really work'
Can an obesity measure solve America's biggest healthcare crisis'
Should you trust current unemployment data issued by the government'
How do you improve your fantasy sports team'
Should you worry about businesses that track your data'



Don't take for granted statements made in the media, by our leaders, or even by your best friend. We're on information overload today, and there's a lot of bad information out there.



Numbersense gives you the insight into how Big Data interpretation works--and how it too often doesn't work. You won't come away with the skills of a professional statistician. But you will have a keen understanding of the data traps even the best statisticians can fall into, and you'll trust the mental alarm that goes off in your head when something just doesn't seem to add up.

KAISER FUNG is a professional statistician withover a decade of experience applying statistical methods to marketing and advertising businesses. He is an adjunct professor at New York University teaching practical statistics. He is the creator of the popular Junk Charts blog and the author of the acclaimed Numbers Rule Your World.