How to Read Numbers

Statistics rule our world. Every day, most of us will read or watch something in the news that is based on a statistic in some way. Sometimes it'll be obvious - 'X people develop cancer every year' - and sometimes less obvious - 'red wine protects against cancer'. The trouble is, statistics, when used carelessly, are dangerous. They are an immensely powerful tool for understanding the world; the best tool we have. But in the hands of unscrupulous, careless, or simply clueless people, they can easily be used to tell stories that are misleading or even flat-out false. This book is a guide to how and when to trust them - and perhaps more importantly, when not to.