Conquering Statistics: Numbers Without the Crunch [Paperback]

Jefferson Hane Weaver (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 4, 2001 | ISBN-10: 0738204951 | ISBN-13: 978-0738204956

Writing specifically for the statistically scared, Jeff Weaver exposes the mathematics behind statistical analysis and shows how an understanding of probability, standard deviation, margins of error, and test groups can help in the reader's understanding of everything from the lottery to national polls to scientific data. With vivid and humorous examples, Conquering Statistics opens the world of statistics to the average reader as well as the student and offers an invaluable look at the science behind the statistics.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

For many of us, mathematics is like dental care--undeniably important, extraordinarily painful, and best ignored as long as possible. Jefferson Hane Weaver, an author who specializes in demystifying complicated scientific concepts, disagrees with this public perception and has set out to debunk it in Conquering Statistics: Numbers Without the Crunch. Although it may not seem possible, the result is a consistently entertaining and extremely helpful guide to numbers and their practical everyday applications. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Jefferson Hane Weaver co-authored (with Lloyd Motz) the highly popular book Conquering Mathematics. He received his M.A., his M.Phil., and his Ph.D. at the Columbia Graduate School of the Arts and Sciences. He lives in Fort Lauderdale with his wife, Shelley, and his four children.

Product Details

• Paperback: 312 pages
• Publisher: Basic Books (September 4, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0738204951
• ISBN-13: 978-0738204956
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,565,548 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Tries too hard to be funny, November 14, 2001

By 

Mr. Toad (Conifer, CO) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Conquering Statistics: Numbers Without the Crunch (Paperback)

I give the book two stars only because, if you can get through it, it does a reasonable job of providing basic definitions of statistical terms. I was looking for a review of the subject and it does accomplish that.

I cannot recommend the book at all, however, for anyone trying to learn statistics, even at an elementary level. The author tries way too hard to be funny, presumably to make the subject less intimidating to the mathematically-challenged. Unfortunately, the humorous examples do nothing to enhance understanding, but instead just get in the way. The worst fault is that the stories go on for so long that the reader gets impatient to find anything of value relating to the subject matter.

Finally, I found the book to be condescending towards the reader by failing to include any formulas or diagrams. Again, this is presumably to avoid being indimidating to the general reader, but it ends up making things more confusing with long narrative descriptions of what should be fairly easy topics.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Fun, March 9, 2003

By 

Bibliophile - See all my reviews

This review is from: Conquering Statistics: Numbers Without the Crunch (Paperback)

I agree entirely with the point made by the other reviewer - actually Weaver's "What Are the Odds?" is far worse. There are ten pages of jokes for every page of useful data.

I read this book not for enlightenment but for entertainment. It's a fun way to waste time.

3.0 out of 5 stars Too Funny for the Statistical Neophyte, April 25, 2007

By 

bronx book nerd (Bronx, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Conquering Statistics (Hardcover)

I think the author spent the better part of his effort trying to channel Dave Barry into his writing. The effort failed and thus failed in the grander goal of educating the reader on the topic of statitics via the use of humor. Streamlining the jokes would reduce the book to a fraction of its size and maybe deliver some of the lessons from their imprisonment in a joke world. Ironically, additonal graphs and tables would have helped the reader in following the argument. If you are interested in a beginners guide to statistics, a more traditional text is preferable.