Customer Reviews

Essentials of Statistics (3rd Edition)

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

For any professor that is looking to select a great intro statistics textbook, look no further. This is very easy to read and understand, even for the most extreme math/stat phobes. It is well organized and provides valuable references and tables in the appendices. The author, Mario Triola, does a wonderful job of exerting his enthusiasm for statistics into the text and relating the material to every day subjects. For instance, when describing time-series graphs the author uses data of declining numbers of drive-in movie theatres. You actually get a feel for his personality which is odd for a textbook author. He also writes of the various developments in statistics in a historical context, which helps the reader to remember and understand the importance of the subject matter.

I actually enjoyed reading this textbook and would recommend it to anyone looking for a great learning tool for the class.

Triola has a great way of teaching a difficult subject. Real life examples and a sense of humor are used to make it interesting and engaging for the beginner.

The product arrived in good timing and in fact arrived early. The book was in fair condition and I would recommend this book to anyone taking an introduction to statistics course. This book really helped me learn on my own while taking an online course. I didn't necessarily need the solutions manual because the book has some good examples.

This book was specified for my introductory course in statistics at IPFW. From a well seasoned reader's point of view, this book was very well written. When I write about a well-written textbook, I'm not just talking about how the information flows as you read. The text is written so that the reader can understand the concepts and follow along with the author's thinking. All odd problems are answered in the back of the book. You couldn't ask for a better statistics textbook. R. Glidewell - Fort Wayne, IN.

The text is easy to understand, but I don't recommend taking this book on with out a professor handy. The formulas can be a little daunting. In reality they are not, but you won't know this until the professor explains. I just made it through two weeks of intense statistics and made an A. I recommend this book.

Product was received in a reasonable time frame and was in excellent condition. I would order again from this seller.

I bought this book thinking it would be like new, as the description said it would be, however it was very torn up and worn. I don't mind so much because I will just be using it for a semester in college and didn't pay alot for it. Shipped fast and on time.

Three star review is for the item itself. Professor went through half the book and then seemed finished with it. Other great for self study and working out problems.

ordered the book paid for expedited shipping, received it in a timely manner, the book was also in great shape, no markings on the inside just as advertised. good buy

While this author has written a highly usable textbook, the means in which he accomplishes this his goals are questionable, and suggests a certain personal agenda. Having just reviewed some of the chapters in the book in preparation for assisting someone in a class which is utilizing the text, I was dismayed to see the author using examples from "real-life" without conveying the "real facts". I was further troubled to note that several of these examples present a slanted bias towards certain liberal personal views, while treating the information presented as gospel. This leaves students with the impression that the facts presented are true, and thus provokes an emotion or belief on the part of the student.

The author routinely suggests that the student consider the source of the date provided, the validity of that data, and the means in which the data is analyzed and presented. All the while, the author leads students to reach a conclusion which is often emotional and/or faulty. As someone with a legal background, I found Chapter 5 particularly egregious. The facts presented are inaccurate, i.e.: 80% of the POPULATION were of a particular ethnic background, NOT 80% of the REGISTERED VOTERS from which a jury pool could be drawn from; the case was primarily decided on an error made by the state (failure to employ or present), rather than won on the statistics presented; the case presented does not take into account numerous statistical variables which would have influenced the composition of the pool; and, it fails to state that the case was from the early 1970's (rather than a recent episode of social injustice, as implied).

My student was initially outraged at the idea of such "social injustice taking place in Texas", as provoked by the author. However, when shown the actual facts of the case and the court decisions, their response was completely changed. This would suggest a social agenda on the part of the author. It is one thing to try to invoke passion for a subject in students. It is another to manipulate them. I would suggest that the author revisit some of his case presentations and remove references to specific "real-life" events, and offer these scenarios as purely hypothetical.