Information Graphics: A Comprehensive Illustrated Reference [Hardcover]

Robert L. Harris (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1, 1996

This beautifully illustrated book is the first complete handbook to visual information. Well written, easy use, and carefully indexed, it describes the full range of charts, graphs, maps, diagrams, and tables used daily to manage, analyze, and communicate information. It features over 3,000 illustrations, making it an ideal source for ideas on how to present information. It is an invaluable tool for anyone who writes or designs reports, whether for scientific journals, annual reports, or magazines and newspapers.

Editorial Reviews

From Scientific American

This book will be particularly useful to people doing desktop publishing, will help introduce general readers to the language of graphic designers, and can be used as a guidebook for finding the best way to present graphic information. Recommended for all levels.

From The New Yorker

The breadth and depth of entries, examples, and cross-references are almost overwhelming. The book's 448 pages pack in more than 850 entries and nearly 4,000 illustrations covering everything from mundane pie charts to complex visualization techniques for data analysis and business operations. Readers can explore subjects to the depth necessary--it's all there. The writing is straightforward and precise without being overly technical, and presupposes no special knowledge of graphics or mathematics. I am glad to add Information Graphics to my technical communications library. I recommend that you add it also.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 448 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (July 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0964692503
• ISBN-13: 978-0964692503
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.6 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.9 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #720,224 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

45 of 47 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Consultant's best friend, December 29, 2000

By 

Mike Tarrani "www.tarrani.com" (Deltona, FL USA) - See all my reviews
(COMMUNITY FORUM 04)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Information Graphics: A Comprehensive Illustrated Reference (Paperback)

As a consultant in the computer industry I often wonder if I am a technical specialist or a technical writer because of the high volume of writing I do. While I have honed my writing skills through both experience and training in Information Mapping, I used to be at a loss about how to best portray technical data in my documents.

Information Graphics: A Comprehensive Illustrated Reference changed that. With this handy reference, which is never far from my keyboard, I have a 450-page catalog of ideas and guidance. What is remarkable is that in the 450 pages are 4,000 illustrations (nearly 10 per page). This book has allowed me to measurably improve the quality of my proposals and deliverables by picking the best possible way to convey information.

Don't let the fact that I am in the computer consulting industry deter you from buying this book - if you are in business, graphic arts, advertising and marketing or just about any other profession that uses data this book will be worth its weight in gold.

49 of 53 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Alphabetical arrangement not very useful, October 14, 2004

By 

Arni Magnusson - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Information Graphics: A Comprehensive Illustrated Reference (Paperback)

Three stars is perhaps harsh, but this book would be much more useful if it had been structured differently. Open this book
and on the first page the entries start rolling: "Abscissa", "Abscissa axis", "Abstract graph", etc. Most readers will be
exhausted before reaching the letters D or E...

Having compiled this exhaustive list of information graphics, one would expect the author to provide some kind of an
overview, guidelines, or some useful grouping of the different types of graphics. The closest thing to such insights is
found in the brief preface (pp. 4-5) and the "Graph" entry (pp. 164-177).

I have to disagree with the reviewers describing this book as helpful "to select the best graphic or chart to convey
information in the most efficient way". When you "turn to this book and and pick the most appropriate graphic type", which
alphabetical entries are you going to look up? And which entries are you going to miss?

This book does serve a purpose as a catalogue and a 4 page bibliography, but the best books for learning how to create
informative and efficient graphics are those written by Edward Tufte and William Cleveland.

62 of 69 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Dramatically improved by graphic communication skills, April 24, 2001

By 

Linda Zarate "IT Ops Consultant" (Azusa, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Information Graphics: A Comprehensive Illustrated Reference (Paperback)

I have an array of powerful graphics tools ranging from Microsoft Excel's rich charting add-in, to Visio Professional and Harvard Instant Charts. Despite my technical skills that allow me to quickly produce just about any kind of chart or graphic imaginable, I was never such how to select the best graphic or chart to convey information in the most efficient way before I got this book.

This book is a catalog of ideas and a guide for selecting the best possible way to display information in graphical format. Now, instead of floundering around playing with two or three ways to graphically depict information I turn to this book and pick the most appropriate graphic type. My ability to communicate has dramatically improved because now that I have confidence that I am using the optimal method to display information I find myself using graphics not only more effectively, but more wisely.

Prior to this book my graphics tools were implements that more often than not produced inappropriate charts, giving credence to the adage that "A fool with a tool is still a fool". Since this book I now use my software tools like a skilled craftsman who has the perfect blueprint. With 450 pages of illustrations that show how to depict information visually in the best possible way this book is my perfect blueprint.