The Statistical Exorcist: Dispelling Statistics Anxiety

by Myles Hollander and Hollander

For most people, algebra is what makes statistics the devil's work- putting fear and loathing into what otherwise would be an exciting, profitable way to use data to make wise decisions. But all you need is The Statistical Exorcist, plus just enough arithmetic to add, subtract, multiply and divide. This book provides you with a clear, easily understandable and down-to-earth approaches to making decisions, sampling, learning with data and estimating...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0824772253
• ISBN13: 9780824772253
• Release Date: November 1984
• Publisher: CRC Press
• Length: 264 Pages
• Weight: 1.15 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.2" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

Dispelling anxiety without Algebra

This is a light hearted look at statistics, that might be used to accompany an introductory class (associated with a more mathematical book) or for a general reader that doesn't want to wade through lots of algebraic symbols. Even the footnotes may be humorous ("FP sometimes gets carried away in his fervent reverence for his own books"). With 26 vignettes, only one of them uses mathematical symbols. This presents the sort of scenarios, that you may actually encounter such as Round-robin tournaments, life tables, and of course gambling. The chapter on "Was the 1970 draft lottery fair?" may have had personal consequences for some readers. The topics fall into categories of; making decisions, sampling, learning from data, and estimating probabilities. There are some common ideas about how more information can be obtained, from samples, Throughout the book, some of the ideas seem to be "common sense", while others are counter intuitive, and need further thinking, and working the problems helps. Readers of this might also enjoy "How to Lie with Statistics" by Darrell Huff and "A mathematicians reads the newspaper" by John Allen Paulos.

Great laughter & cute cartoons to overcome "numerical" fear!

This book is a great hoot for those who can laugh at their fears of numerical weakness. Do not be misled to be serious about the title. Humorist Will Roger's said that we are all ignorant, just different subjects. Well, ... Myles Hollander and Frank Proschan, exorcise that ignorance away with their charming wit and deep insights. They both are internationally renowned academic scholars in the science called Statistics, with Professor Proschan having retired and enjoying writing children's stories for his grandchildren, etc. Think of spirits like Dr. Seuss writing about quantitative thinking. So see the light and lighten up with your silly fears about numbers, probabilities and reason with more quantitative confidence after reading this truly playful book. Enjoy thinking better!