Understanding USA

by Richard Saul Wurman

Book Overview

If a picture truly is worth a thousand words, then Understanding USA is one of the most comprehensive reference books ever written. Every page is packed with clear, simple graphics designed to break... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0967453607
• ISBN13: 9780967453606
• Release Date: January 2000
• Publisher: Ted Conferences
• Length: 324 Pages
• Weight: 2.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 7.2" x 11.1"

Customer Reviews

Making the invisible completely visible

I have kept this book close by ever since I first came across it in 1999. I have been surprised to see the mediocre reviews on it because I consider it to be one of the best efforts at making enormous amounts of information about everything in our society and world accessible and understandable. You have to realize that the information is complex and the graphic interface which reveals the information has depth and takes more than a cursory look to really see the entire picture. I gave this book to all my sons, friends and others who want to see and understand the huge amounts of information that swirl around our lives. Each page stands on its own and it is the kind of book I never get tired of. I learn something new every time I pick it up. This is a wonderful and fun book about very complex information. A tour de force in my opinion.

Phenomenal

What an amazing book. Incredibly complex and massive information is broken down into easy to understand charts, graphs, and picutres. This book is really about two things - one is understanding various aspects of the United States from politics to demographics to education. The second, is how charts can be designed in creative ways to communicate information. I've used several of the concepts myself at work. Great book.

Breathtaking

I've never had a head for facts and figures which is why statistics of how many of this or the cost of that always bored the pants off of me regardless of how much I could use the information. This book changed all that for me and is the finest example of data visualization I've ever seen. Open it to any page and whether the subject is: how much does it cost to raise a child or poverty by race, the information screams at you in easy to understand graphics and brilliantly conceived and executed diagrams. The information presented is almost encyclopedic in scope exploring complex and facinating issues presented in a variety of manners by a variety of contributors that employ many differing ways of explaining data, but what they all have in common is a high degree of creativity, a wonderful use of color and crystal clarity.By the end of the book, which can be viewed in any order you choose, you are bound to be not only impressed with the design and beauty, but you're sure to have a clear understanding of just how the United States is constructed and operates at the start of the year 2000.This book is a treasure.