Biostatistics: The Bare Essentials

I took stat 20 years ago, and decided I needed an update, particularly regarding how to calculate sample size: this book was the ticket. A lot about sample size always seemed to me to be smoke-and-mirrors, and WHEN that's so (not always, but sometimes!), Norman and Streiner admit it, saving the learner a lot of frustration. Money well spent.

This book is a well written and light hearted synopsis of the important tools used by statisticians, epidemiologists, and others who attempt to compare the characteristics of groups of people. Although the humor is occasionally strained it is generally quite confortable. "Biostatistics The Bare Essentials" is particularly valuable for those of us who quickly become overwhelmed by pages full of algebraic symbols. The authors actually manage to explain statistical concepts in english with a minimum of equations. The equations that are introduced are explained in a concise and readable style. This book can be valuable as either an introduction or a review.

This is the single best textbook on biostatistics that you will ever buy. It's that simple. It's complete (includes most of the major statistical tests). It's readable enough to be a self-study text. It shows the math; unlike most statistical textbooks, however, the authors explain the equations and derivations in English versus statisticese. The very best thing about this text is that it is funny. How many times do you smile or even giggle when you read a biostatistics book? Unless you're two standard deviations from the mean, you'll do it with this one. This text is most appropriate for the health care professional who is trying to make sense of the statistical analysis section of published papers and needs a readable reference.

I teach and do statistics for a living. Don't let the humor fool you. Despite being the most (only?) fun to read statistics book, it also has more thorough (and readable and usable) coverage coverage of the basics and advanced methods than any other book its size. It explains both underlying principles and practical applications. Readable, usable, thorough AND funny. Who would have thought it possible for a statistics book! I reccomend it to anybody in the biomedical or social sciences who wants to learn statistics AND as a handy reference for anybody who uses statistics AND for anybody who needs to teach students AND for anybody who needs to explain statistics to the public. Deserves to be bestseller. And it's back in print by BC Decker, available in U.S. from Blackwell; ISBN: 1550090852.

I was trying to find the book for residents and students. I can believe that it is out of print! It was the only book I could find in many years that could be used to learn biostatitics on your own. It was easy, fun and it did not treat you as a dummy.