Facts from Figures

This book was recommended to me many years ago by Roald Buhler,co-author of the P-Stat package, when I asked him where I couldget a good introductory text. I went and bought it and I've usedit countless times for reference and guidance. Unquestionably thebest book on introductory stats ever written.

Twenty years ago, in the process of moving, my copy of this book fell and was buried in the West Virginia mud. It was retrieved and dried. Although it still retains the marks of its misadventure, it is always the first statistics book on my shelf that I turn to when I encounter a problem that I do not understand. This little book is clearly and succinctly written with the lay-person in mind. I have read it from cover to cover. Of what other mathematics text can this be said? I especially like the chapter on the Poisson distribution. My poor, sad, mishandled copy is beaten and worn. I am distressed that it is out of print. It belongs on the bookshelf of every scientist with the remotest intention to employ statistics.

A classic for those who know just enough to get themselves in trouble. Have been using it, (or trying to get it back from someone who "borrowed" it) for many years.

I had never gone further than standard deviations and lines of regression at school, and dearly wanted to learn more. This book proved to be the ideal choice. Each subject was introduced in a simple and intuitively appealing manner, leading logically on from one to the next. It is a real pleasure to read, for layman and technically-minded statistics-novice alike.Despite its age, its examples remain forever pertinent (after all, a standard error on the standard deviation of a sample of measurements on boys' heights, weights and examination marks remains the same in the 1990s).

This book provides the clearest explanation of statistical concepts I have ever come across. Needs to be reprinted. There is a dearth of good material out there.