45 pages • 1 hour read
Darrell HuffHow to Lie with Statistics
Nonfiction | Reference/Text Book | Adult | Published in 1954A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
How to Lie with Statistics, a 1954 nonfiction book by journalist Darrell Huff, educates readers on recognizing deceptive statistics. With illustrations by Irving Geis, Huff combines humorous writing and fabricated or real examples to highlight errors and misuses in statistics that can mislead audiences. The book emphasizes the importance of skepticism towards statistical data, as it often includes biases, incomplete information, or exaggerated visual representations. This summary discusses suicide and systemic racism.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Darrell Huff's How to Lie with Statistics receives praise for its witty, accessible explanation of statistical manipulation, making complex ideas comprehensible for non-experts. Critics appreciate its humor and timeless relevance. However, some feel its outdated examples and simplistic approach may not suit advanced readers. It remains a valuable primer for awareness on statistical deceit.
Who Should Read How to Lie with Statistics?
Readers who enjoy Freakonomics by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner or Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman will appreciate Darrell Huff's How to Lie with Statistics. This book appeals to those interested in understanding how statistical data can be manipulated and misrepresented to influence public perception.