Understand and explain data with confidence
by Alan Smith
- My rating: Rated 4 out of 5
- Read: April 2023
- Published: 2022
- Pages: 336
- Category: Data visualization and cartography
My review
I liked this book and would recommend it to anyone interested in visualizing data. Some highlights and quotes I took:
* “Just because an interesting fact is made of numbers, it doesn't mean we have to show it on a chart.”
* There is a good description of how chord diagram works and, especially, the perils of introducing a new chart to readers. “There will always be people who feel that all charts should be pies, bars and lines”. Is it possible to please everyone?
* I like his non dogmatic view of pie charts. “Rather than banning pie charts, the world's surfeit could be reduced by simply using more effective chart types in particular situations.”
* The chapter on maps was short and good. I makes a point about maps not being always the best solution for a visualization.
* Part 2 was good, especially the part about writing on charts and the case for annotations which I fully agree.