Scammed By Statistics: How we are Lied to, Cheated and Manipulated by Statistics...and why you should care

I got this book for my high schooler to help her to see that having data does not make someone honest and does not mean you can trust the information or the source. It did not disappoint!

Awesome book. I got it as required reading for an academic "gifted" camp that I teach at. Who knew that a 12 year-old would come to you and tell you how much she enjoyed the chapter on Confirmation Bias? I've learned about these sorts of scams in an excellent college class, but my kids couldn't believe it. They kept asking me if these things REALLY HAPPENED. Yup! The book seems to be geared toward 6th-12th grades (I'm tempted to end at 10th because of some of the illustrations--but that could be my own personal preference) but I think 11 and up can appreciate it. It's certainly eye-opening.

This is required reading in my math class. It leads to great discussions about ethics in math as well as a new awareness of how math is misused in normal, everyday media. What a great way to teach kids about why we need to learn math! Teach them the value of being critical consumers of information. His other books have activities that tie in with some of these chapters, too.

Very helpful.

This is a fun book that points out how statistics are often misused. Because of its modern examples, it almost seems to pick up where Huff's classic "How To Lie With Statistics" leaves off. With some examples, I found myself thinking the author was liberal; with other examples, I found myself thinking he was conservative. But then I remembered his premise that statistics are indifferent to one's views. However, people can be deceitful with statistics.The only issue I found was on page 63 where an x-ray was compared to a test score. Comparing an x-ray to a score from a psychometric instrument seems like comparing apples to oranges. There are variables specific to each that should be taken into account. However, it makes sense that somebody reading this book would point out something like this, which is a credit to Mr. Zaccaro's writing.Overall the book makes a good point about how a healthy skepticism can ensure we're making decisions based on accurate information. If you enjoy statistics or use them to some degree in your field (but are not necessarily a statistician), you may enjoy this book. If you're new to statistics or bored by them, this book can show you how enjoyable statistics can be since it is easy to read.

This book should be mandatory reading for all high school students - and adults! The creative and magical way information is delivery to the public is amazing - and frightening! This book provides information in a clear and entertaining way. Very informative and educational!