"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
“Human beings are a superstitious lot; we see patterns everywhere. But as Hand makes clear in this enlightening book, it all comes down to the math.” ―Jennifer Ouellette, The New York Times Book Review
“Very engaging . . . If you wish to read about how probability theory can help us understand the apparent hot hand in a basketball game, superstitions in gambling and sports, prophecies, parapsychology and the paranormal, holes in one, multiple lottery winners, and much more, this is a book you will enjoy. I will go further. The statistician Samuel S. Wilks (paraphrasing H.G. Wells) said that ‘statistical thinking will one day be as necessary for efficient citizenship as the ability to read and write.' With that laudable goal in mind, The Improbability Principle should be, in all probability, required reading for us all.” ―John A. Adam, The Washington Post
“[A] lucid overview of the mathematics of chance and the psychological phenomena that can make probability seem counter-intuitive to so many . . . Hand has written a superlative introduction to critical thinking, accessible to everybody, regardless of mathematical ability.” ―New Scientist
“[An] ingenious introduction to probability that mixes counterintuitive anecdotes with easily digestible doses of statistics . . . Hand offers much food for thought, and readers willing to handle some simple mathematics will find this a delightful addition to the 'why people believe weird things' genre.” ―Publishers Weekly
“Lively and lucid . . . an intensely useful (as well as a remarkably entertaining) book . . . It can transform the way you read the newspaper, that's for sure.” ―Salon
“[Hand] leads readers through this unfamiliar land of probability and statistics with wit and charm, all the while explaining in layman's terms the laws that govern it . . . We predict there's a very good chance you'll enjoy this book” ―Success
“Enlightening and entertaining . . . an erudite but utterly unpretentious guide . . . ably and assuredly demystifies an ordinarily intimidating subject” ―Kirkus
“In my experience, it is very rare to find a book that is both erudite and entertaining. Yet The Improbability Principle is such a book. Surely this cannot be due to chance alone!” ―Hal R. Varian, chief economist at Google and professor emeritus at the University of California, Berkeley
“Considering that The Improbability Principle comes from the keyboard of David J. Hand, it was perhaps inevitable that it would be a certain winner!” ―John Pullinger, president of the Royal Statistical Society
“Written by one of the world's preeminent statisticians, The Improbability Principle provides you with a sense of what chance and improbability really mean, and engenders an understanding that uncertainty rests at the core of nature. I highly recommend this book.” ―Joseph M. Hilbe , president of the International Astrostatistics Association and ambassador for the NASA/Jet Propulsion Laboratory at the California Institute of Technology
“As someone who happened to meet his future wife on a plane, on an airline he rarely flew, I wholeheartedly endorse David J. Hand's fascinating guide to improbability, a subject that affects the lives of us all, yet until now has lacked a coherent exposition of its underlying principles.” ―Gordon Woo, catastrophist at Risk Management Solutions and author of Calculating Catastrophe
“The Improbability Principle is an elegant, astoundingly clear, and enjoyable combination of subtle statistical thinking and real-world events. David J. Hand really does explain why ‘surprising' things will happen and why statistics matters.” ―Andrew Dilnot, coauthor of The Numbers Game: The Commonsense Guide to Understanding Numbers in the News, in Politics, and in Life
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
Shipping:
FREE
Within U.S.A.
Book Description Paperback. Condition: new. Paperback. Why coincidences, miracles and rare events happen all the time.Why is it that incredibly unlikely phenomena actually happen quite regularly and why should we, in fact, expect such things to happen? Here, in this highly original book - aimed squarely at anyone with an interest in coincidences, probability or gambling - eminent statistician David Hand answers this question by weaving together various strands of probability into a unified explanation, which he calls the improbability principle.This is a book that will appeal not only to those who love stories about startling coincidences and extraordinarily rare events, but also to those who are interested in how a single bold idea links areas as diverse as gambling, the weather, airline disasters and creative writing as well as the origin of life and even the universe. The Improbability Principle will change your perspective on how the world works - and tell you what the Bible code and Shakespeare have in common, how to win the lottery, why Apple's song shuffling was made less random to seem more random. Oh and why lightning does in fact strike twice. Why is it that incredibly unlikely phenomena actually happen quite regularly and why should we, in fact, expect such things to happen? This book is aimed at anyone with an interest in coincidences, probability or gambling. Shipping may be from multiple locations in the US or from the UK, depending on stock availability. Seller Inventory # 9780552170192
Book Description paperback. Condition: New. Language: ENG. Seller Inventory # 9780552170192
Book Description Soft Cover. Condition: new. Seller Inventory # 9780552170192
Book Description Paperback. Condition: New. BRAND NEW ** SUPER FAST SHIPPING FROM UK WAREHOUSE ** 30 DAY MONEY BACK GUARANTEE. Seller Inventory # 9780552170192-GDR
Book Description Condition: New. In. Seller Inventory # ria9780552170192_new
Book Description Paperback. Condition: Brand New. 0 edition. 320 pages. 7.80x5.00x0.79 inches. In Stock. Seller Inventory # __0552170194
Book Description Paperback / softback. Condition: New. New copy - Usually dispatched within 4 working days. Here, in this highly original book - aimed squarely at anyone with an interest in coincidences, probability or gambling - eminent statistician David Hand answers this question by weaving together various strands of probability into a unified explanation, which he calls the improbability principle. Seller Inventory # B9780552170192
Book Description Condition: New. Why is it that incredibly unlikely phenomena actually happen quite regularly and why should we, in fact, expect such things to happen? This book is aimed at anyone with an interest in coincidences, probability or gambling. Num Pages: 320 pages. BIC Classification: PBT; PDZM. Category: (G) General (US: Trade); (P) Professional & Vocational; (U) Tertiary Education (US: College). Dimension: 131 x 198 x 21. Weight in Grams: 232. . 2015. 0th Edition. Paperback. . . . . Seller Inventory # V9780552170192
Book Description Condition: New. Why is it that incredibly unlikely phenomena actually happen quite regularly and why should we, in fact, expect such things to happen? This book is aimed at anyone with an interest in coincidences, probability or gambling. Num Pages: 320 pages. BIC Classification: PBT; PDZM. Category: (G) General (US: Trade); (P) Professional & Vocational; (U) Tertiary Education (US: College). Dimension: 131 x 198 x 21. Weight in Grams: 232. . 2015. 0th Edition. Paperback. . . . . Books ship from the US and Ireland. Seller Inventory # V9780552170192
Book Description Paperback. Condition: new. New. Seller Inventory # Wizard0552170194