Avoiding Data Pitfalls: How to Steer Clear of Common Blunders When Working with Data and Presenting Analysis and Visualizations Paperback - 2019

From the rear cover

"Data has rarely gotten more personal than this. Ben Jones's Avoiding Data Pitfalls isn't just a rehash of classics such as How to Lie With Statistics; rather, it's a refreshing, honest, idiosyncratic, and deeply humane take on the hurdles we all face when gathering, analyzing, or presenting data, written from the point of view of a professional who's seen and erred a lot, and who's not afraid of acknowledging it."
--Alberto Cairo, author of How Charts Lie

"Humans aren't perfect and neither is data. This book gives valuable advice on how to proceed with those truths in mind."
--Giorgia Lupi, partner at Pentagram; co-author of Dear Data

LEARN AND MASTER THE LANGUAGE OF DATA

Data pitfalls are all around us; anyone who has worked with data has fallen into them many times. Sometimes we fall into them without even noticing, only to find out much later. It is an all-too-common scenario: you've prepared an impeccable presentation, complete with beautiful charts and bullet-proof insights, only to be informed that the database you're working with is flawed. Most of us were not taught how to work with the modern tools and types of data at our disposal--resulting in common mistakes that could easily have been avoided with some expert advice.

Avoiding Data Pitfalls shows you how to spare yourself and your colleagues from embarrassing blunders and costly mistakes when working with data. This invaluable guide offers real-world examples of common errors and provides step-by-step guidance on successfully visualizing and presenting your data. You will learn to identify and avoid the seven types of data pitfalls, such as cluttered design and ineffective use of color, and create accurate and effective presentations.