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Darrell Huff
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How to Lie with Statistics Reissue Edition, Kindle Edition

by Darrell Huff (Author), Irving Geis (Illustrator) Format: Kindle Edition
4.5 out of 5 stars 4,353 ratings

If you want to outsmart a crook, learn his tricks—Darrell Huff explains exactly how in the classic How to Lie with Statistics.


From distorted graphs and biased samples to misleading averages, there are countless statistical dodges that lend cover to anyone with an ax to grind or a product to sell. With abundant examples and illustrations, Darrell Huff’s lively and engaging primer clarifies the basic principles of statistics and explains how they’re used to present information in honest and not-so-honest ways. Now even more indispensable in our data-driven world than it was when first published, How to Lie with Statistics is the book that generations of readers have relied on to keep from being fooled.

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  1. ISBN-13
    978-0393070873
  2. Edition
    Reissue
  3. Publisher
    W. W. Norton & Company
  4. Accessibility
    Learn more
  5. Publication date
    January 19, 2010
  6. Language
    English
  7. File size
    2.2 MB
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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

"There is terror in numbers," writes Darrell Huff in How to Lie with Statistics. And nowhere does this terror translate to blind acceptance of authority more than in the slippery world of averages, correlations, graphs, and trends. Huff sought to break through "the daze that follows the collision of statistics with the human mind" with this slim volume, first published in 1954. The book remains relevant as a wake-up call for people unaccustomed to examining the endless flow of numbers pouring from Wall Street, Madison Avenue, and everywhere else someone has an axe to grind, a point to prove, or a product to sell. "The secret language of statistics, so appealing in a fact-minded culture, is employed to sensationalize, inflate, confuse, and oversimplify," warns Huff.

Although many of the examples used in the book are charmingly dated, the cautions are timeless. Statistics are rife with opportunities for misuse, from "gee-whiz graphs" that add nonexistent drama to trends, to "results" detached from their method and meaning, to statistics' ultimate bugaboo--faulty cause-and-effect reasoning. Huff's tone is tolerant and amused, but no-nonsense. Like a lecturing father, he expects you to learn something useful from the book, and start applying it every day. Never be a sucker again, he cries!

Even if you can't find a source of demonstrable bias, allow yourself some degree of skepticism about the results as long as there is a possibility of bias somewhere. There always is.

Read How to Lie with Statistics. Whether you encounter statistics at work, at school, or in advertising, you'll remember its simple lessons. Don't be terrorized by numbers, Huff implores. "The fact is that, despite its mathematical base, statistics is as much an art as it is a science." --Therese Littleton

Review

Illustrator and author pool their considerable talents to provide light lively reading and cartoon far which will entertain, really inform, and take the wind out of many an overblown statistical sail.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00351DSX2
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ W. W. Norton & Company
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ January 19, 2010
  • Edition ‏ : ‎ Reissue
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2.2 MB
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 145 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0393070873
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 out of 5 stars 4,353 ratings

About the authors

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  1. Darrell Huff

    Darrell Huff

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    Darrell Huff (July 15, 1913 – June 27, 2001) was an American writer, and is best known as the author of How to Lie with Statistics (1954), the best-selling statistics book of the second half of the twentieth century.

    Huff was born in Gowrie, Iowa, and educated at the University of Iowa, (BA 1938, MA 1939). Before turning to full-time writing in 1946, Huff served as editor of Better Homes and Gardens and Liberty magazine. As a freelancer, Huff produced hundreds of "How to" feature articles and wrote at least sixteen books, most of which concerned household projects. One of his biggest projects was a prize-winning home in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, where he lived until his death.

    Stanford historian Robert N. Proctor wrote that Huff "was paid to testify before Congress in the 1950s and then again in the 1960s, with the assigned task of ridiculing any notion of a cigarette-disease link. On March 22, 1965, Huff testified at hearings on cigarette labeling and advertising, accusing the recent Surgeon General's report of myriad failures and 'fallacies'."

    First and foremost, though, Huff is credited with introducing statistics to a generation of college and high-school students on a level that was meaningful, available, and practical, while still managing to teach complex mathematical concepts. His most famous text, How to Lie with Statistics, is still being translated into new languages. His books have been published in over 22 languages, and continue to be used in classrooms the world over.

    Bio from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

    See more on the author's page
  2. Irving Geis

    Irving Geis

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    Irving Geis (October 18, 1908 – July 22, 1997) was an American artist who worked closely with biologists. Geis's hand-drawn work depicts many structures of biological macromolecules, such as DNA and proteins, including the first crystal structure of sperm whale myoglobin.

    Bio from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

    See more on the author's page
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Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4,353 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this book to be a must-read for all consumers, appreciating its informative content with real-world examples and common sense explanations. Moreover, the book serves as an eye-opener, providing an artful presentation of known ideas, and customers find it entertaining. However, the writing style receives mixed feedback, with some customers finding it well-written while others say it's written poorly. Additionally, customers note that the book is a bit dated, with outdated examples and references.

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221 customers mention "Readability"221 positive0 negative

Customers find the book highly readable, describing it as a classic and a fun little treatise.

"...'How to lie with Statistics' is an old-fashioned, honest manual (despite its name) on statistical artifices that has withstood the knocks of time..." Read more

"...short book written more than sixty years earlier by Darrell Huff and charmingly (if whimsically) illustrated by Irving Geis...." Read more

"Great little book. Catchy, slightly misleading title. Thed author does not show you how you can lie with statistics...." Read more

"Love this book!" Read more

172 customers mention "Information quality"159 positive13 negative

Customers find the book informative and relevant, noting that the examples provided are of real content and get them thinking. One customer mentions that the lessons in the book are timeless.

"This book is 70yrs old and is as relevant as ever and thoroughly enjoyable to boot, far exceeding my expectations...." Read more

"...While I certainly wasn't new to statistics, this book brought forth a breadth of information, presented in a fun, light-hearted way, and broken up..." Read more

"...I found a lot of great information in this book, some that has reinforced my beliefs about statistics and others that have provided me with new..." Read more

"Still very relevant." Read more

142 customers mention "Ease of reading"134 positive8 negative

Customers find the book easy to read and appreciate its common sense approach, with one customer noting that the chapters are concise.

"This book is 70yrs old and is as relevant as ever and thoroughly enjoyable to boot, far exceeding my expectations...." Read more

"...This relatively short book is practically a quick introduction and handbook for many of the most common means of manipulating statistics...." Read more

"...'How to lie with Statistics' is an old-fashioned, honest manual (despite its name) on statistical artifices that has withstood the knocks of time..." Read more

"...It is an easy read, though." Read more

115 customers mention "Perspective"93 positive22 negative

Customers appreciate the book's perspective on statistics, finding it entertaining and helpful in considering how data is presented. One customer notes how it makes them question every statistic they hear, while another mentions it improves their ability to see past statistical deception.

"...This book has aged like a fine whisky and serves as confirmation bias to my long held belief that the every day person is easily tripped up by..." Read more

"...The topics covered include: how sampling introduces bias, the various ways of reporting "averages" (mean, median, mode), how advertisers pick and..." Read more

"...to re-read something a dozen times or more -- and explains the secret language of statistics that the world of health care..." Read more

"...It teaches how numbers can misrepresent, how to spot when that is occuring, and how to garner the real information the numbers might be telling..." Read more

48 customers mention "Humor"44 positive4 negative

Customers find the book humorous and entertaining, with one mentioning that the witty comments make it a fun read.

"...Author Darrell Huff managed to create a wonderfully light and humorous read while still managing to convey a tremendous amount of information...." Read more

"...It is succinct, easy to follow, humorous, and can be put down and picked up when you have the time for it...." Read more

"...Entertains, informs & kind of shakes your faith in the good old, "87% of people studied (some small print) prefer So & So's deep fried Raisins..." Read more

"...by a journalist and is colloquial in nature, making for a quick, entertaining read. Compared to a statistics textbook, it like reading the comics...." Read more

20 customers mention "Eye-opener"20 positive0 negative

Customers find the book an eye-opener, appreciating its artful presentation of known ideas and colorful review.

"...new information but will still be pleased by the book's artful presentation of known ideas...." Read more

"Great little book. Catchy, slightly misleading title. Thed author does not show you how you can lie with statistics...." Read more

"...Statistics is a qualified overview of basic statistics and an eye opening look into the severity of statistical abuse we are all faced with in..." Read more

"...There's some charm in the details and examples given that it's a 60+ year old book and science, math, politics (and everything else) is different...." Read more

34 customers mention "Writing style"22 positive12 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the writing style of the book, with several noting it was written long ago and is not an easy read, while one customer appreciates that it is written for the layman to understand.

"Is more storytelling and text than graphics or charts" Read more

"The book is humorous and informative, but it shows its age. The outdated vocabulary and cultural references will fly over many readers’ heads...." Read more

"...The book is short enough to be read in a few hours but powerful enough to promote very sound reasoning skills relative to statistics." Read more

"...dated, it really matters not a whit: there is no mistaking the clear concise layout of how we are often confused and bemused by statistics...." Read more

60 customers mention "Dated content"5 positive55 negative

Customers find the book's content outdated, noting that the examples and references are old.

"...Of course, you'll find that the book's examples are outdated..." Read more

"...Although the topics are still relevant today, it is very dated, and the examples are somewhat funny since they refer to news stories from the 1920s..." Read more

"...Admittedly, it is a little bit dated, with most sources coming from a long time ago, and most references falling flat on their faces...." Read more

"...I observe that the book is somewhat dated, yet even this has a certain charm as the examples stem from the Eisenhower era and show how little our..." Read more

AFTER YOU READ "HOW TO LIE WITH STATISTICS" YOU'LL NEVER LOOK AT POLLS, SURVEYS & ADS IN THE SAME WAY!
5 out of 5 stars
AFTER YOU READ "HOW TO LIE WITH STATISTICS" YOU'LL NEVER LOOK AT POLLS, SURVEYS & ADS IN THE SAME WAY!
This author taught me something I should already know. I knew it happened but didn't realize how many areas of our lives are manipulated by numbers. Having a background in media, I learned how some statistics can be, shall I say, modified to make the point a Radio/TV Station wants to make. I'm a hard sell on stuff like this. However, Darrell Huff cleverly outs the "clever" statisticians who use everything from sample studies, interview techniques, tabulations & every method conceivable to have us believe what they want us to. "How to Lie With Statistics",is an informative wake up, an easy read, with illustrations by Irving Geis, that lend this rather serious subject some whimsy! Entertains, informs & kind of shakes your faith in the good old, "87% of people studied (some small print) prefer So & So's deep fried Raisins for improved memory function". After finishing Huff''s short, but sweet 144 page heads up on how numbers lie, you won't ever think the same when reading a statistic!
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Top reviews from the United States

  • R. Harold Merkin
    5.0 out of 5 stars A fantastic read that aged like fine whisky
    Reviewed in the United States on December 28, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    This book is 70yrs old and is as relevant as ever and thoroughly enjoyable to boot, far exceeding my expectations. Not only does the reader gain the benefit of learning statistical fallacies he may already be aware of, but sees that they still apply 70yrs later. This book has aged like a fine whisky and serves as confirmation bias to my long held belief that the every day person is easily tripped up by simple percentages. Highly recommend for fellow stats nerds
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Matt J
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great information, presented in a fun read, even for novices!
    Reviewed in the United States on November 22, 2011
    Verified Purchase
    Despite having been written over half a century ago, "How to Lie with Statistics" is a timeless look at how statistics have been used to mislead or draw unsubstantiated conclusions. Ignoring the slightly dated examples- many references to the events of the 50's and monetary examples that are humorously off as a result of inflation, "How to Lie with Statistics" still has plenty to offer to readers in our fast-pace, data-driven world.

    Author Darrell Huff managed to create a wonderfully light and humorous read while still managing to convey a tremendous amount of information. This relatively short book is practically a quick introduction and handbook for many of the most common means of manipulating statistics. It is down-right amazing how many questionable practices you are able to spot after learning the content in this book. From tooth paste advertisements to election polls, the truly essential skills taught by this book help teach you how to dissect claims, and understand what is behind the marketing twists and biases.

    One of the most wonderful aspects of this work, is the ability to convey a tremendous amount of information in a way that any laymen would be able to pick up and understand. The topics covered include: how sampling introduces bias, the various ways of reporting "averages" (mean, median, mode), how advertisers pick and choose among statistics, unreported probable error, manipulation of graphs, irrelevant data, and (of course) correlation vs. causation. One might go so far as to say that this handbook guide is an advertiser's worst nightmare, pointing out the many ways that numbers are used to convince us of incorrect conclusions.

    While I certainly wasn't new to statistics, this book brought forth a breadth of information, presented in a fun, light-hearted way, and broken up with amusing illustrations. But, don't let its length or appearances fool you, the things you can learn are extraordinarily useful. I would highly recommend this book to a wide audience, anyone with a passing interest in how numbers are being used to deceive.
    6 people found this helpful
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  • Amitesh Jasrotia
    4.0 out of 5 stars A Classic on Misuse of Statistics!
    Reviewed in the United States on December 6, 2011
    Verified Purchase
    "How to lie with Statistics" adds no more bewilderment to an already perplexing world of numbers. Author's advice is pretty simple and easy to comprehend for professionals and greenhorns alike. Darrell Huff avoids the wonkish stuff and instead builds his work around the common traps in the statistical world. Sometimes, these traps are intentionally deployed by the vested interests whereas a lot of times such pitfalls inadvertently sneak into the picture doing even more damage. One of the basic traps in statistics, according to Huff is the built-in sample bias (a sample is biased when a sample doesn't adequately represent the population from which it is drawn).There is no doubt that the outcome of a sampling study is as good as the sample it is based on and that determining a true random sample us an impossible scenario yet almost everyone claims to have found one. Huff asserts that observers need to be highly skeptical each time they look at research data since there is always a bias hidden somewhere.

    'How to lie with Statistics' is an old-fashioned, honest manual (despite its name) on statistical artifices that has withstood the knocks of time and is still as pertinent as it was 60 years ago. The fact that it's a recommended book in some of the undergraduate statistics courses around the world is in itself a grand testimony to its relevance. I strongly recommend this book to those who have a tangential knowledge of statistics and those who work with data day in and day out and feel besotted by all the graphs, trends and averages.
    3 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • James North
    4.0 out of 5 stars Good product
    Reviewed in the United Arab Emirates on July 11, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    Quite an old book, however still very relevant
    Report
  • Guilherme Hartmann
    5.0 out of 5 stars Vale a leitura.
    Reviewed in Brazil on February 24, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    Título interessante pela abordagem com exemplos claros sobre o que está sendo explicado.
    Pondera inúmeros momentos que precisamos estar atentos, pois sempre haverá bias/vieses e isso não pode nos cegar a avaliação.
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  • Artur Falkowski
    5.0 out of 5 stars Must-have in today's world
    Reviewed in Spain on March 8, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    It's a complete must-have in today's world. We live surrounded by news and articles full of statistics and graphs that seem convincing, but in reality, many can be misleading, not because of wrong data, but because of how it is presented. This book provides indispensable knowledge for better understanding the statistics used in media and knowing how to detect lies or misdirections.
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  • nclaude95
    5.0 out of 5 stars Une lecture très agréable et instructive
    Reviewed in France on May 25, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Je recommande ce livre, très facile à lire (d'un côté grâce à la taille de l'écriture pas trop petite et à une mise en page aérée, d'un autre côté grâce au style de l'écrivain, qui rend accessible au public un contenu pas toujours facile à comprendre).
    Concernant la commande sur Amazon, la livraison a été super rapide malgré les conditions actuelles.
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  • Amazon Kunde
    2.0 out of 5 stars Old, but still relevant. Not a modern read.
    Reviewed in the Netherlands on October 26, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    This book is old (50-ies) but its still correct. I remembered the title from my long time ago teacher and always wanted a copy. Read it in one go, doesnt go very deep. Wasnt really worth the money, you should get something modern instead.
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