You can purchase The Visual Display of Quantitative Information from bn.com. But others may appreciate it too: it has changed the way I Technical writers, academics, and journalists right down to high school
Visual displays of quantitative information professional#
Most obviously, The Visual Display of Quantitative Information shouldīe read by those involved in writing, editing, or designing documents orĭisplays that contain statistical graphics - from professional editors, Sample of international newspapers and journals, comparing the dataĭensity of graphics and the proportion of relational graphics (involvingĪt least two variables that aren't temporal or spatial). Tufte also finds room to survey publication practices across a select It's more than that, it could be appreciated simply as a work of art. Tufte's own tables and graphs are appropriatelyĮffective and the volume as a whole is elegantly put together: though The Visual Display of Quantitative Information packs a lot in, avoiding Never be used" - and to touch on the aesthetics of proportion and scale.Īll of this is liberally illustrated with examples, drawn from across Tables, semi-graphics, and graphics - "Given their low data-densityĪnd failure to order numbers along a visual dimension, pie charts should A finalĬhapter steps back to consider the balance between text, text-tables, And he looks at ways of maximizing data density (within reason)Īnd using "small multiples," or repeated smaller graphics. He argues for the use of multifunctioning graphicalĮlements - building data measures or grids out of the data itself,įor example, by using labels that also show the end points of the data Tufte gives specific suggestions for the design of box plots, bar charts,Īnd scattergraphs. Various kinds of "chartjunk": moire vibration (the disconcerting effectĬaused by repeating patterns), the overuse of grids, and the "ducks"Ĭreated when the design takes precedence over everything else. Maximization of the data-ink ratio, and illustrated with some "before andĪfter" examples of erasure of redundant or non-data-ink. The principle "Above all else show the data" is formalised as
![visual displays of quantitative information visual displays of quantitative information](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1595/5453/products/03_49947619-11d5-4c88-b130-e93febb8d79b.png)
Part two begins by introducing some terminology and theory for describing The substance of the material or of quantitative (statistical) methods. Quality of many informational graphics: one is the relegation of theirĭesign to those with art training but without an understanding of either He goes on to consider the reasons for the poor Kinds of deceit in graphics, along with some principles for maintaining "For many people the first word that comes to mind when they thinkĪbout statistical charts is 'lie.'" Tufte gives examples of different Retreat from Moscow and an 11th century map of China. Particularly appreciated were Minard's depiction of Napoleon's disastrous
![visual displays of quantitative information visual displays of quantitative information](https://covers.openlibrary.org/b/id/8215935-L.jpg)
Many of these are fascinating in their own right - two that I Origins and evolution and presenting examples of excellence in theirĭesign. Time-series, narratives, and relational graphics), describing their Tufte begins with the different kinds of informational graphics (maps, The Visual Display of Quantitative Information
![visual displays of quantitative information visual displays of quantitative information](https://i.etsystatic.com/11293841/r/il/edda04/2382196749/il_794xN.2382196749_fhqt.jpg)
It assumes only a very basic understanding of statistics." Read on for the rest of Danny's review. The formal title and scholarly references, not at all narrowly academic. It is aīroad-ranging work, covering history, theory and practice and, despite Danny writes " The Visual Display of Quantitative Information is a recognisedĬlassic on statistical graphics to the 1983 original, this 2001 editionĪdds some additional graphics, extra colour, and corrections.