Want to calculate the probability that an event will happen? Be able to spot fake data? Prove beyond doubt whether one thing causes another? Or learn to be a better gambler? You can do that and much more with 75 practical and fun hacks packed into Statistics Hacks. These cool tips, tricks, and mind-boggling solutions from the world of statistics, measurement, and research methods will not only amaze and entertain you, but will give you an advantage in several real-world situations-including business.

This book is ideal for anyone who likes puzzles, brainteasers, games, gambling, magic tricks, and those who want to apply math and science to everyday circumstances. Several hacks in the first chapter alone-such as the "central limit theorem,", which allows you to know everything by knowing just a little-serve as sound approaches for marketing and other business objectives. Using the tools of inferential statistics, you can understand the way probability works, discover relationships, predict events with uncanny accuracy, and even make a little money with a well-placed wager here and there.

Statistics Hacks presents useful techniques from statistics, educational and psychological measurement, and experimental research to help you solve a variety of problems in business, games, and life. You'll learn how to:

• Play smart when you play Texas Hold 'Em, blackjack, roulette, dice games, or even the lottery

• Design your own winnable bar bets to make money and amaze your friends

• Predict the outcomes of baseball games, know when to "go for two" in football, and anticipate the winners of other sporting events with surprising accuracy

• Demystify amazing coincidences and distinguish the truly random from the only seemingly random--even keep your iPod's "random" shuffle honest

• Spot fraudulent data, detect plagiarism, and break codes

• How to isolate the effects of observation on the thing observed

Whether you're a statistics enthusiast who does calculations in your sleep or a civilian who is entertained by clever solutions to interesting problems, Statistics Hacks has tools to give you an edge over the world's slim odds.

Amazon.com® Reader Reviews (Ranked by Helpfulness)

Average Amazon.com® Rating:  Based on 19 Ratings

An entertaining and useful book - 2007-11-20
Reviewer Rating:
It's not very easy to use the words "entertaining" and "statistics" in the same sentence, but you can if you're talking about this book. Bruce Frey's collection of tips and tools makes the subject interesting, fun-- even funny-- and most importantly, approachable.

It's important to understand that this book is not intended to be a statistics textbook, review, or reference manual. Rather, it is a collection of bite-sized hacks that relate statistical principles to the "real" world. Every hack is illustrated with some example, including many relating to gambling, games, and bar bets. Which properties should you buy in Monopoly? The answer is here, along with an explanation. How many people have to be in a room with you before you can be pretty sure that at least one of them shares your birthday? That's here, too, along with the explanation. Is there a way to predict the winner of a baseball game by listening to about twenty minutes of the middle of it? Yep.

If you're looking for an authoritative, comprehensive, serious statistics text, keep shopping. If you're looking for a light but nonetheless very useful explanation/review of how and why statistics work in a real-world context, buy this book.

I'm glad I bought it, and I'd do it again. I got more than enough entertainment and utility out of it to justify the expense.

I love this format! - 2009-04-13
Reviewer Rating:
I am not a statistician but it has always seemed like it should be more interesting than the other books I have tried to read on the subject made it. That's why I love the format of this book. It is broken up into small sections, each of which shares some interesting tidbit about statistics. Most of them are quite interesting and even the occasional yawner does not ruin the book because it is at least short. :)

An interesting way to get into statistics.

Great Read! - 2009-05-31
Reviewer Rating:

Normally I get a headache whenever I think about statistics, but Frey expertly explains concepts and provides very interesting examples. I found this book very helpful and a lot of fun to read.

stat-TAS-tic - 2009-04-27
Reviewer Rating:
Absolutely the best stats book I've read! I especially enjoyed the poker-related hacks; they have helped both my poker playing and my stats abilities.

Fun and helpful at the same time! - 2008-08-15
Reviewer Rating:
When I read this book, I laughed and learned - what more could you ask for?

When students struggle with other stats books, I recommend this one and they have all been grateful!

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