Book review

Uncertainty Book Report

Springer sent me the book report Uncertainty for 2017.

Since its online publication on July 01, 2016, there has been a total of 16,765 chapter downloads for your eBook on SpringerLink. The table to the right shows the download figures for the last year(s).

This means your book was one of the top 25% most downloaded eBooks in the relevant eBook Collection in 2017

According to the table, in 2016 there were 7,915 downloads, and in 2017 8,850. Things are improving! I don’t know why, but they don’t tell me the number of hardcover purchases. Not until I get the royalty statement, which comes out in May or June.

They also said this (all original):

From the reviews:

“Briggs, an adjunct professor of statistics at Cornell University, cautions his readers to carefully examine the uncertain reliability of such conclusions when these tools are used. His challenging premises are thoroughly supported by philosophical explanations as to why these traditional approaches need to be questioned. … Briggs provides fully fleshed out reasoning, impressive support, precisely worded insight, and graphical illustrations, as appropriate, to justify his stand. … Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates and above; faculty and professionals.” (N. W. Schillow, Choice, Vol. 54 (6), February, 2017)

“[This book] is not for sissies, true, but its clear-headed (i.e., Aristotelian) approach to the subject of truth (which, in the end, is what exercises in probability and statistical analysis are all about, notwithstanding what they tell you in school) is refreshing: a long, cool drink of plain speaking about intellectual topics that, in these hot and humid days, is as enlivening as it is enlightening.” (Roger Kimball, The New Criterion’s Critic’s Notebook, newcriterion.com, August, 2016)

“This book has the potential to turn the world of evidence-based medicine upside down. It boldly asserts that with regard to everything having to do with evidence, we’re doing it all wrong: probability, statistics, causality, modeling, deciding, communicating—everything. … the book is full of humor and a delight to read and re-read.” (Jane M. Orient, Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons, Vol. 21 (3), 2016)

Springer wisely advises me to “Remember to talk about your book and share the link to your book with your community.”

Categories: Book review, Statistics

3 replies »

  1. I have bought the hard copy recently and highly recommend it!
    One thing that would of been helpful is to have the code that you’ve used for generating some of the plots made available… even if these demos are only a side note to your main message (for example Fig 9.3 with the CRPS scores)

  2. Bob,

    That’s a great idea. I’ve done some of this in the on-going class (see the book page), but I’ll try and get the rest up, too.

    Thanks.

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