How To Lie With Statistics

by Darrell Huff
How To Lie With Statistics cover
Good Books rating 3.5
Education and Reference
Technical:
  • ID: 1827
  • Added: 2025-10-10
  • Updated: 2025-10-10
  • ISBN: 9781802060119
  • Publisher: Penguin UK
  • Published: 2023-03-30
  • Formats: 1
  • Reviews: 3
Buy online
Waterstones
Paperback • £10.99

In 1954, Darrell Huff wrote 'How to Lie with Statistics' to expose the deceptive use of statistics by politicians, advertisers, and journalists. This hilarious and insightful book reveals the sneaky ways statistics are used to sensationalize, confuse, and mislead. With over one and a half million copies sold, it remains a timeless guide to navigating the maze of facts and figures in our data-driven world. Huff's cheeky takes on samples, averages, errors, graphs, and indexes make it an essential read for anyone looking to see through the illusions of statistical manipulation. Praised by Bill Gates and Tim Harford, 'How to Lie with Statistics' is a delightful and subversive exploration of mathematical mendacity. It undermines faith in the almighty statistic and provides readers with the tools to avoid being fooled by misleading data. Whether you're a student, professional, or curious reader, this book will change the way you look at numbers and the stories they tell.

Reviews
The Book Cafe · 2025-10-10
excellent 4.50

The book is praised for its excellent explanations of how statistics can be manipulated, making it a valuable read despite its age. The reviewer appreciates the real-world examples provided.

The reviewer found 'How to Lie with Statistics' to be an absolutely excellent book, highlighting its unique approach to explaining statistical manipulation. They particularly enjoyed the setup where each chapter explains a way to lie using statistics and provides a real-world example. The reviewer believes that the book's content is still relevant and valuable, making it a must-read for anyone interested in understanding how statistics can be used to mislead. They also mention that the book's witty and engaging style makes it an enjoyable read.

Quick quotes

    I found it to be an absolutely excellent book.

    I love the setup of explaining a way in which you could lie using a statistic, and giving a real-world example.

    This book is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding how statistics can be used to mislead.

ICT in Education · 2025-05-04
relevant 4.00

The book is noted for its remarkable relevance even after over 60 years, particularly in the fields of educational research and assessing pupils' performance.

The reviewer points out that 'How to Lie with Statistics' remains remarkably relevant despite being over 60 years old. They highlight its significance in the fields of educational research and assessing pupils' performance, noting that the book's insights are still highly applicable in today's context. The reviewer suggests that the book's enduring relevance is a testament to its timeless principles and the ongoing issues with statistical manipulation in various fields. They also mention that the book's witty and engaging style makes it an enjoyable read.

Quick quotes

    This book is over 60 years old, it is remarkably apposite for our times -- and especially in the fields of educational research and assessing pupils' performance.

    The book's insights are still highly applicable in today's context.

    The enduring relevance of this book is a testament to its timeless principles and the ongoing issues with statistical manipulation in various fields.

Effortmark · 2021-11-04
disappointing 2.00

The reviewer finds the book outdated and no longer recommends it due to its lack of relevance to modern statistical practices. They suggest there are better resources available for understanding statistics.

The reviewer believes that while 'How to Lie with Statistics' was once a popular and useful book, it has not aged well. They argue that the book's examples and techniques are outdated and no longer applicable in today's data-driven world. The reviewer suggests that readers looking to understand statistics would be better served by more contemporary resources that address modern statistical practices and the nuances of data analysis. They also mention that the book's witty tone, while entertaining, does not make up for its lack of relevance.

Quick quotes

    It's an easy book to find for pennies plus postage as it's been a bestseller for decades and sold well over a million copies.

    Darrell Huff might be better described as 'witty' – or perhaps 'wildly funny compared to other books on statistics'.

    While the book has its moments, it's not a resource I would recommend to anyone looking to understand modern statistical practices.

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