Envisioning Information

by Edward R. Tufte
Envisioning Information cover
Good Books rating 4.33
Art, Design, and Photography
Technical
  • ID: 2091
  • Added: 2025-10-11
  • Updated: 2025-10-11
  • Published: 1990-01-01
  • Reviews: 3

Envisioning Information by Edward R. Tufte is a seminal work that delves into the art and science of data visualization. Tufte, a pioneer in the field, presents a collection of essays and illustrations that demonstrate how to effectively communicate complex information through graphical means. The book is not just about creating charts and graphs; it's about crafting visual narratives that reveal patterns, trends, and insights that might otherwise remain hidden. Through stunning examples from diverse fields such as medicine, engineering, and art, Tufte showcases the power of well-designed visuals to simplify and clarify. He emphasizes the importance of clarity, precision, and elegance in visual communication, offering practical advice on how to avoid common pitfalls and create compelling visualizations. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in how we can use design to make sense of the vast amounts of data that surround us.

Reviews
Amazon · 2025-10-11
brilliant 4.50

The book is described as brilliant and a missing manual on report and user-interface design, making readers think differently.

This reviewer considers the book brilliant and a crucial manual for report and user-interface design. They appreciate how the book challenges conventional thinking and provides new perspectives. The reviewer finds it highly valuable for anyone interested in design and information presentation, praising its ability to make readers think differently about how information is conveyed.

Quick quotes

    Tufte is brilliant, and this is the missing manual on report and user-interface design.

    Its very good at making you think differently - much like a Guru of The ...

    A crucial manual for anyone interested in design and information presentation.

The Eyrie · 2025-10-11
excellent 4.50

The book is praised for its excellent layout and clear, easy-to-read text, making it one of the best-designed non-fiction books. It effectively uses visuals to enhance understanding.

This reviewer is particularly impressed with the book's design, noting that it is one of the best-laid-out non-fiction books they have read. The text is clear and easy to follow, and the use of visuals is excellent, making complex information more accessible. They appreciate how the book's design helps to convey its message effectively, making it a standout in the genre.

Quick quotes

    Tufte's books are some of the best laid-out non-fiction books that I've ever had the pleasure to read, with clear, easy-to-read text and excellent use of visuals.

    The book's design is a significant part of its appeal, making complex information more accessible.

    The visuals are used effectively to enhance understanding, making this a standout in the genre.

maori.geek.nz · 2014-02-07
great 4.00

The book is enjoyed for its insightful examples and visualizations, which the reviewer spent a long time studying to extract every point made.

This reviewer thoroughly enjoyed the book, spending a significant amount of time going over the examples and visualizations to fully grasp Tufte's points. They found the book engaging and insightful, appreciating the depth of analysis provided. The visualizations are particularly noteworthy, adding value to the text and making the book a rich resource for understanding information design.

Quick quotes

    I really enjoyed this book.

    I spent a long time going over the examples and visualisations trying to extract every point that Tufte made in his book.

    The visualizations are particularly noteworthy, adding value to the text and making the book a rich resource for understanding information design.

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