This book was not what I expected, or needed. I was looking for an expert guide on HOW to create clear graphics that communicate ideas, tell a story, and so on. Instead, this book (and all of Tufte's book) have the luxurious, plodding, self-indulgent pace and haughty language of the ivory tower of academia.

Imagine someone wants to learn football. They buy a book that, rather than teaching the three-point stance or how to run a hook pattern, instead shows grainy black and white photos of rugby players and explains that football originated in Wales in 1883. Then it shows pictures of leather helmets and some more grainy shots of the Yale football team from 1920 and so on. Rather than learning HOW to play football, you are taken on a quaint exploration of how football started.

This was my experience reading Tufte's book. I was completely disappointed with his writing style and lack of practical guidance. From the reviews, it appears others have gotten more from the book than I did, because they were willing to spend time pondering Tufte's examples. But for myself, I found Stephen Few's book "Information Dashboard Design" covers the material much more comprehensively and - most important to me - practically than Tufte did.

I'll be returning my Tufte history books for a full refund.

Third of the series of Tufte's brilliantly-done graphic design and quantitative analysis guides, this one focuses on images that provide "Visual Explanations." These images can show quantities, least significant differences, parallels, and explanations in ways that enhance and exceed text or numerical table data.

As usual, the book is lavishly illustrated with examples painstakingly reproduced and clearly printed on high-quality paper. Tufte's books feel and look classic and classy. They are a delight to any reader who loves books as objects. In short, Tufte follows his own rules in his books.

He devotes the lengthiest chapter of the book to a positive and a negative example of why clear visual explanations are so important, indeed life-or-death. His positive example is John Snow's map of London showing the location of deaths in the last great outbreak of cholera in that city in 1854. This map, visually displaying the evidence he gained from interviews, reviews of medical records, and meetings with city government leaders, helped Snow pinpoint the probable source of the cholera, and saved many lives--how many is still an open and unsolvable question which Tufte examines by showing some refactoring of Snow's visual explanations. You can read more about this amazing man Snow and his triumph in The Ghost Map by Stephen Johnson.

The negative example is the US Shuttle Challenger explosion in 1986, where hastily assembled tabular data and visual explanations by the engineers who designed the rockets was unable to stop the launch at the last moment. As Tufte clearly shows, pulling from that tabular and visual data, plus others presented during the follow-up hearings, better visual explanations would have illuminated the causal relationship between air temperature and O-ring failure, caused that cold-morning launch to be delayed for warmer weather, and saved the lives of the seven astronauts on the Challenger.

In sum, it is a joy to learn the value of visual explanation from Tufte's books.

First time I read the book I thought it is waste of money but after analyzing it further I believe that this is one of rarest book that is solely based on application rather then theory. I can relate day to day application with examples specified in book. this has also helped me to gain praises from my boss at work.

P.S: This book is not a novel/story-bookyou need to spend some time thinking also.

In this third book by Tufte on graphics, he provides great examples through history where good pictures conveyed important information to decision makers and bad graphics left uncetainty and indecision. A great success story is the identification of the source of the cholera epidemic in London in the 1850s. With regard to the Challenger Space Shuttle, Tufte suggests that one good picture may have convinced the NASA engineers of the need to avoid launching at low temperatures. Great pictures, great examples and great advice are found throughout the book. You may not believe that graphs can be used to answer all scientific questions but Tufte will convince you that they are important and must be done right!

Many excellent examples on conveying many types of quantitative data across a wide variety of subjects. The only problem is that, to create most of these, one must be a graphic artist. If one needs to convey highly technical quantitative information, especially to layman, this gives the reader a good idea/perspective of how to explain to graphic artists hired along what general lines an illustration should be made.

Tufte's series on visualization will surely go down as classics. He's readable, he's right, and he's engaging.

The only thing is, as pretty and as well-founded the book is in certain principles, it's my opinion that... that the average reader doesn't understand design problems enough that this book will present anything new.

Meaning, the book is so intuitive, that, it seems pointless anyone would ever have to write a beautiful book like this -- *UNLESS* you have been stymied over and over again by mudglobs of creative ad hoc-kery and ad-hoc functionality, or, if you have been victimized by the unfunctional sheen of superglossy animated 3-d search engines (data visualizations, etc).

Here's maybe the test -- if the price tag of this book seems excessive, you haven't been slogging through enough terrible textbooks to see what a light and airy gem of fresh... >sigh< air this book is.

Otherwise - buy the Tufte series all at once, and see if you can't save bucks on the group discount.

Visual Explanations is not a usual book. It is like a knowledgeable friend walking with you through a museum: pointing out good design and bad ideas; linking various domains (graphic design, usability, psychology) together. You learn things slowly, almost by symbiosis. Visual Explanations will be enchanting for people who have the time to read it in that way. It will be frustrating for people looking for a practical guide: This is not a textbook. The book itself is beautifully produced.
Topics covered include: clarity and purpose of information, color scheme choice, and composition of images.

Visual Explanations is not a usual book. It is like a knowledgeable friend walking with you through a museum: pointing out good design and bad ideas; linking various domains (graphic design, usability, psychology) together. You learn things slowly, almost by symbiosis. Visual Explanations will be enchanting for people who have the time to read it in that way. It will be frustrating for people looking for a practical guide: This is not a textbook. The book itself is beautifully produced.
Topics covered include: clarity and purpose of information, color scheme choice, and composition of images.

In this book, an expert of visual explanations uses visual explanations to tell us his ideas how to use visual cues to explain concepts, quantities, timelines etc. Tufte, with his eternal self-confidence and succinct prose gives good examples and shows how a good image can be better; gives bad examples and has no hesitation to call something (even authorities' products) 'ghastly' or 'nightmare'. I think this book is a must for anybody who wants to use visual cues and examples for the ideas they want to convey. That is, everybody, in this time and age of information.

In this book, an expert of visual explanations uses visual explanations to tell us his ideas how to use visual cues to explain concepts, quantities, timelines etc. Tufte, with his eternal self-confidence and succinct prose gives good examples and shows how a good image can be better; gives bad examples and has no hesitation to call something (even authorities' products) 'ghastly' or 'nightmare'. I think this book is a must for anybody who wants to use visual cues and examples for the ideas they want to convey. That is, everybody, in this time and age of information.

Edward Tufte's book "Visual Explanations: Images and Quantities, Evidence and Narrative" is a 157 page exercise in critical thinking. The author discusses and analyzes visual information, pointing out flaws and strengths of various visual depictions. One becomes more aware of visual information and what constitutes ideal pictorial information.

"Visual Explanations" covers the topics of images and quantities, displaying evidence, pictorial instructions and disinformation, the smallest visual effective difference, repetition and change, multiples, and visual confections. Although the book has little to do with charts and graphs, reading the book makes one aware of all visual information and its ideal presentation. Anyone that works with or uses charts, illustrations, and any visual data will probably find this book useful. The book is richly illustrated with examples.

This book would be great for people that use statistics in their work or make presentations. It teaches people to be a critical thinkers concerning visual information and presentation. Even if you do not agree with Tufte, "Visual Explanations" will make you think about things you otherwise might not have.

Edward Tufte's book "Visual Explanations: Images and Quantities, Evidence and Narrative" is a 157 page exercise in critical thinking. The author discusses and analyzes visual information, pointing out flaws and strengths of various visual depictions. One becomes more aware of visual information and what constitutes ideal pictorial information.

"Visual Explanations" covers the topics of images and quantities, displaying evidence, pictorial instructions and disinformation, the smallest visual effective difference, repetition and change, multiples, and visual confections. Although the book has little to do with charts and graphs, reading the book makes one aware of all visual information and its ideal presentation. Anyone that works with or uses charts, illustrations, and any visual data will probably find this book useful. The book is richly illustrated with examples.

This book would be great for people that use statistics in their work or make presentations. It teaches people to be a critical thinkers concerning visual information and presentation. Even if you do not agree with Tufte, "Visual Explanations" will make you think about things you otherwise might not have.

This book appeared fascinating to me. The book reviews appeared fascinating to me. But when I actually saw all of the pages inside I was really disappointed. Don't buy this one until you see it - you just may be disappointed too.

An amazing book! While I'm not sure that it's worth giving up shelf space for, it's more than worth borrowing from your local library and reading.

The biggest things I pulled out of this were around information density and the capacities that humans have. This book provided me with a framework for looking at mediums of display to the user and to better understand how I can choose how much data and how to present it to best allow them to reason around it.

The examples are also beautifully produced and masterfully composed. The book itself is an amazing artifact!

Near the end, he talks about 'confections' and, while it was an interesting section, it was the one section of the book that it was difficult to pull out prescriptive guidance from.

An amazing book! While I'm not sure that it's worth giving up shelf space for, it's more than worth borrowing from your local library and reading.

The biggest things I pulled out of this were around information density and the capacities that humans have. This book provided me with a framework for looking at mediums of display to the user and to better understand how I can choose how much data and how to present it to best allow them to reason around it.

The examples are also beautifully produced and masterfully composed. The book itself is an amazing artifact!

Near the end, he talks about 'confections' and, while it was an interesting section, it was the one section of the book that it was difficult to pull out prescriptive guidance from.

Edward R. Tufte again raises the bar both on his scholarly treatment of how we portray visual information and on how books of value ought to me made.

His third book on information design, Visual Explanation: Images and Quantities, Evidence and Narrative is, in his words, "about pictures of verbs, the representation of mechanism and motion, process and dynamics, causes and effects, explanation and narrative."

Within this book, Mr. Tufte first tackles tough, fundamental issues related to quantity, scale, and magnitude. Determining if a visual representation is honest or accurate may, at first, not seem a vital skill, but Mr. Tufte clearly shows how data and information can be distorted or manipulated and offers sharp observations to help one see more clearly what is presented.

He addresses methods of presenting and analyzing data, using the now classic medical investigative work of John Snow and the fatal flawed decision making that resulting in the Challenger tragedy, to build a steady, compelling argument that there are right and wrong ways to show data.

A chapter on magic and designing disinformation is full of anecdotes, examples, and illustrations about the how's and why's of masking content and diverting attention.

Perhaps my favorite chapter is The Smallest Effective Difference, a challenging but insightful primer on using subtle but effective visual distinctions to create compelling visual information.

The long chapter about visual parallelism treats a complex subject by offering a plethora of examples, all explained with a terse elegance. Students of typography will take a special interest in Mr. Tufte's treatment of letterforms.

How we use and react to multiple images and how to effectively use multiples to evoke repetition, change, pattern, and surprise form the basis of the next chapter. Mr. Tufte again reminds readers that good design must take into account how, when, and even where information will be used.

The final chapter covers what Mr. Tufte has termed visual confections, that is an assembly of myriad visual events to convey a story, make comparisons, merge the real and imaginary. Digital artists should switch off their Macintosh computers until they have studied carefully this chapter, replete with superb illustrations and laser-intense commentary.

Mr. Tufte self-publishes his books because no commercial press would indulge his demands for perfection. His books are wonderful not just because of the information he presents but also because they represent the craft of bookmaking. The printing, binding, the acid-free paper, inks, the arrangement of words and images---these books are to treasure when so much is disposable and fleeting.

Edward R. Tufte again raises the bar both on his scholarly treatment of how we portray visual information and on how books of value ought to me made.

His third book on information design, Visual Explanation: Images and Quantities, Evidence and Narrative is, in his words, "about pictures of verbs, the representation of mechanism and motion, process and dynamics, causes and effects, explanation and narrative."

Within this book, Mr. Tufte first tackles tough, fundamental issues related to quantity, scale, and magnitude. Determining if a visual representation is honest or accurate may, at first, not seem a vital skill, but Mr. Tufte clearly shows how data and information can be distorted or manipulated and offers sharp observations to help one see more clearly what is presented.

He addresses methods of presenting and analyzing data, using the now classic medical investigative work of John Snow and the fatal flawed decision making that resulting in the Challenger tragedy, to build a steady, compelling argument that there are right and wrong ways to show data.

A chapter on magic and designing disinformation is full of anecdotes, examples, and illustrations about the how's and why's of masking content and diverting attention.

Perhaps my favorite chapter is The Smallest Effective Difference, a challenging but insightful primer on using subtle but effective visual distinctions to create compelling visual information.

The long chapter about visual parallelism treats a complex subject by offering a plethora of examples, all explained with a terse elegance. Students of typography will take a special interest in Mr. Tufte's treatment of letterforms.

How we use and react to multiple images and how to effectively use multiples to evoke repetition, change, pattern, and surprise form the basis of the next chapter. Mr. Tufte again reminds readers that good design must take into account how, when, and even where information will be used.

The final chapter covers what Mr. Tufte has termed visual confections, that is an assembly of myriad visual events to convey a story, make comparisons, merge the real and imaginary. Digital artists should switch off their Macintosh computers until they have studied carefully this chapter, replete with superb illustrations and laser-intense commentary.

Mr. Tufte self-publishes his books because no commercial press would indulge his demands for perfection. His books are wonderful not just because of the information he presents but also because they represent the craft of bookmaking. The printing, binding, the acid-free paper, inks, the arrangement of words and images---these books are to treasure when so much is disposable and fleeting.

Very worthwhile and readible book for peaceful times. This is now the third and last of Tuftes trilogy of design books I read and I still love to read them. I love the enspirement. It needs a peaceful pace and as the author states "it pays you back". I learned a lot, I will read it again in a couple of years, and I Want another one of his books.

Good overall but not very contemporary

Tom Anderson
Anderson Analytics, LLC
http://www.andersonanalytics.com

Good overall but not very contemporary

VISUAL EXPLANATIONS: IMAGES AND QUANTITIES, EVIDENCE AND NARRATIVE represents one volume within a set of three. In this volume, Edward R. Tufte explores the visual and artistic aspects of the assessment of change, dynamics and most importantly cause and effect. In my mind, Edward R. Tufte is one of the intellectual giants of the 20th century. His work is magnificent! He employs a powerful conceptual framework that has had a profound effect on the reader.

I own all three volumes. I use VISUAL EXPLANATIONS: IMAGES AND QUANTITIES, EVIDENCE AND NARRATIVE when I teach statistics. Students, but mostly professors, are too caught up with the power of inferential statistics leaving behind or seeing the visual display of data as insignificant or too simple to be introduced in a college course. Even worse, some are just plain ignorant regarding data presentation. To dispel any attitude that inferential statistics are the heart and soul of the study of cause, I use the section about the Challenger space flight to illustrate the importance of graphic illustrations in the field of engineering. The book hits home like no other visual presentation. Students see how decisions are made on the basis of poor quality and high quality graphics. These graphics produce a rare quietness in the classroom. There emerges a respect for the deceased astronauts. Students see how decision-makers employ graphic illustrations to determine a critical (in this case, life-threatening) course of action. The illustrations played an important function in endorsing the liftoff of the doomed Challenger.

After students emotionally recover from the trauma of visually understanding the flaw in the O-rings, the graphics lead students to understand the statistical concept of "independence." This statistical concept is initially difficult for undergraduates to grasp. However, the illustrations in VISUAL EXPLANATIONS provide a powerful springboard.

On the lighter side, I insist that students turn to page 90-91 to review the graphic that establishes the cause and effect of "rock `n roll." It, like all of Tufte's illustrations, is inspiring.

Every professor who teaches statistics should have a copy of this and Tufte's other volume entitled, THE VISUAL DISPLAY OF QUANTITATIVE INFORMATION. In addition, every academic library should house all the volumes.

Tufte is THE authority on information design. He publishes all of his books himself and spares no expense to deliver the content the way it should be presented. Truly practicing what he preaches. The section where Tufte evaluates the presentation that determined weather or not the space shuttle Challenger launched the day it crashed is worth the book alone. Truly brilliant!

I am a business person and I thought this book would be helpful to me in making better presentations--which often involve graphic representation of quantitative data. The book was way too serious though. I'm not saying it's a bad book, but it's clearly geared toward someone who wants to go in-depth on the topic--not someone who just wants some quick tips on better business presentations.

sheer delight for a detail-monger. inspiration for a researchaholic.

For me, not quite as cool as Visuallising Information, but still essential.

In this third book by Tufte on graphics, he provides great examples through history where good pictures conveyed important information to decision makers and bad graphics left uncetainty and indecision. A great success story is the identification of the source of the cholera epidemic in London in the 1850s. With regard to the Challenger Space Shuttle, Tufte suggests that one good picture may have convinced the NASA engineers of the need to avoid launching at low temperatures. Great pictures, great examples and great advice are found throughout the book. You may not believe that graphs can be used to answer all scientific questions but Tufte will convince you that they are important and must be done right!

Oh my - Mr. Tufte just carries on producing one fine piece of work after another.

This third book in the triology on "information presentation" is as splendid as the previous two books. In this volume the emphasis is, as the title suggests, on methods for creating powerful illustrations and graphics that could help you present your knowledge in a non-disputable way.

The most intriguing section in this book without doubt the chapter on the Challenger disaster in 1986. The rocket engineers back then had worries about the launch on Jan 28. However they were not at all able to communicate their worries to NASA and so it ended... In a worrying few number of pages, Mr. Tufte, dissects the data presented to NASA by the engineers and creates a information redesign which makes it clear to anyone that the launch should have been postponed.

I still belive that book 2, "Envisioning Information" is the most required. Buy that book and if you love is (as I do), then buy the other two books as well.

The layout of this book is fully in thread with the others in the series. Beautiful, engaging, ingenious, etc. The print quality is second to none - you really have a feeling that the crew behind these books have been nursing their babies.

So Mr. Tufte - where is number four in the series?

As an extension of his observations described in his earlier book, "Envisioning Information", Tufte's third installment of the trilogy turns the discussion to the display of dynamic information. Again, Tufte draws from numerous examples throughout history to illustrate his points. The chapter on 'Visual and Statistical Thinking' contains some of the most poignant arguments in the book, including an engaging visual narrative of the 1854 Cholera Epidemic and a study on the Challenger space-shuttle tragedy.

This book may not for everyone, however. It does not contain ready-to-use concepts nor does it present a comprehensive solution for displaying dynamic information. What it does contain, are keen observations and commentary on past attempts at dynamic information display. The relation of each chapter to the next is not readily apparent and is quite precarious in fact. What results, is a book that reads better if each chapter is taken independently. In short, this book will be more rewarding to those willing to spend time to ponder over Tufte's observations. Conversely, the book will appear to have a lack of focus to those in a rush to find solutions.

Leave this book lying open in your office and people will think you're smart.

This masterpiece contains explanations of "magic" and illusions, displays of scientific charts, graphs, and maps as well as analysis of photographs and historical drawings. Tuft illustrates the need to present information in alternate formats taking in to account a variety of contexts and perspectives in which it will be consumed. Numerous examples, illustrations and descriptions are included which detail the importance and methods used to encode information in a pictorial medium, enabling an audience to identify critical relevant details of that which is depicted, including relative size, amount, scale, and time, whichever may be appropriate for a given subject. An interesting and well documented commentary is presented about the Space Shuttle tragedy, which illustrates just how important information design can be, and the dramatic effects, which may result down the line if not proper consideration is not given to such a basic issue.

The methods and subjects covered are applicable to a variety of media, and subject matter including, marketing and promotional materials, web design and information presentation, the presentation of scientific data, and general photography. No matter what your occupation or ambition, if it involves conveying information in a graphical format, this book will provide insight and examples that will help you get your point across more effectively, and enhance the end user experience.

It is difficult to find different words for each of the three books in the serious. They all share the same kind of quality and the different aspects are minor points. They are all three outstanding. The only problem they have, how can we mere mortals live up to it or even come only close.

the examples are incredible. this book is one of the most beautiful books I have ever read both for its content and execution. The advice Tufte gives with regard to the presentation of information will only become more important in the future. Whether reading the newspaper or writing a technical report, the proper display of quantitative information is an invaluable skill. this book helps you to think clearly and concisely. one of the best books of all time.

A picture is worth a thousand words! A big challenge in the marketing world is powerfully portraying your products and services in an easily and quickly understandable visual way. This book gives some outstanding examples

This book continues Edward Tufte's tradition of writing and designing some of the best books out on information design and data visualization. A very worthwhile investment!

This book makes me feel that there is a way of overcoming the barrier of expressing what you *WANT* to get across. Absolutely beautiful.

In the spring of 1998, I participated in a semester-long class taught by Edward Tufte.

The subject was information design and his three books, Visual Explanations, Envisioning Information and The Visual Display of Quantitative Information, were the core reading materials of the seminar.

Had I only read the books and not participated in the class, I might have missed some underlying core themes that Tufte conveyed through his passionate presentation of the material.

Beyond just putting the right mark on a piece of paper or on a computer screen, these books are about truth-telling, about removing all impediments to understanding between the communicator and the receiver, and about being selfless in one's representation of the truth.

Similar books just catalog graphical techniques. Tufte's books will leave most readers with an indelible sense of obligation to communicate transparently, selflessly and truthfully.

Tufte uses beautiful, old examples to show timeless good design. When I need a "brainbooster" in my work as a multimedia designer, I gravitate to his book(s) and just flip pages. There is always something there that strikes a spark and gets me moving again. Chapter 4: "The Smallest Effective Difference" especially helps me remember to scale down graphic contrivances and let the content shine through. I wouldn't recommend this book for a solid cover-to-cover read, but as an addition to a designer's bookshelf it is definately high on my list.

Tufte manages to get everything important about Web design onto pages 146 through 149 of this book: let the information become the interface, use text rather than icons, don't let the Web site mimic the bureaucratic structure of the publisher. The most remarkable thing is that he wasn't even writing about the Web!

If you make figures, look at figures, are interested in how figures tell, you MUST own all three of Tufte's books. There is nothing else like them. Informative, interesting and intelligent, I enjoy rereading them.

When you have read Tufte's books you sit back in shock. He is instructing you to look at the world in a different way; and he's right.

Dear Dr. Tufte,

Your books are sensory and intellectual marvels. I was doing my thing at amazon.com (trying to spice up the Updike story) when I came across a review of Visual Explanations. I was so intrigued that I splurged my book money for the month and ordered it and its two predecessors sight unseen. I began at the beginning and just finished reading the last confection.

I own no books that are as well-conceived as yours: the luscious heft and texture of the paper, the elegant placement of the unique, well- chosen illustrations, their accompanying complete and careful references in the margins, the clear intelligence of the text reflected in the precise language, the overall feel that there is not one wasted word or image. These books are the best examples of how-to-really-make-a-book that I have ever seen. Please accept my compliments on a job exceedingly well done.

Tufte's third book concentrates on the communication of notions of change and difference, such as an explaination of processes or sequences of events.

One of the many delighful aspects of this book is the diverse and intriging sources of examples, ranging from 19th century bookplates and 20th century art to information kiosks and scientific visualisation. For me the most memorable section was his contrasting the visual displays presented to NASA advising them to abort the disasterous Challanger launch with Frost's investigation into the colera epidemic in 19th-century London. It might sound vague hand waving, but Tufte presents his ideas with incredible clarity and insight and his conclusions are applicable to a wide range of fields, from computer user interface designs to powerpoint presentations and scientific analysis of data.

You can probably guess I really enjoyed this book; as well as being engaging and informative it is beautifully written and stunningly designed. It's philisophic approach will not immediately appeal to everyone, but I enthusiasticly recommend it as essential reading for anyone who needs to communicate complex ideas visually.

For those of you interested in this subject area, I also recommend "Information Architects", edited by Richard Saul Wurman, which although more graphic design oriented has numerous excellent examples of the design processes behind good visual communication

Not having read Visual Explanations... however, after reading a few reviews which mention the author stating that the Challener disaster occurred due to a "visual communication breakdown", prompts me to guess he hasn't read "The Abilene Paradox and Other Meditations On Management" by Jerry B. Harvey. As a designer, now I'll have to read his book. Alice's Shoe Shop alices@interlog.com

Edward Tufte set high standards for himself with his previous books. Consequently the weaknesses of his newest stand out more than they would have otherwise. As usual, his bad examples have more impact than any amount of instruction or philosophizing, especially the "hyped Venus" animation from the Magellan probe. Other topics get a bit confusing.

Tufte's criticism of Richard Feynman's O-ring "experiment" makes sense only because both Tufte and Feynman imprecisely called it that and not what it really was: a demonstration. Was Feynman supposed to do in two minutes what all prior researchers had not?

Tufte goes from critiquing illustrations of magic tricks to equating a lecture with a magic show. His advice to keep things short and sweet, leave the audience wanting more, and the like are off-topic.

The author may be reaching for a grand theory of visual communication, and more power to him. However, the word "confection" is an unfortunate choice. It stinks too much of the disparaging phrase "eye candy" to be taken seriously. I would have preferred a term that might imply a connection with an electronic communications buzzword like "worldbuilding." Calvino's literary archeology, even live theater or filmmaking might have yielded preferable analogies.

Quibbles aside, this is a bargain at any price. It offers much better advice to interface designers than any overlarded, pseudo-psychedelic coffee table book I've seen so far on Website building

Tufte has added one more to a series of fun, beautiful and challenging books. This book is an example of just how enjoyable information can be. David Gravelle, Technical Writer at http://www.usr.com/intransit

Oh, lovely! For those who know Tufte's earlier books, all I need to say is "he's written another."

It looks like he publishes one every seven years ("The Visual Display of Quantitative Information" in 1983, "Envisioning Information" in 1990) so I think I'm going to budget $0.02 per day and get them all.

Perhaps the most significant chapter is his analysis of how bad graphic presentation contributed to the loss of the space shuttle "Challenger." Basically, he believes that data were available which could and should have led to a decision to cancel the launch, but that the engineers failed to communicate it to the decision-makers. And he shows exactly how and why they failed.

Left brain? right brain? Tufte shows us visual elegance in the service of quantitative thinking.