#9 in Probability & statistics books
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Reddit mentions of Innumeracy: Mathematical Illiteracy and Its Consequences (Vintage)

Sentiment score: 7
Reddit mentions: 14

We found 14 Reddit mentions of Innumeracy: Mathematical Illiteracy and Its Consequences (Vintage). Here are the top ones.

Innumeracy: Mathematical Illiteracy and Its Consequences (Vintage)
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Height8.5 Inches
Length5.25 Inches
Number of items1
Release dateJanuary 1990
Weight0.45 Pounds
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Found 14 comments on Innumeracy: Mathematical Illiteracy and Its Consequences (Vintage):

u/dustlesswalnut · 4 pointsr/todayilearned

Innumeracy

Excellent read.

u/magnanimous_xkcd · 3 pointsr/books

Innumeracy is pretty entertaining (and useful), even if you're not a math person. It's only about 150 pages, so it's a quick read.

u/ShadyOperation · 3 pointsr/AskReddit

I think this book, Innumeracy, does a good job at explaining the odds of these kind of things happening to people.

u/Galphanore · 3 pointsr/atheism

It is detailed. It just doesn't seem logical to me. His entire position is that since the odds against things being the way they are are so high, there must be a god that arranged them. It's a fundamental misunderstanding of probability. The chance of things being the way they are is actually 100%, because they are that way. We don't know how likely they were before they happened because we only have one planet and one solar system to examine. For all we know there could be life in most solar systems.

Even if that wasn't the case, even if we did have enough information to actually conclude that our existence here and now has a .00000000000000000000000000000001% chance of happening he then makes the even more absurd jump to saying "there being a God is the only thing that makes sense". God, especially the Christian God, is even less likely than the already unlikely chance of us existing at all. If it's extremely unlikely that we could evolve into what we are naturally, how is it less unlikely that an all-powerful, all-knowing, all-good being could exist for no discernible reason?

You should get him a copy of this book. It's great and will help him with these misconceptions. If you haven't read it, I highly suggest you do as well.

u/freireib · 3 pointsr/math

Disclaimer: I'm an engineer, not a mathematician, so take my advice with a grain of salt.

Early in my grad degree I wanted to master probability and improve my understanding of statistics. The books I used, and loved, are

DeGroot, Probability and Statistics

Rozanov, Probability Theory: A Concise Course

The first is organized very well, with ever increasing difficulty and a good number of solved problems. I also appreciate that as things start to get complicated, he also always bridges everything back to earlier concepts. The books also basically does everything Bayesian and Frequentist side by side, so you get a really good idea of the comparison and arbitraryness.

The second is a good cheap short book basically full of examples. It has just enough math flavor to be mathier, without proofing me to death.

Also, if you're really just jumping into the subject, I would recommend some pop culture math books too, e.g.,

Paulos, Innumeracy

Mlodinow, The Drunkards Walk

Have fun!

u/Froost · 2 pointsr/programming

By the way, there's a book called Innumeracy which tackles the problem of the consequences of not knowing math, how come it became OK, or even fashionable to not know math in the society, places where you can apply the knowledge etc. You should give it a read, it's enjoyable and a short read. You can notice that most of the arguments you are making are similar to those that were against literacy ("I'm plantin' seeds all day and then weedin for some, what are books gonna do me for?")

u/ltnately · 2 pointsr/math

Innumeracy by Paulos

A great read that deal in part with the general acceptability math incompetence has compared to other subjects. Also a fun book as a "math person" just in the way he speaks and confides in the reader.

http://www.amazon.com/Innumeracy-Mathematical-Illiteracy-Consequences-Vintage/dp/0679726012

u/jrandom · 2 pointsr/atheist

Argh. Numerology. It's like every logical fallacy for numbers rolled into one.

I highly recommend you pick up a copy of Innumeracy.

u/gajeam · 2 pointsr/education

John Allen Paulos' Innumeracy goes into a similar subject. He says that logic puzzles, analytical and inductive skills, and more importantly probability and statistical analysis should be taught alongside regular mathematics.

It's a short read and the man is a genius.

u/rottedtree · 1 pointr/science

Some great stuff here.

However, these are MUST READS.

First, for a good introduction to numbers, read:
Innumeracy
http://www.amazon.com/Innumeracy-Mathematical-Illiteracy-Consequences-Vintage/dp/0679726012

It explains how numbers work very, very well, in a non-technical fashion.

Second, read,
The Structure of Scientific Revolutions by Thomas Kuhn
This excellent, excellent easy to read book is simply THE BEST EXPLANATION OF HOW SCIENCE WORKS.

Next, The Way Things Work by David Macaulay. It is not a 'science' book, per se, more of an engineering book, but it is brilliantly written and beautifully illustrated.

Then, dive into Asimov. "Please Explain" is fantastic. Though dated, so is his Guide to Science.


The great thing about these books is that they are all very short and aimed at people who are not technically educated. From there I am sure you will be able to start conquering more material.

Honestly, Innumeracy and The Structure of Scientific Revolutions, alone, will fundamentally change the way you look at absolutely everything around you. Genuinely eye opening.

u/santino314 · 1 pointr/math

Well is not exactly statistics, rather a bunch of anecdote on common mistakes and misconception about mathematics, but there is this book:

"Innumeracy: Mathematical Illiteracy and Its Consequences" by John Allen
(http://www.amazon.com/Innumeracy-Mathematical-Illiteracy-Consequences-Vintage/dp/0679726012)

and it's topic is vaguely related to OP's concern.

I haven't read it all but so far it was quite fun. Again is more anecdotal than scientific and the author might be a little condescending, but is worth reading.

u/cruise02 · 1 pointr/math

Innumeracy: Mathematical Illiteracy and Its Consequences by John Allen Paulos, and its sequel Beyond Numeracy are two of my favorites.

u/ChaosCon · 1 pointr/AskReddit

Only tangentially relevant, but a really good read!

Innumeracy