Turning Numbers into Knowledge

Overview

"As information becomes ever cheaper, Dr. Koomey's book becomes ever more valuable. Masterful!" —Erik Brynjolfsson, professor, Sloan School of Management, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Full of tools, tricks, and tips for solving problems in the real world, this book serves as an ideal training manual for those who are new to or intimidated by quantitative analysis and acts as an excellent refresher for those who have more experience but want to improve the quality of their data, the clarity of their graphics, and the cogency of their arguments. In addition to containing numerous updates to the contents—references, URLs, and reading lists—this second edition includes a new foreword, revised chapters, and an epilogue. Mastering the art of problem solving takes more than proficiency with basic calculations; it requires understanding how people use information, recognizing the importance of ideology, learning the art of storytelling, and acknowledging the important distinction between facts and values. Intended for executives, professors, and students, this guide addresses these and other essential skills.

Reviews

"There is nothing else like this book out there. Nobody who deals with problems where numbers matter — and everybody in today’s world really needs to — should be without it." —John P. Holdren, past president, American Association for the Advancement of Science, from the Foreword

"A lively, well-written, attractively packaged book on the art of critical thinking." —Skeptical Inquirer

"Dr. Koomey's book deserves to be widely read and shared, especially by those who take seriously the fragile yet critical role of an informed citizenry in increasingly complex democratic societies." —Professor Michael Maniates, Allegheny College

Author Biography

Jonathan G. Koomey, PhD, is a project scientist at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and a consulting professor at Stanford University. He is the coauthor of seven books, including Winning the Oil Endgame, and has been featured in Barron's, Financial Times, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The Washington Post. He has also appeared on Nova, Frontline, NPR, BBC radio, CNBC, the California Report, and Tech Nation. He lives in Oakland, California. John P. Holdren is the director of the Woods Hole Research Center, the Teresa and John Heinz Professor of Environmental Policy at the Kennedy School of Government, a professor of environmental science and policy at Harvard University, and a professor emeritus of energy and resources at the University of California–Berkeley. He is also the former president of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. He lives in Woods Hole, Massachusetts.