The Visual Display of Quantitative Information
Edward R. Tufte
Graphics Press 2001
197 pages, 2nd edition, graphics, references, index
A book review by Danny Yee
http://dannyreviews.com/h/Visual_Display.html
_The Visual Display of Quantitative Information_ is a recognised
classic on statistical graphics; to the 1983 original, this edition
adds some additional graphics, extra colour, and corrections. It is a
broad-ranging work, covering history, theory and practice and, despite
the formal title and scholarly references, not at all narrowly academic.
It assumes only a very basic understanding of statistics.
Tufte begins with the different kinds of informational graphics (maps,
time-series, narratives, and relational graphics), describing their
origins and evolution and presenting examples of excellence in their
design. Many of these are fascinating in their own right -- two that I
particularly appreciated were Minard's depiction of Napoleon's disastrous
retreat from Moscow and an 11th century map of China.
"For many people the first word that comes to mind when they think
about statistical charts is 'lie.'" Tufte gives examples of different
kinds of deceit in graphics, along with some principles for maintaining
graphical integrity. He goes on to consider the reasons for the poor
quality of many informational graphics: one is the relegation of their
design to those with art training but without an understanding of either
the substance of the material or of quantitative (statistical) methods.
Part two begins by introducing some terminology and theory for describing
graphics. The principle "Above all else show the data" is formalised as
maximization of the data-ink ratio, and illustrated with some "before and
after" examples of erasure of redundant or non-data-ink. Tufte excoriates
various kinds of "chartjunk": moire vibration (the disconcerting effect
caused by repeating patterns), the overuse of grids, and the "ducks"
created when the design takes precedence over everything else.
Tufte gives specific suggestions for the design of box plots, bar charts,
and scattergraphs. He argues for the use of multifunctioning graphical
elements -- building data measures or grids out of the data itself,
for example, by using labels that also show the end points of the data
ranges. And he looks at ways of maximizing data density (within reason)
and using "small multiples", or repeated smaller graphics. A final
chapter steps back to consider the balance between text, text-tables,
tables, semi-graphics, and graphics -- "Given their low data-density
and failure to order numbers along a visual dimension, pie charts should
never be used" -- and to touch on the aesthetics of proportion and scale.
All of this is liberally illustrated with examples, drawn from across
the natural and social sciences. Despite the space devoted to these,
_The Visual Display of Quantitative Information_ packs a lot in, avoiding
repetition or verbosity. Tufte's own tables and graphs are appropriately
effective and the volume as a whole is elegantly put together: though
it's more than that, it could be appreciated simply as a work of art.
Tufte also finds room to survey publication practices across a select
sample of international newspapers and journals, comparing the data
density of graphics and the proportion of relational graphics (involving
at least two variables that aren't temporal or spatial).
Most obviously, _The Visual Display of Quantitative Information_ should
be read by those involved in writing, editing, or designing documents or
displays that contain statistical graphics -- from professional editors,
technical writers, academics, and journalists right down to high school
students. But others may appreciate it too: it has changed the way I
look at informational graphics.
--
%T The Visual Display of Quantitative Information
%A Tufte, Edward R.
%I Graphics Press
%C Cheshire
%D 2001
%O hardcover, 2nd edition, index
%G ISBN 0-9613921-4-2
%P 197pp
%W http://www.edwardtufte.com/tufte/books_vdqi
%K publishing, mathematics, art
%Z the classic work on statistical graphics
3 November 2003
------------------------------------------------------
Copyright (c) 2003 Danny Yee
http://danny.oz.au/
Danny Yee's Book Reviews
http://dannyreviews.com/
------------------------------------------------------
FAQ
Profile
Private Messages
Log in
