Good but only skims the surface
I used this book to supplement my college textbook. I found it useful because it explained concepts to me in a different way. The book is an easier read than a college textbook, however it hardly goes into any depth. Also, I learn best through examples. Textbooks go through a problem step by step, where as this book does not provide examples. It is more conceptual. However, the book is very easy to read and it very useful as a supplemental resource.
Ideal first book on statistics
You want to know the difference between ANOVA and T-Test? How about Correlation and Regression? Have you used but wondered exactly what Standard Deviation was?
With perhaps the exception of Calculus, very few mathematical concepts are as useful as statistics. Yet, statistics is one of the most poorly explained concepts in all of mathematics. This book is the user-friendly version of basic to intermediate statistics. I highly recommend it to those who want to start learn statistics (or want a refresher).
The last time I used statistics was in college science courses (Chemistry and Physics) and I had all but forgotten the value and concept of statistics. Extremely well written and catering to the mathematically challenged, this book simplifies statistics for everyone. Even if you have used statistics for years, this book may provide insights into statistics you never had. For example, the book does an extremely good job of describing null vs research (alternative) hypothesis and one vs two tailed tests.
You will need Excel (preferably 2007) to solve the problems in this book since all the solutions assume you are using one. Excel makes calculation of statistics very easy, so easy this book leaves out many of the little steps in calculating statistics. Although it provides all the formulas and step-by-step calculations, most of the complex calculations are not detailed since Excel takes cares of them. The real genius of this book is simplifying the description, utility, significance, and application of each statistical concept.
I highly recommend purchasing a separate statistical workbook (Business Statistics by Schaum is good one) since the book does not provide a lot of problems and solutions. This book, however, is an ideal first book on statistics.
Statistics made simple!
This was a great book for my online statistics class. It really took the "statistics" out of statistics!! Made the class quite intersting.
Don't Take a Stats Class Without This Book!
This was the text book for my first college statistics class and I'm so glad it was! I'm taking a more advanced statistics class now, and I'm reading this book again instead of using the new textbook (as much as possible) because it actually explains statistics in a way that I can understand and is interesting. Highly recommended!
Great text for what may be a dull subject
This text is a very easy read and is actually quite entertaining. Salkind uses humor and casual conversation to explain a topic that may otherwise be dull and difficult to unerstand. Each chapter is rated with a difficulty scale.
(22 reviews)
