Turning Numbers into Knowledge: Mastering the Art of Problem Solving |  | Author: Jonathan G. Koomey PhD
Creator: John P. Holdren
Publisher: Analytics Press
List Price: $24.95
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Seller: a1books
Rating:  27 reviews
Sales Rank: 42204
Media: Paperback
Edition: 2nd
Pages: 247
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.3
Dimensions (in): 9.8 x 6.9 x 0.6
ISBN: 0970601921
Dewey Decimal Number: 310
EAN: 9780970601926
ASIN: 0970601921
Publication Date: April 28, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
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.
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Showing reviews 1-5 of 27
 Letters to a young scientist: for numerical modelling! July 25, 2009
Surj Patel (Portland, OR)
this has got to be one of the most awesome books I have read. It goes way beyond what its title suggests and also offers insight into how a young scientist or a young professional should prepare and conduct themselves in their approaches to work. It is very much a guide that will mentor and educate the reader to approach numerical modelling in a way that actually communicates outcomes rather than be an exercise in and to itself. Highly, highly, highly recommended to both young and old.
 Basic book March 20, 2009
Trevor Burnham (Ann Arbor, MI)
7 out of 7 found this review helpful
The subtitle of this book is slightly misleading. This isn't so much about problem solving as about information literacy, learning to do your research and think about the credibility of your sources. The book is presented in an enjoyable format, with very short chapters (2-4 pages) on each subject consisting of an anecdote or two, a few quotes, and perhaps a comic. It also cites a wide variety of references for readers who want to learn about the topics in greater depth.
But aside from a few enjoyable stories, this book didn't teach me anything that I hadn't already picked up by the end of college. There is a great deal of commonsensical advice, like "Next time you find yourself resisting a new idea, take a deep breath and try to see the other point of view," plus outright fluff, like "After deciding what to do, you must follow through with action" and "Science and technology are a critical part of modern life." This might be an excellent primer for high schoolers, but based on the blurbs I was expecting something more advanced.
 Research better December 28, 2008
Jos Pols
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Nutshell review - The book's title leads one to believe that it is about numerical analysis techniques but it is not. The book is actually filled with tips, advice, suggestions, and so forth on getting properly organized and prepared for undertaking a research project, collecting and researching existing material, creating the analysis, charts and tables in a meaningful way and presenting and publishing ones work.
It is essentially a type of guidebook to both consuming and producing data, information and knowledge efficiently and effectively. As expected, it also contains extensive references to related books and materials for further study into the many various aspects of this process.
 Surprisingly disappointing November 29, 2008
A. Wong
10 out of 18 found this review helpful
I saw a number of positive reviews of this book and thought the book should be good. I was very disappointed after borrowing it from the library. The book rarely offered anything new or challenging. Many of the topics that the author highlighted are just common sense. Thus, a reader will walk away from the book and would not feel as if he/she had learned anything. To be fair, I did not finish the book, I finished 3/4 of it. But completing 3/4 of the book is quite a difficult task; it was quite difficult to stay awake and concentrated on the material. I felt obligated to write this review because I thought that the ratings of this book are very inaccurate and I should help potential readers from wasting their time/money. One star is the lowest rating that can be given here, but given a choice a 0 star rating would be more appropriate.
An invaluable book for anyone who enjoys thinking! October 14, 2008
Pam Seidenman (Berkeley, CA)
In Turning Numbers into Knowledge, author Jonathan Koomey takes the reader on a fascinating tour of the processes we humans use to solve problems, demystifying the often hidden aspects of these processes, and offering a wide range of best practices for critical thinking and problem solving.
The book is so accessible both because Koomey writes so clearly and for his frequent use of interesting case studies and examples. It would be a wonderful addition to high school or college courses on policy, statistics, the scientific process, or the media, and includes exercises at the end of each mini-chapter. However, it is also a valuable read and reference for anyone who reads the newspaper (I date myself), accesses news from any source, or performs analysis of any type.
The first part of the book explores the growing role of quantitative information in our lives. Next, Koomey provides practical suggestions for finding publicly available sources of data and tools for analysis, and strategies for keeping one's work organized. Part three provides a look at how to assess the validity and accuracy of a given analysis. It includes one of my favorite sections, "How guesses become facts," as well as guidance on utilizing someone else's survey data. In part four, Koomey walks the reader through several strategies useful in creating one's own analysis, including how to develop a scenario or a model, even if one does not have all of the information that seems necessary. Finally, there is an excellent section on how to present one's work clearly for the intended audience. This section covers topics such as how to create compelling graphs, how to use numbers effectively in oral presentations, and the importance of documenting sources. The book concludes with a short section on the value of analysis as a powerful lever in creating change.
In summary, Koomey does a great job of exposing the role that the assumptions behind the numbers play and provides a practical, useful guide on how to be a better thinker, analyst, and problem solver. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys thinking!
Showing reviews 1-5 of 27
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