Visual Explanations: Images and Quantities, Evidence and Narrative

This third book in the triology on "information presentation" is as splendid as the previous two books. In this volume the emphasis is, as the title suggests, on methods for creating powerful illustrations and graphics that could help you present your knowledge in a non-disputable way.

The most intriguing section in this book without doubt the chapter on the Challenger disaster in 1986. The rocket engineers back then had worries about the launch on Jan 28. However they were not at all able to communicate their worries to NASA and so it ended... In a worrying few number of pages, Mr. Tufte, dissects the data presented to NASA by the engineers and creates a information redesign which makes it clear to anyone that the launch should have been postponed.

I still belive that book 2, "Envisioning Information" is the most required. Buy that book and if you love is (as I do), then buy the other two books as well.

The layout of this book is fully in thread with the others in the series. Beautiful, engaging, ingenious, etc. The print quality is second to none - you really have a feeling that the crew behind these books have been nursing their babies.

So Mr. Tufte - where is number four in the series?


Rewarding to those willing to spend time on it   June 25, 2000
Edward Kim (New York, NY United States)
98 out of 100 found this review helpful

As an extension of his observations described in his earlier book, "Envisioning Information", Tufte's third installment of the trilogy turns the discussion to the display of dynamic information. Again, Tufte draws from numerous examples throughout history to illustrate his points. The chapter on 'Visual and Statistical Thinking' contains some of the most poignant arguments in the book, including an engaging visual narrative of the 1854 Cholera Epidemic and a study on the Challenger space-shuttle tragedy.

This book may not for everyone, however. It does not contain ready-to-use concepts nor does it present a comprehensive solution for displaying dynamic information. What it does contain, are keen observations and commentary on past attempts at dynamic information display. The relation of each chapter to the next is not readily apparent and is quite precarious in fact. What results, is a book that reads better if each chapter is taken independently. In short, this book will be more rewarding to those willing to spend time to ponder over Tufte's observations. Conversely, the book will appear to have a lack of focus to those in a rush to find solutions.


Intellectual   June 1, 2000
Phillip Senn (North Carolina)
7 out of 35 found this review helpful

Leave this book lying open in your office and people will think you're smart.


Superbly presented. Experience the magic of Tuft!   April 28, 2000
Adam F. Jewell (Pittsburgh, PA USA)
6 out of 6 found this review helpful

This masterpiece contains explanations of "magic" and illusions, displays of scientific charts, graphs, and maps as well as analysis of photographs and historical drawings. Tuft illustrates the need to present information in alternate formats taking in to account a variety of contexts and perspectives in which it will be consumed. Numerous examples, illustrations and descriptions are included which detail the importance and methods used to encode information in a pictorial medium, enabling an audience to identify critical relevant details of that which is depicted, including relative size, amount, scale, and time, whichever may be appropriate for a given subject. An interesting and well documented commentary is presented about the Space Shuttle tragedy, which illustrates just how important information design can be, and the dramatic effects, which may result down the line if not proper consideration is not given to such a basic issue.

The methods and subjects covered are applicable to a variety of media, and subject matter including, marketing and promotional materials, web design and information presentation, the presentation of scientific data, and general photography. No matter what your occupation or ambition, if it involves conveying information in a graphical format, this book will provide insight and examples that will help you get your point across more effectively, and enhance the end user experience.


Absolutely superb, lucid, educative feel good book   September 7, 1999
5 out of 14 found this review helpful

It is difficult to find different words for each of the three books in the serious. They all share the same kind of quality and the different aspects are minor points. They are all three outstanding. The only problem they have, how can we mere mortals live up to it or even come only close.