Proofiness how you're being fooled by the numbers / Charles Seife.
In Zero, Charles Seife presented readers with a thrilling account of the strangest number known to humankind. Now he shows readers how the power of skewed metrics-or "proofiness"- is being used to alter perception in both amusing and dangerous ways. Proofiness is behind such bizarre stories as a mathematical formula for the perfect butt and sprinters who can run faster than the speed of sound. But proofiness also has a dark side: bogus mathematical formulas used to undermine our democracy-subverting our justice system, fixing elections, and swaying public opinion with lies. By doing the real math, Seife elegantly and good-humoredly scrutinizes our growing obsession with metrics while exposing those who misuse them.
Record details
- ISBN: 9780143120070
- Physical Description: 295 pages, 8 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations, maps ; 22 cm
- Producer: New York Penguin, 2011 2010.
Content descriptions
- Formatted Contents Note:
- Proofiness -- Phony facts, phony figures -- Rorschach's demon -- Risky business -- Poll cats -- Electile dysfunction -- An unfair vote -- Alternate realities -- Propaganda by the numbers -- Appendix A. Statistical error -- Appendix B. Electronic voting -- Appendix C. The prosecutor's fallacy.
Search for related items by subject
- Subject:
- Mathematics > Miscellanea.
- Genre:
- Trivia and miscellanea.
Available copies
- 1 of 1 copy available at NC Cardinal. (Show)
- 1 of 1 copy available at Stanly County Public Library.
Holds
- 0 current holds with 1 total copy.
Show Only Available Copies
| Location | Call Number / Copy Notes | Barcode | Shelving Location | Status | Due Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oakboro Branch Library | 510 Sei (Text) | 31013000156956 | Adult Nonfiction | Available | - |
Accessibility Features
Summary:
In Zero, Charles Seife presented readers with a thrilling account of the strangest number known to humankind. Now he shows readers how the power of skewed metrics-or "proofiness"- is being used to alter perception in both amusing and dangerous ways. Proofiness is behind such bizarre stories as a mathematical formula for the perfect butt and sprinters who can run faster than the speed of sound. But proofiness also has a dark side: bogus mathematical formulas used to undermine our democracy-subverting our justice system, fixing elections, and swaying public opinion with lies. By doing the real math, Seife elegantly and good-humoredly scrutinizes our growing obsession with metrics while exposing those who misuse them.
