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 enlarge | Author: Robert L. Harris
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
Category: Book
List Price: $65.45
Buy New: $58.90
You Save: $6.55 (10%)
New (18) Used (13) from $34.29
Avg. Customer Rating:  11 reviews
Sales Rank: 80524
Media: Paperback
Edition: 1
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 448
Shipping Weight (lbs): 2.7
Dimensions (in): 11.1 x 8.7 x 1.6
ISBN: 0195135326
Dewey Decimal Number: 001.422603
EAN: 9780195135329
ASIN: 0195135326
Publication Date: January 6, 2000
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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| Customer Reviews:
 Encyclopedic Work About Data Presentation July 26, 2004
12 out of 12 found this review helpful
This is not a how-to-book. Harris has written a definitive book about data presentation. Topics are organized alphabetically and cross-referenced. Almost every entry is accompanied by illustrations and sometime many of them. I have other books that describe data presentation but they are incomplete compared with Harris's book. I have not seen such an array of presentation illustrations in one place before. Some of the illustrations show plots that I frequently use with interesting additions; for example, the diagonal in pairwise scatter plots typically names variables, Harris has an illustration with histograms for each variable on the diagonal. What a great idea! Almost everyone knows how to construct pie charts. Harris's discussion of pie charts is six pages long. After a brief introduction, he gives a description and terminology, general characteristics, methods to incorporate descriptive and quantitative information, reference angles, showing changes over time, varying the size of circles proportional to the overall value of the data, highlighting slices of the pie, improving legibility, grouping sections of the chart, using pie charts instead of histograms, encodeing additional quantitative data, adding depth, overlapping pie charts, decographs, belt charts, and cirlce graphs. Who could have imagined that lowly pie charts were so versatile and communicative? Some have dogmatically asserted, "Pie charts are a very bad way of displaying information." Although I generally agree, Harris has given me much to think about and I will not be so averse to using them in the future.
 Dramatically improved by graphic communication skills April 24, 2001
77 out of 84 found this review helpful
I have an array of powerful graphics tools ranging from Microsoft Excel's rich charting add-in, to Visio Professional and Harvard Instant Charts. Despite my technical skills that allow me to quickly produce just about any kind of chart or graphic imaginable, I was never such how to select the best graphic or chart to convey information in the most efficient way before I got this book. This book is a catalog of ideas and a guide for selecting the best possible way to display information in graphical format. Now, instead of floundering around playing with two or three ways to graphically depict information I turn to this book and pick the most appropriate graphic type. My ability to communicate has dramatically improved because now that I have confidence that I am using the optimal method to display information I find myself using graphics not only more effectively, but more wisely. Prior to this book my graphics tools were implements that more often than not produced inappropriate charts, giving credence to the adage that "A fool with a tool is still a fool". Since this book I now use my software tools like a skilled craftsman who has the perfect blueprint. With 450 pages of illustrations that show how to depict information visually in the best possible way this book is my perfect blueprint.
Consultant's best friend December 29, 2000
48 out of 51 found this review helpful
As a consultant in the computer industry I often wonder if I am a technical specialist or a technical writer because of the high volume of writing I do. While I have honed my writing skills through both experience and training in Information Mapping, I used to be at a loss about how to best portray technical data in my documents. Information Graphics: A Comprehensive Illustrated Reference changed that. With this handy reference, which is never far from my keyboard, I have a 450-page catalog of ideas and guidance. What is remarkable is that in the 450 pages are 4,000 illustrations (nearly 10 per page). This book has allowed me to measurably improve the quality of my proposals and deliverables by picking the best possible way to convey information. Don't let the fact that I am in the computer consulting industry deter you from buying this book - if you are in business, graphic arts, advertising and marketing or just about any other profession that uses data this book will be worth its weight in gold.
 Unimaginative textbook August 17, 2000
42 out of 75 found this review helpful
Be forewarned that this is a boring (but thorough) textbook on presenting data graphically. The intended audience must be students, beginning researchers, and untrained graphic artists. It tells readers how to graphically present data in the driest possible way and is illustrated with thousands of extremely boring and unimaginative line drawings. Do not look to this book for inspiration or for advanced design concepts. I returned my copy immediately.
Information Graphics is a great reference tool July 29, 2000
12 out of 13 found this review helpful
This is a very useful compendium for information graphics designers, business professionals and casual chart readers. Graphic terminology is categorized alphabetically and interpreted using easy language and clear illustrations. Examples are sometimes repeated when there is more than one variation in a term. Browsing through the pages brings to mind a wish list of every chart you ever wanted to make!
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