Library:The Tiger That Isn't
| The Tiger That Isn't: Seeing Through a World of Numbers | |
|---|---|
| Author | Michael Blastland & Andrew Dilnot |
| First published | 2007 |
| ISBN | — |
| Role | Analysis |
| Domains | News Media & Journalism Science & Space |
| Tactics | Statistical & Evidentiary Distortion |
The Tiger That Isn't: Seeing Through a World of Numbers is a 2007 book by Michael Blastland & Andrew Dilnot.
Summary
Michael Blastland, who created the BBC radio program More or Less, and economist Andrew Dilnot, its first presenter, explain how to think about the numbers in the news. The title refers to the way people see patterns, like the stripes of a tiger in tall grass, where there is only chance.
The book was published in the United States as The Numbers Game.
Key points
- Size matters. Large-sounding numbers mean little until compared with the size of the population or budget involved.
- Chance clusters. Random events cluster naturally, so a cluster of cases is not always evidence of a cause.
- Averages and risk. Relative risk ("doubles your chance") can make tiny absolute risks sound alarming.
Relevance to Bullshitopedia
The book's tools help readers spot health scares and policy claims built on misunderstood risk and randomness, two of the most common forms of numerical bullshit.