When would a casino stop a gambler from playing his next hand? How could a company use statistical analysis to blackball you from the job you want? Why should you worry when customer services pay attention to your needs? Beginning with examples of the mathematician who out-predicted wine buffs in determining the best vintages, and the sports scouts who now use statistics rather than intuition to pick winners, Super Crunchers exposes the hidden patterns all around us. No businessperson, academic, student, or consumer (statistically that's everyone) should make another move without getting to grips with thinking-by-numbers - the new way to be smart, savvy and statistically superior.
Super Crunchers
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From Publishers Weekly
An introduction to econometrics may not seem like the stuff that would keep listeners riveted—much less awake—during a long car ride, but Ayres's provocative audio does just that. Ever wonder how an airline decides to lower its prices? Or why businesses have preferred shopper cards? The answer is data, gigabytes upon terabytes of data. Companies are increasingly relying on data and number-crunching statisticians to make decisions, like how much money they can extract from consumers while still retaining their loyalty. Ayres's exploration of super crunching and its influence makes up the bulk of the audio, but listeners needn't navigate a sea of numbers. The discussion is illustrated by eye-opening examples such as how Continental Airlines took customer service to a new, personalized level and how Mexico instituted an innovative pay-for-performance parenting program. The final chapter on standard deviations may have some longing for the printed page or a PDF file with a graph or two, but overall, Lurie's mellow reading will make listeners firm believers in Ayres's refrain: in a super crunching world, consumers can't afford to be asleep at the wheel.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.
Review
Groundbreaking ... Not only is it fun to read. It just may change the way you think' -- Stephen D Levitt co-author of Freakonomics 'Entertaining and enlightening' -- Financial Times 'Convincing' -- Economist
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By G. Poirier
TOP 50 REVIEWER
Format:Hardcover
The information presented in this book is truly astounding. But when one thinks about it, computers have become so fast and powerful that the manipulation of gigantic databases should come as no surprise - yet a few years ago, this was the subject of science fiction. But what does this mean for the average person? The author of this book very ably explains this by giving many examples of what can now be done with these huge databases. His main thesis is that the statistical analysis of a large amount of data can be used to make predictions that are more accurate than those of human experts who base their opinions on experience and intuition. But in addition, accurate predictions can be made about the behavior, e.g., shopping habits, of particular individuals, once some basic data specific to these individuals is entered into a computer. In other words, these computers can "know" more about us than we know about ourselves! I find this absolutely fascinating. The book is written in a style that is very clear and friendly yet authoritative. It should be of great interest to absolutely everyone.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
If you are curious about how things works around you and you like math thinking, you gonna love this book. It is easy to understand. Does not bother you with formulas, just give you the results, which are incredible and counter-intuitive.
4.0 out of 5 stars
Well done description of the paradigm shift from historical analysis to real-time, prospective number crunching
Oct 8 2007
Format:Hardcover
Very timely book, with some very good examples how "super chrunching" is already affecting our lives. Even those familiar with the topic may not realize all the new ways statistical number chrunching are being applied. A thoughtul discussion of some of the key issues.
I agree with the author's argument that statistical thinking is of increasing importance for all of us. Although the later portion of the book is probably the weakest, as more practical examples of how to hone your skills would have been helpful. For example, moving backwards and forwards to derive a probability of interest from given data is an important concept - but so is making sure you haven't invalidated key assumptions along the way (e.g. normality?). If so, you risk drawing severly erroneous conclusions, which is the antithesis of proper statistical thinking.
A worthwhile read.
I agree with the author's argument that statistical thinking is of increasing importance for all of us. Although the later portion of the book is probably the weakest, as more practical examples of how to hone your skills would have been helpful. For example, moving backwards and forwards to derive a probability of interest from given data is an important concept - but so is making sure you haven't invalidated key assumptions along the way (e.g. normality?). If so, you risk drawing severly erroneous conclusions, which is the antithesis of proper statistical thinking.
A worthwhile read.
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