hes@ecsvax.UUCP (Henry Schaffer) (04/09/85)
The Visual Display of Quantitative Information
by Edward R. Tufte (1983) Graphics Press Box 430 Cheshire CT 06410
197 pages 8 1/2" x 10 1/2"
Table of Contents
Part I Graphical Practice
1 Graphical Excellence
2 Graphical Integrity
3 Sources of Graphical Integrity and Sophistication
Part II Theory of Data Graphics
4 Data-Ink and Graphical Redesign
5 Chartjunk: Vibrations, Grids, and Ducks
6 Data-Ink Maximization and Graphical Design
7 Multifunctioning Graphical Elements
8 Data Density and Small Multiples
9 Aesthetics and Technique in Data Graphical Design
Epilogue: Designs for the Display of Information
To sum up my feelings briefly- this book is a tour de force and
should be required reading for everyone (statistician, scientist,
computer user, ...) who has any intersest in producing or displaying
numerical data as output in visual/graphical form.
The book gives examples of good and bad practice, and gives
guidelines and theory which can guide one away from poor practice and
towards well designed data graphics.
This book is clearly a labor of love on the author's part, and is
much fun to read. That is not to say that it is always easy
reading - sometimes the principles are subtle, and take some reflection.
I'm sure that I'll have to go back to it many times.
--henry schaffer n c state univ