Synopsis

The Data Detective: Ten Easy Rules to Make Sense of Statistics is a practical and engaging guide that helps readers understand how to interpret data and statistics in everyday life. Through ten clear rules, Harford explains how numbers can be misleading, how to question sources, and how to spot common errors in reasoning. Using real-world examples from media, politics, and research, the book encourages critical thinking and shows readers how to approach statistics with curiosity rather than confusion. It highlights that understanding data is not about being a mathematician, but about asking the right questions.

About the Author

Tim Harford is a British economist, journalist, and broadcaster known for making complex economic and statistical ideas accessible to general readers. He writes the “Undercover Economist” column for the Financial Times and has authored several bestselling books on economics and data. Harford is recognised for his clear explanations, practical insights, and engaging storytelling style that help readers think more carefully about numbers and evidence.