Information Graphics

A Comprehensive Illustrated Reference

Robert Harris

Publisher: Oxford University, 1999, 448 pages

ISBN: 0-19-513532-6

Keywords: Presentations

Last modified: July 13, 2021, 12:26 a.m.

This excellent reference makes available all essential and commonly needed material about information graphics. The major focus is on using charts, graphs, maps, diagrams, and tables as visual tools for analyzing, managing, and communicating. This book is a valuable resource for those wishing to:

  • Increase efficiency and effectiveness
  • Improve the planning process
  • Simplify the monitoring of data
  • Expedite solutions and corrective actions
  • Hasten understanding or agreement
  • Organize multifaceted information
  • Increase graphic capabilities in their software programs

Information Graphics: A Comprehensive Illustrated Reference covers the full spectrum of charts, graphs, maps, diagrams, and tables ranging from the most basic to the very specialized.. Approximately 4,000 illustrations, prepared specifically for the book, complement the text. The contents are broad enough to be of value to experts as well as beginners in the area of graphics.

The material is written in crisp, easily understandable language and no special knowledge or training is required to use the book. It is arranged alphabetically for easy reference. When the industry uses multiple terms to refer to a particular information graphic, all of the generally accepted terms are included. Extensive cross-referencing is used throughout. Summary tables are included to familiarize the reader with the overall subject as well as the specifics. In addition to detailed descriptions of each type of information graphic, the book also includes:

  • Construction details such as scales, grids, symbols, text, lines, axes, legends, etc
  • Features that might mislead viewers such as scale breaks and perspectives
  • Specific applications such as break-even graphs, population pyramids, candlestick charts, and quality control charts
  • General terminology such as variable, class interval, cell, stub, coordinate, etc.

With information graphics growing in importance as a key element of the current information age, this reference is an important addition to the library of any individual or organization in which rapid, effective analysis and communication are important.


Reviews

Information Graphics

Reviewed by Roland Buresund

Mediocre **** (4 out of 10)

Last modified: May 21, 2007, 3:06 a.m.

This is a book that it is rumoured that every new hire of McKinsey gets the first day.

This probably tell you more of the level of graduates that McKinsey hires than the usefulness of the book. The book is a boring (alphabetical) listing of everything you never wanted to know about information graphics. It is dull, boring, correct and unless you're a professional in this area, totally uninteresting.

Be warned, you'll never get any recommendations from the book on when and how to use the different kinds of graphics! You'll only be able to tell what the differences are between the types of grahics mentioned in the book.

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