If you are a statistics-phobe...this is the book for you!, 26 Aug 2008
If you are needing to learn both SPSS and statistics at the same time and intimidated at all by the math, this is a great book to help take you through the quagmire of both the SPSS software, the principles of statistics and make sense of it all too! Andy Field has done an excellent job at taking much of the mystery out of how and why to use the various tests. The book is comprehensive but the analysis of my research and study is focussed primarily on correlation, t-tests and regression. There are chapters in the book I will probably never read as I cannot foresee ever needing to read them. But, the book is very useful for referencing particular areas and providing a tutorial as you are working.

I love the way Andy has created and inserted his characters throughout the book - as I can identify myself as a cross between Cramming Samantha and Brian Haemorrhage.

Because I found Andy's book and CD so useful, I have not done any comparisons with other books. So, far, it has provided everything I have needed.

If you thought statatistics is complicated, this is the book for you, 21 Jul 2008
I am a post doctoral civil engineering student. I have been struggling with advanced statistics for months...when the problem was I did not have a good grasp of basic concepts. This book solved it all in a matter of days.
After reading this book.. you will be able to understand all the other more "complicated book" that you need to use.
If what you are paying for is for someone to expain stat and SPSS to you, this is your book.
Galit

Excellent, 23 Jun 2008
This book was my saviour during my dissertation. A must for any psychology student about to tackle SPSS!

Makes statistics a bit more manageable, 21 Apr 2008
I did a research project in Psychology with only very basic knowledge of statistics. I always hated statistics and tried to avoid them as much as possible. I was recommended this book, and was so glad I bought it. The style is quite refreshing and engaging, filling you with confidence as you learn.

At times it is a bit over-detailed, and you have to sift through to get to what to what you need, however, this is a strength of the book. I've seen some other books which explain what you do, but not why. Leaarning how principles can be applied to various situations is far more beneficial, as it's rare that your data will be similar to the examples in a book. If you're willing to spend just a little bit of time with it, you will find that you have a good basic knowledge of statistics, able to tackle increasingly complex problems

A lifesaver, 11 Mar 2008
To my undying shame, despite more than a decade in market research and now holding the exalted title of Research Director, I'm still a bit hazy about statistics. This excellent book, of which I've bought two copies and recommended to many others, provides a clear and engaging description of both simple and complex statistical concepts. And it comes with a free CD! Unfortunately, it's of SPSS files rather than Andy Field's favourite music. This book has stopped me getting found out, and it might do the same for you.

If you are a statistics-phobe...this is the book for you!, 26 Aug 2008
If you are needing to learn both SPSS and statistics at the same time and intimidated at all by the math, this is a great book to help take you through the quagmire of both the SPSS software, the principles of statistics and make sense of it all too! Andy Field has done an excellent job at taking much of the mystery out of how and why to use the various tests. The book is comprehensive but the analysis of my research and study is focussed primarily on correlation, t-tests and regression. There are chapters in the book I will probably never read as I cannot foresee ever needing to read them. But, the book is very useful for referencing particular areas and providing a tutorial as you are working.

I love the way Andy has created and inserted his characters throughout the book - as I can identify myself as a cross between Cramming Samantha and Brian Haemorrhage.

Because I found Andy's book and CD so useful, I have not done any comparisons with other books. So, far, it has provided everything I have needed.

If you thought statatistics is complicated, this is the book for you, 21 Jul 2008
I am a post doctoral civil engineering student. I have been struggling with advanced statistics for months...when the problem was I did not have a good grasp of basic concepts. This book solved it all in a matter of days.
After reading this book.. you will be able to understand all the other more "complicated book" that you need to use.
If what you are paying for is for someone to expain stat and SPSS to you, this is your book.
Galit

Excellent, 23 Jun 2008
This book was my saviour during my dissertation. A must for any psychology student about to tackle SPSS!

Makes statistics a bit more manageable, 21 Apr 2008
I did a research project in Psychology with only very basic knowledge of statistics. I always hated statistics and tried to avoid them as much as possible. I was recommended this book, and was so glad I bought it. The style is quite refreshing and engaging, filling you with confidence as you learn.

At times it is a bit over-detailed, and you have to sift through to get to what to what you need, however, this is a strength of the book. I've seen some other books which explain what you do, but not why. Leaarning how principles can be applied to various situations is far more beneficial, as it's rare that your data will be similar to the examples in a book. If you're willing to spend just a little bit of time with it, you will find that you have a good basic knowledge of statistics, able to tackle increasingly complex problems

A lifesaver, 11 Mar 2008
To my undying shame, despite more than a decade in market research and now holding the exalted title of Research Director, I'm still a bit hazy about statistics. This excellent book, of which I've bought two copies and recommended to many others, provides a clear and engaging description of both simple and complex statistical concepts. And it comes with a free CD! Unfortunately, it's of SPSS files rather than Andy Field's favourite music. This book has stopped me getting found out, and it might do the same for you.

The only maths book you will ever need, 21 Feb 2008
I have been out of education for 10 years before I started my degree so I was very apprehensive about the maths. This book works wonders especially the DVD you get with it to help problem solve. This is such a well structured book with lots of worked examples.

A must have for Engineering students

Simply outstanding..., 30 Sep 2007
This book is superb. It's the best book on mathematics I own and I have quite a few. It's exceptional because it graduates gently from one topic to another and each topic is explained clearly from start to finish through easy to follow steps. I can't recommend it highly enough.

Unrivalled; clear, concise and well written., 10 Aug 2007
This book is superb, I can only fault its size but the depth of coverage warrants such mammoth dimensions. The material covered within is done so in a structured fashion, ensuring the reader can actually grasp the material as appose to just learning the methodology. I have not had to use this book as a standalone revision tool but in conjunction with my maths notes, it is unbeatable. The exercise problems can get a bit tedious and some of the leaps in difficulty are inexplicable but a little extra searching and practice will iron out any reservations. If you are studying any engineering degree I would seriously recommend splashing the cash, you may not use it extensively at first but having it as a resource has been invaluable for me.

Got lost!, 16 Jul 2007
This is undoubtedly a good book but it put me to sleep at times as I could not see how all these calculations would be useful to me when I graduated. I assumed an Engineering Math book would have examples from Engineering cases but they were few and far between. I did find some other books that did this in the library.

This is a good book for learning by heart how to do these things but I think I remember about 20% of it now that the exam is over! I wanted to understand it not learn it by heart. :(

Stroud is massive! It has practically an entire intro to math book at the start which at best is good for a glance because, as an Engineer, my Math is OK. It is a huge big clunking book which broke my back carrying it but was useful none the less.



Brilliant! It got me through BSc and is helping me remember it as well!, 14 May 2007
I first bought Ken Stroud's book back in 1987, and found it extremely useful to help me get through my BSc (Hons) degree in microelectronics and computing.

Now I have bought the 6th edition to help me revise my maths knowledge, and it is helping me already with some post-graduate study.

The programme method really helps in self-study.

The updating has helped keep it current, and it is very readable!!

For undergraduate engineering maths study, this is the book that is a must have!

If you are a statistics-phobe...this is the book for you!, 26 Aug 2008
If you are needing to learn both SPSS and statistics at the same time and intimidated at all by the math, this is a great book to help take you through the quagmire of both the SPSS software, the principles of statistics and make sense of it all too! Andy Field has done an excellent job at taking much of the mystery out of how and why to use the various tests. The book is comprehensive but the analysis of my research and study is focussed primarily on correlation, t-tests and regression. There are chapters in the book I will probably never read as I cannot foresee ever needing to read them. But, the book is very useful for referencing particular areas and providing a tutorial as you are working.

I love the way Andy has created and inserted his characters throughout the book - as I can identify myself as a cross between Cramming Samantha and Brian Haemorrhage.

Because I found Andy's book and CD so useful, I have not done any comparisons with other books. So, far, it has provided everything I have needed.

If you thought statatistics is complicated, this is the book for you, 21 Jul 2008
I am a post doctoral civil engineering student. I have been struggling with advanced statistics for months...when the problem was I did not have a good grasp of basic concepts. This book solved it all in a matter of days.
After reading this book.. you will be able to understand all the other more "complicated book" that you need to use.
If what you are paying for is for someone to expain stat and SPSS to you, this is your book.
Galit

Excellent, 23 Jun 2008
This book was my saviour during my dissertation. A must for any psychology student about to tackle SPSS!

Makes statistics a bit more manageable, 21 Apr 2008
I did a research project in Psychology with only very basic knowledge of statistics. I always hated statistics and tried to avoid them as much as possible. I was recommended this book, and was so glad I bought it. The style is quite refreshing and engaging, filling you with confidence as you learn.

At times it is a bit over-detailed, and you have to sift through to get to what to what you need, however, this is a strength of the book. I've seen some other books which explain what you do, but not why. Leaarning how principles can be applied to various situations is far more beneficial, as it's rare that your data will be similar to the examples in a book. If you're willing to spend just a little bit of time with it, you will find that you have a good basic knowledge of statistics, able to tackle increasingly complex problems

A lifesaver, 11 Mar 2008
To my undying shame, despite more than a decade in market research and now holding the exalted title of Research Director, I'm still a bit hazy about statistics. This excellent book, of which I've bought two copies and recommended to many others, provides a clear and engaging description of both simple and complex statistical concepts. And it comes with a free CD! Unfortunately, it's of SPSS files rather than Andy Field's favourite music. This book has stopped me getting found out, and it might do the same for you.

The only maths book you will ever need, 21 Feb 2008
I have been out of education for 10 years before I started my degree so I was very apprehensive about the maths. This book works wonders especially the DVD you get with it to help problem solve. This is such a well structured book with lots of worked examples.

A must have for Engineering students

Simply outstanding..., 30 Sep 2007
This book is superb. It's the best book on mathematics I own and I have quite a few. It's exceptional because it graduates gently from one topic to another and each topic is explained clearly from start to finish through easy to follow steps. I can't recommend it highly enough.

Unrivalled; clear, concise and well written., 10 Aug 2007
This book is superb, I can only fault its size but the depth of coverage warrants such mammoth dimensions. The material covered within is done so in a structured fashion, ensuring the reader can actually grasp the material as appose to just learning the methodology. I have not had to use this book as a standalone revision tool but in conjunction with my maths notes, it is unbeatable. The exercise problems can get a bit tedious and some of the leaps in difficulty are inexplicable but a little extra searching and practice will iron out any reservations. If you are studying any engineering degree I would seriously recommend splashing the cash, you may not use it extensively at first but having it as a resource has been invaluable for me.

Got lost!, 16 Jul 2007
This is undoubtedly a good book but it put me to sleep at times as I could not see how all these calculations would be useful to me when I graduated. I assumed an Engineering Math book would have examples from Engineering cases but they were few and far between. I did find some other books that did this in the library.

This is a good book for learning by heart how to do these things but I think I remember about 20% of it now that the exam is over! I wanted to understand it not learn it by heart. :(

Stroud is massive! It has practically an entire intro to math book at the start which at best is good for a glance because, as an Engineer, my Math is OK. It is a huge big clunking book which broke my back carrying it but was useful none the less.



Brilliant! It got me through BSc and is helping me remember it as well!, 14 May 2007
I first bought Ken Stroud's book back in 1987, and found it extremely useful to help me get through my BSc (Hons) degree in microelectronics and computing.

Now I have bought the 6th edition to help me revise my maths knowledge, and it is helping me already with some post-graduate study.

The programme method really helps in self-study.

The updating has helped keep it current, and it is very readable!!

For undergraduate engineering maths study, this is the book that is a must have!

jean genie, 05 Oct 2008
Dawkins is excellent while he sticks to biology
however he may have lost the plot in the last chapter
as he has in thinking promoting science involves attacking
religion
If an evangalist is someone who does not leave people to work
it out for themselves but pushes his point of view Dawkins is one
Nutty Baptists and Dawkins looked similar on channel 4 for example
ie they both spin world events too far to promote a point of view

Imaginative guessing, 13 Sep 2008
I have attempted to read Dawkins's books on a few occasions but seldom get beyond the first 100 pages. I simply find his style of writing boring and his theories pure imaginative guesswork; I cannot take this author's ideas onboard yet biology fascinates me and especially that of epigenetics which seems to disprove all that this author advocates. I suspect that there is a snobbery value to those who support him. Irrespective of his academic standing I cannot avoid regarding the author as an imposter as I constantly want to wage war with his views. Admittedly, he comes across publicly as a very plausible academic but, that does not sway me.

Blind theorizing, 27 Jun 2008
Dawkins writes that "the argument of this book is that we, and all other animals, are machines created by our genes" (p.xxi) and that "We are survival machines - robot vehicles blindly programmed to preserve the selfish molecules known as genes" (p.xxi). Yet, according to him, this book "is not science fiction; it is science" (p.xxi)!

Dawkins contrives to overlook the twin discoveries that:
1. the observable traits of organisms are mostly conditioned by the interactions of many genes;
2. most genes have multiple effects on many of these traits.

Dawkins transfers characteristics with which he is familiar from human behaviour on the macro-level to the inanimate components, "genes", of which we are physically constructed. He then proceeds to argue that these impersonal entities, which he imagines to possess characteristically human traits, infallibly generate the same unpleasant traits in human behaviour on the macro-level. So he writes: "The gene is the basic unit of selfishness" (p.36).

The absurdity is evident in that genes or other nonconscious entities cannot be either selfish or unselfish. They cannot "compete" against anything or "choose" anything.

If Dawkins were right, what would be the point of declaring, as he does: "Let us try to *teach* generosity and altruism, because we are born selfish" (p.3)? For if we really were machines, as he believes, even these very concepts would be meaningless to us. And certainly his oratory could have no effect whatever on our actual behaviour.

In fact genes do not force us to behave in any particular way. Neither can they possess the ability to direct or to comprehend all that is required to adopt a course of either heartless selfishness or heartfelt, sacrificial compassion.

The arguments in this review have been challenged by the claim that Dawkins himself answers these charges. His claim is, in effect, that that "the evolution of behavioural reactions or patterns via natural selection" and "control by nonconscious mechanisms" are two vastly different ideas. Also it is said that Dawkins does not deny a freedom of choice as the very last lines in this book itself "celebrate the human ability to make choices that transcend genetic control and instinctive reactions." So it is said that Dawkins "repeatedly draws clear distinctions" to prevent his readers from jumping to the conclusions expressed above.

However, there is a vast difference between asserting that such distinctions exist and actually laying a solid theoretical foundation for such distinctions. To lay the kinds of foundations which Dawkins does and then to go on to insist that these foundations do not lead to their logical conclusion is nothing less than an act of faith on Dawkins' part. It certainly does not bestow any validity upon Dawkins alleged distinctions. The bottom line is that Dawkins' presuppositions simply do not lead logically to the sort of distinction which he asserts.

Essentially this debate is an argument not about data, but about underlying assumptions. Here is a example of what I mean:

ASSUMPTION: 1. "evolution is true";
DATUM: 2. "human beings have consciousness";
ASSUMPTION: 3. "therefore evolution is capable of generating consciousness".

Once again, it is a case of "garbage in, garbage out" (as Dawkins himself would say).



Scientifically sound but philosophically flawed, 29 May 2008
Darwin's theory of evolution is no doubt a successful scientific hypothesis, and Prof. Dawkins brings across this very clearly. However, I do have some doubts regarding his philosophical assertions.

Essentially Prof. Dawkins believes that:

1) Selfishness and competition is at the root of all biological phenomena - nature as "red in tooth and claw"
2) There is no basic "dis-continuity" between humanity and other animals - humans are not qualitatively different from other animals
3) There is however no ethical dilemma between this basic fact and the human desire for goodness - since descriptive and normative realities are intrinsically separate (what is and what should be are independent of each other)

Yet the basis for point 3) - the inherent seperation of "what is" and "what ought to be" is just a philosophical assertion. Prof. Dawkins is very correct in stating that the belief in God and all other religious assertions should be treated and critically analysed as scientific hypotheses. However, strictly speaking this should go beyond the subject of religion to include every other field of human intellectual activity, including of course philosophy itself. If we treat the assertion "'what is' is fundamentally separate from 'what ought to be'" as a strict scientific hypothesis in the same sense that "God exists" is treated as such a hypothesis, then it has to be said that it is no more than just a blank assertion without any kind of empirical justification.

In other words, Prof. Dawkins is mistaken in assuming that his particular view of evolution and Darwinism does not leave us with an ethical dilemma, because it evidently does. The only argument Prof. Dawkins has offered against this is the mere assertion that "what ought to be" must be seperate from "what is", yet this assertion, just like religious assertions regarding God, cannot be scientifically or empirically proven.

Still great after all these years, 24 Apr 2008
Despite being over 30 years old, this book is still a powerful and exciting account of how life, including humans, came to be. The examples and explanations (aphid & ant coexistence, fluke worms in snails) are breathtaking in their descriptions of the natural world, and could easily awaken an interest in zoology in the casual reader.

If you are a statistics-phobe...this is the book for you!, 26 Aug 2008
If you are needing to learn both SPSS and statistics at the same time and intimidated at all by the math, this is a great book to help take you through the quagmire of both the SPSS software, the principles of statistics and make sense of it all too! Andy Field has done an excellent job at taking much of the mystery out of how and why to use the various tests. The book is comprehensive but the analysis of my research and study is focussed primarily on correlation, t-tests and regression. There are chapters in the book I will probably never read as I cannot foresee ever needing to read them. But, the book is very useful for referencing particular areas and providing a tutorial as you are working.

I love the way Andy has created and inserted his characters throughout the book - as I can identify myself as a cross between Cramming Samantha and Brian Haemorrhage.

Because I found Andy's book and CD so useful, I have not done any comparisons with other books. So, far, it has provided everything I have needed.

If you thought statatistics is complicated, this is the book for you, 21 Jul 2008
I am a post doctoral civil engineering student. I have been struggling with advanced statistics for months...when the problem was I did not have a good grasp of basic concepts. This book solved it all in a matter of days.
After reading this book.. you will be able to understand all the other more "complicated book" that you need to use.
If what you are paying for is for someone to expain stat and SPSS to you, this is your book.
Galit

Excellent, 23 Jun 2008
This book was my saviour during my dissertation. A must for any psychology student about to tackle SPSS!

Makes statistics a bit more manageable, 21 Apr 2008
I did a research project in Psychology with only very basic knowledge of statistics. I always hated statistics and tried to avoid them as much as possible. I was recommended this book, and was so glad I bought it. The style is quite refreshing and engaging, filling you with confidence as you learn.

At times it is a bit over-detailed, and you have to sift through to get to what to what you need, however, this is a strength of the book. I've seen some other books which explain what you do, but not why. Leaarning how principles can be applied to various situations is far more beneficial, as it's rare that your data will be similar to the examples in a book. If you're willing to spend just a little bit of time with it, you will find that you have a good basic knowledge of statistics, able to tackle increasingly complex problems

A lifesaver, 11 Mar 2008
To my undying shame, despite more than a decade in market research and now holding the exalted title of Research Director, I'm still a bit hazy about statistics. This excellent book, of which I've bought two copies and recommended to many others, provides a clear and engaging description of both simple and complex statistical concepts. And it comes with a free CD! Unfortunately, it's of SPSS files rather than Andy Field's favourite music. This book has stopped me getting found out, and it might do the same for you.

The only maths book you will ever need, 21 Feb 2008
I have been out of education for 10 years before I started my degree so I was very apprehensive about the maths. This book works wonders especially the DVD you get with it to help problem solve. This is such a well structured book with lots of worked examples.

A must have for Engineering students

Simply outstanding..., 30 Sep 2007
This book is superb. It's the best book on mathematics I own and I have quite a few. It's exceptional because it graduates gently from one topic to another and each topic is explained clearly from start to finish through easy to follow steps. I can't recommend it highly enough.

Unrivalled; clear, concise and well written., 10 Aug 2007
This book is superb, I can only fault its size but the depth of coverage warrants such mammoth dimensions. The material covered within is done so in a structured fashion, ensuring the reader can actually grasp the material as appose to just learning the methodology. I have not had to use this book as a standalone revision tool but in conjunction with my maths notes, it is unbeatable. The exercise problems can get a bit tedious and some of the leaps in difficulty are inexplicable but a little extra searching and practice will iron out any reservations. If you are studying any engineering degree I would seriously recommend splashing the cash, you may not use it extensively at first but having it as a resource has been invaluable for me.

Got lost!, 16 Jul 2007
This is undoubtedly a good book but it put me to sleep at times as I could not see how all these calculations would be useful to me when I graduated. I assumed an Engineering Math book would have examples from Engineering cases but they were few and far between. I did find some other books that did this in the library.

This is a good book for learning by heart how to do these things but I think I remember about 20% of it now that the exam is over! I wanted to understand it not learn it by heart. :(

Stroud is massive! It has practically an entire intro to math book at the start which at best is good for a glance because, as an Engineer, my Math is OK. It is a huge big clunking book which broke my back carrying it but was useful none the less.



Brilliant! It got me through BSc and is helping me remember it as well!, 14 May 2007
I first bought Ken Stroud's book back in 1987, and found it extremely useful to help me get through my BSc (Hons) degree in microelectronics and computing.

Now I have bought the 6th edition to help me revise my maths knowledge, and it is helping me already with some post-graduate study.

The programme method really helps in self-study.

The updating has helped keep it current, and it is very readable!!

For undergraduate engineering maths study, this is the book that is a must have!

jean genie, 05 Oct 2008
Dawkins is excellent while he sticks to biology
however he may have lost the plot in the last chapter
as he has in thinking promoting science involves attacking
religion
If an evangalist is someone who does not leave people to work
it out for themselves but pushes his point of view Dawkins is one
Nutty Baptists and Dawkins looked similar on channel 4 for example
ie they both spin world events too far to promote a point of view

Imaginative guessing, 13 Sep 2008
I have attempted to read Dawkins's books on a few occasions but seldom get beyond the first 100 pages. I simply find his style of writing boring and his theories pure imaginative guesswork; I cannot take this author's ideas onboard yet biology fascinates me and especially that of epigenetics which seems to disprove all that this author advocates. I suspect that there is a snobbery value to those who support him. Irrespective of his academic standing I cannot avoid regarding the author as an imposter as I constantly want to wage war with his views. Admittedly, he comes across publicly as a very plausible academic but, that does not sway me.

Blind theorizing, 27 Jun 2008
Dawkins writes that "the argument of this book is that we, and all other animals, are machines created by our genes" (p.xxi) and that "We are survival machines - robot vehicles blindly programmed to preserve the selfish molecules known as genes" (p.xxi). Yet, according to him, this book "is not science fiction; it is science" (p.xxi)!

Dawkins contrives to overlook the twin discoveries that:
1. the observable traits of organisms are mostly conditioned by the interactions of many genes;
2. most genes have multiple effects on many of these traits.

Dawkins transfers characteristics with which he is familiar from human behaviour on the macro-level to the inanimate components, "genes", of which we are physically constructed. He then proceeds to argue that these impersonal entities, which he imagines to possess characteristically human traits, infallibly generate the same unpleasant traits in human behaviour on the macro-level. So he writes: "The gene is the basic unit of selfishness" (p.36).

The absurdity is evident in that genes or other nonconscious entities cannot be either selfish or unselfish. They cannot "compete" against anything or "choose" anything.

If Dawkins were right, what would be the point of declaring, as he does: "Let us try to *teach* generosity and altruism, because we are born selfish" (p.3)? For if we really were machines, as he believes, even these very concepts would be meaningless to us. And certainly his oratory could have no effect whatever on our actual behaviour.

In fact genes do not force us to behave in any particular way. Neither can they possess the ability to direct or to comprehend all that is required to adopt a course of either heartless selfishness or heartfelt, sacrificial compassion.

The arguments in this review have been challenged by the claim that Dawkins himself answers these charges. His claim is, in effect, that that "the evolution of behavioural reactions or patterns via natural selection" and "control by nonconscious mechanisms" are two vastly different ideas. Also it is said that Dawkins does not deny a freedom of choice as the very last lines in this book itself "celebrate the human ability to make choices that transcend genetic control and instinctive reactions." So it is said that Dawkins "repeatedly draws clear distinctions" to prevent his readers from jumping to the conclusions expressed above.

However, there is a vast difference between asserting that such distinctions exist and actually laying a solid theoretical foundation for such distinctions. To lay the kinds of foundations which Dawkins does and then to go on to insist that these foundations do not lead to their logical conclusion is nothing less than an act of faith on Dawkins' part. It certainly does not bestow any validity upon Dawkins alleged distinctions. The bottom line is that Dawkins' presuppositions simply do not lead logically to the sort of distinction which he asserts.

Essentially this debate is an argument not about data, but about underlying assumptions. Here is a example of what I mean:

ASSUMPTION: 1. "evolution is true";
DATUM: 2. "human beings have consciousness";
ASSUMPTION: 3. "therefore evolution is capable of generating consciousness".

Once again, it is a case of "garbage in, garbage out" (as Dawkins himself would say).



Scientifically sound but philosophically flawed, 29 May 2008
Darwin's theory of evolution is no doubt a successful scientific hypothesis, and Prof. Dawkins brings across this very clearly. However, I do have some doubts regarding his philosophical assertions.

Essentially Prof. Dawkins believes that:

1) Selfishness and competition is at the root of all biological phenomena - nature as "red in tooth and claw"
2) There is no basic "dis-continuity" between humanity and other animals - humans are not qualitatively different from other animals
3) There is however no ethical dilemma between this basic fact and the human desire for goodness - since descriptive and normative realities are intrinsically separate (what is and what should be are independent of each other)

Yet the basis for point 3) - the inherent seperation of "what is" and "what ought to be" is just a philosophical assertion. Prof. Dawkins is very correct in stating that the belief in God and all other religious assertions should be treated and critically analysed as scientific hypotheses. However, strictly speaking this should go beyond the subject of religion to include every other field of human intellectual activity, including of course philosophy itself. If we treat the assertion "'what is' is fundamentally separate from 'what ought to be'" as a strict scientific hypothesis in the same sense that "God exists" is treated as such a hypothesis, then it has to be said that it is no more than just a blank assertion without any kind of empirical justification.

In other words, Prof. Dawkins is mistaken in assuming that his particular view of evolution and Darwinism does not leave us with an ethical dilemma, because it evidently does. The only argument Prof. Dawkins has offered against this is the mere assertion that "what ought to be" must be seperate from "what is", yet this assertion, just like religious assertions regarding God, cannot be scientifically or empirically proven.

Still great after all these years, 24 Apr 2008
Despite being over 30 years old, this book is still a powerful and exciting account of how life, including humans, came to be. The examples and explanations (aphid & ant coexistence, fluke worms in snails) are breathtaking in their descriptions of the natural world, and could easily awaken an interest in zoology in the casual reader.

A rather complete book, 24 Sep 2001
For a student it is worth it buying as it starts with some basic stuff that can refresh the Maths knowledge needed to understand what will come afterwards. It covers all the Maths topics that they will have during their degree, except for Statistics. It can always be a reference to have in a bookshelf in case something comes up in the near future. For a Maths teatcher it is usefull as it has examples to apply the theory we want them to learn.

Good intoduction if your maths is a bit rusty, 07 Mar 2001
I found this book pretty helpful as it explains basic concepts from scratch, gradually building them up. It's easy to follow and a good foundation for businessy maths. it doesn't go into things like limitations of the modelling techniques though, but it helps you get to the level of maths needed for economics and business. It's not patronising, which is a problem I've encountered with other similar level texts. I'm pretty good at maths, but had forgotten some techniques and this provided a good reminder relevant to my degree, although it seems to be more like A level standard.

applying the maths to real world business scenarios is great, 17 Dec 2000
having just finished the first 3 chapters (linear equations) I can recommend this book to any person who seeks to improve their mathematics, regardless of prior knowledge. Having finished school nine years ago and never having been interested in maths until now, Ian Jacques offers an engaging 'business scenario' in introducing the subjects and step by step unfolding of the formula's make self study much easier and very rewarding

If you are a statistics-phobe...this is the book for you!, 26 Aug 2008
If you are needing to learn both SPSS and statistics at the same time and intimidated at all by the math, this is a great book to help take you through the quagmire of both the SPSS software, the principles of statistics and make sense of it all too! Andy Field has done an excellent job at taking much of the mystery out of how and why to use the various tests. The book is comprehensive but the analysis of my research and study is focussed primarily on correlation, t-tests and regression. There are chapters in the book I will probably never read as I cannot foresee ever needing to read them. But, the book is very useful for referencing particular areas and providing a tutorial as you are working.

I love the way Andy has created and inserted his characters throughout the book - as I can identify myself as a cross between Cramming Samantha and Brian Haemorrhage.

Because I found Andy's book and CD so useful, I have not done any comparisons with other books. So, far, it has provided everything I have needed.

If you thought statatistics is complicated, this is the book for you, 21 Jul 2008
I am a post doctoral civil engineering student. I have been struggling with advanced statistics for months...when the problem was I did not have a good grasp of basic concepts. This book solved it all in a matter of days.
After reading this book.. you will be able to understand all the other more "complicated book" that you need to use.
If what you are paying for is for someone to expain stat and SPSS to you, this is your book.
Galit

Excellent, 23 Jun 2008
This book was my saviour during my dissertation. A must for any psychology student about to tackle SPSS!

Makes statistics a bit more manageable, 21 Apr 2008
I did a research project in Psychology with only very basic knowledge of statistics. I always hated statistics and tried to avoid them as much as possible. I was recommended this book, and was so glad I bought it. The style is quite refreshing and engaging, filling you with confidence as you learn.

At times it is a bit over-detailed, and you have to sift through to get to what to what you need, however, this is a strength of the book. I've seen some other books which explain what you do, but not why. Leaarning how principles can be applied to various situations is far more beneficial, as it's rare that your data will be similar to the examples in a book. If you're willing to spend just a little bit of time with it, you will find that you have a good basic knowledge of statistics, able to tackle increasingly complex problems

A lifesaver, 11 Mar 2008
To my undying shame, despite more than a decade in market research and now holding the exalted title of Research Director, I'm still a bit hazy about statistics. This excellent book, of which I've bought two copies and recommended to many others, provides a clear and engaging description of both simple and complex statistical concepts. And it comes with a free CD! Unfortunately, it's of SPSS files rather than Andy Field's favourite music. This book has stopped me getting found out, and it might do the same for you.

The only maths book you will ever need, 21 Feb 2008
I have been out of education for 10 years before I started my degree so I was very apprehensive about the maths. This book works wonders especially the DVD you get with it to help problem solve. This is such a well structured book with lots of worked examples.

A must have for Engineering students

Simply outstanding..., 30 Sep 2007
This book is superb. It's the best book on mathematics I own and I have quite a few. It's exceptional because it graduates gently from one topic to another and each topic is explained clearly from start to finish through easy to follow steps. I can't recommend it highly enough.

Unrivalled; clear, concise and well written., 10 Aug 2007
This book is superb, I can only fault its size but the depth of coverage warrants such mammoth dimensions. The material covered within is done so in a structured fashion, ensuring the reader can actually grasp the material as appose to just learning the methodology. I have not had to use this book as a standalone revision tool but in conjunction with my maths notes, it is unbeatable. The exercise problems can get a bit tedious and some of the leaps in difficulty are inexplicable but a little extra searching and practice will iron out any reservations. If you are studying any engineering degree I would seriously recommend splashing the cash, you may not use it extensively at first but having it as a resource has been invaluable for me.

Got lost!, 16 Jul 2007
This is undoubtedly a good book but it put me to sleep at times as I could not see how all these calculations would be useful to me when I graduated. I assumed an Engineering Math book would have examples from Engineering cases but they were few and far between. I did find some other books that did this in the library.

This is a good book for learning by heart how to do these things but I think I remember about 20% of it now that the exam is over! I wanted to understand it not learn it by heart. :(

Stroud is massive! It has practically an entire intro to math book at the start which at best is good for a glance because, as an Engineer, my Math is OK. It is a huge big clunking book which broke my back carrying it but was useful none the less.



Brilliant! It got me through BSc and is helping me remember it as well!, 14 May 2007
I first bought Ken Stroud's book back in 1987, and found it extremely useful to help me get through my BSc (Hons) degree in microelectronics and computing.

Now I have bought the 6th edition to help me revise my maths knowledge, and it is helping me already with some post-graduate study.

The programme method really helps in self-study.

The updating has helped keep it current, and it is very readable!!

For undergraduate engineering maths study, this is the book that is a must have!

jean genie, 05 Oct 2008
Dawkins is excellent while he sticks to biology
however he may have lost the plot in the last chapter
as he has in thinking promoting science involves attacking
religion
If an evangalist is someone who does not leave people to work
it out for themselves but pushes his point of view Dawkins is one
Nutty Baptists and Dawkins looked similar on channel 4 for example
ie they both spin world events too far to promote a point of view

Imaginative guessing, 13 Sep 2008
I have attempted to read Dawkins's books on a few occasions but seldom get beyond the first 100 pages. I simply find his style of writing boring and his theories pure imaginative guesswork; I cannot take this author's ideas onboard yet biology fascinates me and especially that of epigenetics which seems to disprove all that this author advocates. I suspect that there is a snobbery value to those who support him. Irrespective of his academic standing I cannot avoid regarding the author as an imposter as I constantly want to wage war with his views. Admittedly, he comes across publicly as a very plausible academic but, that does not sway me.

Blind theorizing, 27 Jun 2008
Dawkins writes that "the argument of this book is that we, and all other animals, are machines created by our genes" (p.xxi) and that "We are survival machines - robot vehicles blindly programmed to preserve the selfish molecules known as genes" (p.xxi). Yet, according to him, this book "is not science fiction; it is science" (p.xxi)!

Dawkins contrives to overlook the twin discoveries that:
1. the observable traits of organisms are mostly conditioned by the interactions of many genes;
2. most genes have multiple effects on many of these traits.

Dawkins transfers characteristics with which he is familiar from human behaviour on the macro-level to the inanimate components, "genes", of which we are physically constructed. He then proceeds to argue that these impersonal entities, which he imagines to possess characteristically human traits, infallibly generate the same unpleasant traits in human behaviour on the macro-level. So he writes: "The gene is the basic unit of selfishness" (p.36).

The absurdity is evident in that genes or other nonconscious entities cannot be either selfish or unselfish. They cannot "compete" against anything or "choose" anything.

If Dawkins were right, what would be the point of declaring, as he does: "Let us try to *teach* generosity and altruism, because we are born selfish" (p.3)? For if we really were machines, as he believes, even these very concepts would be meaningless to us. And certainly his oratory could have no effect whatever on our actual behaviour.

In fact genes do not force us to behave in any particular way. Neither can they possess the ability to direct or to comprehend all that is required to adopt a course of either heartless selfishness or heartfelt, sacrificial compassion.

The arguments in this review have been challenged by the claim that Dawkins himself answers these charges. His claim is, in effect, that that "the evolution of behavioural reactions or patterns via natural selection" and "control by nonconscious mechanisms" are two vastly different ideas. Also it is said that Dawkins does not deny a freedom of choice as the very last lines in this book itself "celebrate the human ability to make choices that transcend genetic control and instinctive reactions." So it is said that Dawkins "repeatedly draws clear distinctions" to prevent his readers from jumping to the conclusions expressed above.

However, there is a vast difference between asserting that such distinctions exist and actually laying a solid theoretical foundation for such distinctions. To lay the kinds of foundations which Dawkins does and then to go on to insist that these foundations do not lead to their logical conclusion is nothing less than an act of faith on Dawkins' part. It certainly does not bestow any validity upon Dawkins alleged distinctions. The bottom line is that Dawkins' presuppositions simply do not lead logically to the sort of distinction which he asserts.

Essentially this debate is an argument not about data, but about underlying assumptions. Here is a example of what I mean:

ASSUMPTION: 1. "evolution is true";
DATUM: 2. "human beings have consciousness";
ASSUMPTION: 3. "therefore evolution is capable of generating consciousness".

Once again, it is a case of "garbage in, garbage out" (as Dawkins himself would say).



Scientifically sound but philosophically flawed, 29 May 2008
Darwin's theory of evolution is no doubt a successful scientific hypothesis, and Prof. Dawkins brings across this very clearly. However, I do have some doubts regarding his philosophical assertions.

Essentially Prof. Dawkins believes that:

1) Selfishness and competition is at the root of all biological phenomena - nature as "red in tooth and claw"
2) There is no basic "dis-continuity" between humanity and other animals - humans are not qualitatively different from other animals
3) There is however no ethical dilemma between this basic fact and the human desire for goodness - since descriptive and normative realities are intrinsically separate (what is and what should be are independent of each other)

Yet the basis for point 3) - the inherent seperation of "what is" and "what ought to be" is just a philosophical assertion. Prof. Dawkins is very correct in stating that the belief in God and all other religious assertions should be treated and critically analysed as scientific hypotheses. However, strictly speaking this should go beyond the subject of religion to include every other field of human intellectual activity, including of course philosophy itself. If we treat the assertion "'what is' is fundamentally separate from 'what ought to be'" as a strict scientific hypothesis in the same sense that "God exists" is treated as such a hypothesis, then it has to be said that it is no more than just a blank assertion without any kind of empirical justification.

In other words, Prof. Dawkins is mistaken in assuming that his particular view of evolution and Darwinism does not leave us with an ethical dilemma, because it evidently does. The only argument Prof. Dawkins has offered against this is the mere assertion that "what ought to be" must be seperate from "what is", yet this assertion, just like religious assertions regarding God, cannot be scientifically or empirically proven.

Still great after all these years, 24 Apr 2008
Despite being over 30 years old, this book is still a powerful and exciting account of how life, including humans, came to be. The examples and explanations (aphid & ant coexistence, fluke worms in snails) are breathtaking in their descriptions of the natural world, and could easily awaken an interest in zoology in the casual reader.

A rather complete book, 24 Sep 2001
For a student it is worth it buying as it starts with some basic stuff that can refresh the Maths knowledge needed to understand what will come afterwards. It covers all the Maths topics that they will have during their degree, except for Statistics. It can always be a reference to have in a bookshelf in case something comes up in the near future. For a Maths teatcher it is usefull as it has examples to apply the theory we want them to learn.

Good intoduction if your maths is a bit rusty, 07 Mar 2001
I found this book pretty helpful as it explains basic concepts from scratch, gradually building them up. It's easy to follow and a good foundation for businessy maths. it doesn't go into things like limitations of the modelling techniques though, but it helps you get to the level of maths needed for economics and business. It's not patronising, which is a problem I've encountered with other similar level texts. I'm pretty good at maths, but had forgotten some techniques and this provided a good reminder relevant to my degree, although it seems to be more like A level standard.

applying the maths to real world business scenarios is great, 17 Dec 2000
having just finished the first 3 chapters (linear equations) I can recommend this book to any person who seeks to improve their mathematics, regardless of prior knowledge. Having finished school nine years ago and never having been interested in maths until now, Ian Jacques offers an engaging 'business scenario' in introducing the subjects and step by step unfolding of the formula's make self study much easier and very rewarding

Very Very Basic, 11 Aug 2008
While the topic of this book is interesting and the authors do well in presenting each type of analysis / data fallacy with interesting examples anyone who can remember any maths from school should find this very basic and really not worth their time.

Making the boring bit of the news interesting., 06 Aug 2008
Freakanomics got a big push by its publishers and was quite the book to be seen to be reading about a year ago. Here with "The tiger that isn't" is a similar book aimed at a similar market but with nowhere near the same exposure.

Essentially this is a very well written book that talks the layman (like me) through the fog of averages, chance and statistical anomalies. Yes, that does sound a bit dull but there are excellent down-to-earth examples and information that will stick in your mind. Did you know for example that you almost invariable have MORE than the AVERAGE number of feet?

It didn't get the full 5 stars as it is quite a slender tome (like Freakanomics) but it is always well written with thought provoking examples and a definite sense of humour.

If you want an intelligent and fun read on a topic that you are unlikely to know much about, or you want to know more about what numbers actually mean when they are grandly announced on the news then this is the book for you.

If you are a statistics-phobe...this is the book for you!, 26 Aug 2008
If you are needing to learn both SPSS and statistics at the same time and intimidated at all by the math, this is a great book to help take you through the quagmire of both the SPSS software, the principles of statistics and make sense of it all too! Andy Field has done an excellent job at taking much of the mystery out of how and why to use the various tests. The book is comprehensive but the analysis of my research and study is focussed primarily on correlation, t-tests and regression. There are chapters in the book I will probably never read as I cannot foresee ever needing to read them. But, the book is very useful for referencing particular areas and providing a tutorial as you are working.

I love the way Andy has created and inserted his characters throughout the book - as I can identify myself as a cross between Cramming Samantha and Brian Haemorrhage.

Because I found Andy's book and CD so useful, I have not done any comparisons with other books. So, far, it has provided everything I have needed.

If you thought statatistics is complicated, this is the book for you, 21 Jul 2008
I am a post doctoral civil engineering student. I have been struggling with advanced statistics for months...when the problem was I did not have a good grasp of basic concepts. This book solved it all in a matter of days.
After reading this book.. you will be able to understand all the other more "complicated book" that you need to use.
If what you are paying for is for someone to expain stat and SPSS to you, this is your book.
Galit

Excellent, 23 Jun 2008
This book was my saviour during my dissertation. A must for any psychology student about to tackle SPSS!

Makes statistics a bit more manageable, 21 Apr 2008
I did a research project in Psychology with only very basic knowledge of statistics. I always hated statistics and tried to avoid them as much as possible. I was recommended this book, and was so glad I bought it. The style is quite refreshing and engaging, filling you with confidence as you learn.

At times it is a bit over-detailed, and you have to sift through to get to what to what you need, however, this is a strength of the book. I've seen some other books which explain what you do, but not why. Leaarning how principles can be applied to various situations is far more beneficial, as it's rare that your data will be similar to the examples in a book. If you're willing to spend just a little bit of time with it, you will find that you have a good basic knowledge of statistics, able to tackle increasingly complex problems

A lifesaver, 11 Mar 2008
To my undying shame, despite more than a decade in market research and now holding the exalted title of Research Director, I'm still a bit hazy about statistics. This excellent book, of which I've bought two copies and recommended to many others, provides a clear and engaging description of both simple and complex statistical concepts. And it comes with a free CD! Unfortunately, it's of SPSS files rather than Andy Field's favourite music. This book has stopped me getting found out, and it might do the same for you.

The only maths book you will ever need, 21 Feb 2008
I have been out of education for 10 years before I started my degree so I was very apprehensive about the maths. This book works wonders especially the DVD you get with it to help problem solve. This is such a well structured book with lots of worked examples.

A must have for Engineering students

Simply outstanding..., 30 Sep 2007
This book is superb. It's the best book on mathematics I own and I have quite a few. It's exceptional because it graduates gently from one topic to another and each topic is explained clearly from start to finish through easy to follow steps. I can't recommend it highly enough.

Unrivalled; clear, concise and well written., 10 Aug 2007
This book is superb, I can only fault its size but the depth of coverage warrants such mammoth dimensions. The material covered within is done so in a structured fashion, ensuring the reader can actually grasp the material as appose to just learning the methodology. I have not had to use this book as a standalone revision tool but in conjunction with my maths notes, it is unbeatable. The exercise problems can get a bit tedious and some of the leaps in difficulty are inexplicable but a little extra searching and practice will iron out any reservations. If you are studying any engineering degree I would seriously recommend splashing the cash, you may not use it extensively at first but having it as a resource has been invaluable for me.

Got lost!, 16 Jul 2007
This is undoubtedly a good book but it put me to sleep at times as I could not see how all these calculations would be useful to me when I graduated. I assumed an Engineering Math book would have examples from Engineering cases but they were few and far between. I did find some other books that did this in the library.

This is a good book for learning by heart how to do these things but I think I remember about 20% of it now that the exam is over! I wanted to understand it not learn it by heart. :(

Stroud is massive! It has practically an entire intro to math book at the start which at best is good for a glance because, as an Engineer, my Math is OK. It is a huge big clunking book which broke my back carrying it but was useful none the less.



Brilliant! It got me through BSc and is helping me remember it as well!, 14 May 2007
I first bought Ken Stroud's book back in 1987, and found it extremely useful to help me get through my BSc (Hons) degree in microelectronics and computing.

Now I have bought the 6th edition to help me revise my maths knowledge, and it is helping me already with some post-graduate study.

The programme method really helps in self-study.

The updating has helped keep it current, and it is very readable!!

For undergraduate engineering maths study, this is the book that is a must have!

jean genie, 05 Oct 2008
Dawkins is excellent while he sticks to biology
however he may have lost the plot in the last chapter
as he has in thinking promoting science involves attacking
religion
If an evangalist is someone who does not leave people to work
it out for themselves but pushes his point of view Dawkins is one
Nutty Baptists and Dawkins looked similar on channel 4 for example
ie they both spin world events too far to promote a point of view

Imaginative guessing, 13 Sep 2008
I have attempted to read Dawkins's books on a few occasions but seldom get beyond the first 100 pages. I simply find his style of writing boring and his theories pure imaginative guesswork; I cannot take this author's ideas onboard yet biology fascinates me and especially that of epigenetics which seems to disprove all that this author advocates. I suspect that there is a snobbery value to those who support him. Irrespective of his academic standing I cannot avoid regarding the author as an imposter as I constantly want to wage war with his views. Admittedly, he comes across publicly as a very plausible academic but, that does not sway me.

Blind theorizing, 27 Jun 2008
Dawkins writes that "the argument of this book is that we, and all other animals, are machines created by our genes" (p.xxi) and that "We are survival machines - robot vehicles blindly programmed to preserve the selfish molecules known as genes" (p.xxi). Yet, according to him, this book "is not science fiction; it is science" (p.xxi)!

Dawkins contrives to overlook the twin discoveries that:
1. the observable traits of organisms are mostly conditioned by the interactions of many genes;
2. most genes have multiple effects on many of these traits.

Dawkins transfers characteristics with which he is familiar from human behaviour on the macro-level to the inanimate components, "genes", of which we are physically constructed. He then proceeds to argue that these impersonal entities, which he imagines to possess characteristically human traits, infallibly generate the same unpleasant traits in human behaviour on the macro-level. So he writes: "The gene is the basic unit of selfishness" (p.36).

The absurdity is evident in that genes or other nonconscious entities cannot be either selfish or unselfish. They cannot "compete" against anything or "choose" anything.

If Dawkins were right, what would be the point of declaring, as he does: "Let us try to *teach* generosity and altruism, because we are born selfish" (p.3)? For if we really were machines, as he believes, even these very concepts would be meaningless to us. And certainly his oratory could have no effect whatever on our actual behaviour.

In fact genes do not force us to behave in any particular way. Neither can they possess the ability to direct or to comprehend all that is required to adopt a course of either heartless selfishness or heartfelt, sacrificial compassion.

The arguments in this review have been challenged by the claim that Dawkins himself answers these charges. His claim is, in effect, that that "the evolution of behavioural reactions or patterns via natural selection" and "control by nonconscious mechanisms" are two vastly different ideas. Also it is said that Dawkins does not deny a freedom of choice as the very last lines in this book itself "celebrate the human ability to make choices that transcend genetic control and instinctive reactions." So it is said that Dawkins "repeatedly draws clear distinctions" to prevent his readers from jumping to the conclusions expressed above.

However, there is a vast difference between asserting that such distinctions exist and actually laying a solid theoretical foundation for such distinctions. To lay the kinds of foundations which Dawkins does and then to go on to insist that these foundations do not lead to their logical conclusion is nothing less than an act of faith on Dawkins' part. It certainly does not bestow any validity upon Dawkins alleged distinctions. The bottom line is that Dawkins' presuppositions simply do not lead logically to the sort of distinction which he asserts.

Essentially this debate is an argument not about data, but about underlying assumptions. Here is a example of what I mean:

ASSUMPTION: 1. "evolution is true";
DATUM: 2. "human beings have consciousness";
ASSUMPTION: 3. "therefore evolution is capable of generating consciousness".

Once again, it is a case of "garbage in, garbage out" (as Dawkins himself would say).



Scientifically sound but philosophically flawed, 29 May 2008
Darwin's theory of evolution is no doubt a successful scientific hypothesis, and Prof. Dawkins brings across this very clearly. However, I do have some doubts regarding his philosophical assertions.

Essentially Prof. Dawkins believes that:

1) Selfishness and competition is at the root of all biological phenomena - nature as "red in tooth and claw"
2) There is no basic "dis-continuity" between humanity and other animals - humans are not qualitatively different from other animals
3) There is however no ethical dilemma between this basic fact and the human desire for goodness - since descriptive and normative realities are intrinsically separate (what is and what should be are independent of each other)

Yet the basis for point 3) - the inherent seperation of "what is" and "what ought to be" is just a philosophical assertion. Prof. Dawkins is very correct in stating that the belief in God and all other religious assertions should be treated and critically analysed as scientific hypotheses. However, strictly speaking this should go beyond the subject of religion to include every other field of human intellectual activity, including of course philosophy itself. If we treat the assertion "'what is' is fundamentally separate from 'what ought to be'" as a strict scientific hypothesis in the same sense that "God exists" is treated as such a hypothesis, then it has to be said that it is no more than just a blank assertion without any kind of empirical justification.

In other words, Prof. Dawkins is mistaken in assuming that his particular view of evolution and Darwinism does not leave us with an ethical dilemma, because it evidently does. The only argument Prof. Dawkins has offered against this is the mere assertion that "what ought to be" must be seperate from "what is", yet this assertion, just like religious assertions regarding God, cannot be scientifically or empirically proven.

Still great after all these years, 24 Apr 2008
Despite being over 30 years old, this book is still a powerful and exciting account of how life, including humans, came to be. The examples and explanations (aphid & ant coexistence, fluke worms in snails) are breathtaking in their descriptions of the natural world, and could easily awaken an interest in zoology in the casual reader.

A rather complete book, 24 Sep 2001
For a student it is worth it buying as it starts with some basic stuff that can refresh the Maths knowledge needed to understand what will come afterwards. It covers all the Maths topics that they will have during their degree, except for Statistics. It can always be a reference to have in a bookshelf in case something comes up in the near future. For a Maths teatcher it is usefull as it has examples to apply the theory we want them to learn.

Good intoduction if your maths is a bit rusty, 07 Mar 2001
I found this book pretty helpful as it explains basic concepts from scratch, gradually building them up. It's easy to follow and a good foundation for businessy maths. it doesn't go into things like limitations of the modelling techniques though, but it helps you get to the level of maths needed for economics and business. It's not patronising, which is a problem I've encountered with other similar level texts. I'm pretty good at maths, but had forgotten some techniques and this provided a good reminder relevant to my degree, although it seems to be more like A level standard.

applying the maths to real world business scenarios is great, 17 Dec 2000
having just finished the first 3 chapters (linear equations) I can recommend this book to any person who seeks to improve their mathematics, regardless of prior knowledge. Having finished school nine years ago and never having been interested in maths until now, Ian Jacques offers an engaging 'business scenario' in introducing the subjects and step by step unfolding of the formula's make self study much easier and very rewarding

Very Very Basic, 11 Aug 2008
While the topic of this book is interesting and the authors do well in presenting each type of analysis / data fallacy with interesting examples anyone who can remember any maths from school should find this very basic and really not worth their time.

Making the boring bit of the news interesting., 06 Aug 2008
Freakanomics got a big push by its publishers and was quite the book to be seen to be reading about a year ago. Here with "The tiger that isn't" is a similar book aimed at a similar market but with nowhere near the same exposure.

Essentially this is a very well written book that talks the layman (like me) through the fog of averages, chance and statistical anomalies. Yes, that does sound a bit dull but there are excellent down-to-earth examples and information that will stick in your mind. Did you know for example that you almost invariable have MORE than the AVERAGE number of feet?

It didn't get the full 5 stars as it is quite a slender tome (like Freakanomics) but it is always well written with thought provoking examples and a definite sense of humour.

If you want an intelligent and fun read on a topic that you are unlikely to know much about, or you want to know more about what numbers actually mean when they are grandly announced on the news then this is the book for you.


A top class numeracy home-study book, 08 Jul 2008
I bought this book on the back of Kathryn Wood's review, as I was taking the National Certificate in Numeracy Level 2 exam under similar circumstances to her. I used it for home-study over several weeks and today I passed the exam first time! I am thrilled!

I would highly recommend this book.

The best maths book I've seen, 04 Jan 2007
I have used this book quite a lot when teaching in my Adult Numeracy class. I like it because of its ease of use and layout. My learners also love it and have bought it for themselves.

Excellent Text, 15 Jan 2006
This is an excellent resource for teachers of adult numeracy. Friendly than Llewlynn and Greer, which it has replaced as my main source text . Very useful is the ordering by curriculum reference. Recommended

The Holy Grail, 13 Nov 2005
This book is terrific. I'm a Maths phobic, 3 failures at O Level (yes I'm quite old...) and I needed the Level 2 Numeracy qualification to do teaching. Two intensive weeks of revision and working through this book and the exercises at the end of it lead to ...a pass! One of my happiest moments exam-wise and not possible without the help of this superb, key text. Thanks ladies I owe you one.

A really useful book!, 13 Dec 2004
I use this book as a main text for adults preparing for level 1 and level 2 adult numeracy tests (it is less useful for Entry 3 students). It is comprehensively referenced to the Core Curriculum which helps to keep my teaching on track and makes paperwork less of a chore. I have found the level and style of questions to be exactly right for the adults I teach and the plentiful examples throughout help students take control of their own learning. One of the most useful resources I have found.

If you are a statistics-phobe...this is the book for you!, 26 Aug 2008
If you are needing to learn both SPSS and statistics at the same time and intimidated at all by the math, this is a great book to help take you through the quagmire of both the SPSS software, the principles of statistics and make sense of it all too! Andy Field has done an excellent job at taking much of the mystery out of how and why to use the various tests. The book is comprehensive but the analysis of my research and study is focussed primarily on correlation, t-tests and regression. There are chapters in the book I will probably never read as I cannot foresee ever needing to read them. But, the book is very useful for referencing particular areas and providing a tutorial as you are working.

I love the way Andy has created and inserted his characters throughout the book - as I can identify myself as a cross between Cramming Samantha and Brian Haemorrhage.

Because I found Andy's book and CD so useful, I have not done any comparisons with other books. So, far, it has provided everything I have needed.

If you thought statatistics is complicated, this is the book for you, 21 Jul 2008
I am a post doctoral civil engineering student. I have been struggling with advanced statistics for months...when the problem was I did not have a good grasp of basic concepts. This book solved it all in a matter of days.
After reading this book.. you will be able to understand all the other more "complicated book" that you need to use.
If what you are paying for is for someone to expain stat and SPSS to you, this is your book.
Galit

Excellent, 23 Jun 2008
This book was my saviour during my dissertation. A must for any psychology student about to tackle SPSS!

Makes statistics a bit more manageable, 21 Apr 2008
I did a research project in Psychology with only very basic knowledge of statistics. I always hated statistics and tried to avoid them as much as possible. I was recommended this book, and was so glad I bought it. The style is quite refreshing and engaging, filling you with confidence as you learn.

At times it is a bit over-detailed, and you have to sift through to get to what to what you need, however, this is a strength of the book. I've seen some other books which explain what you do, but not why. Leaarning how principles can be applied to various situations is far more beneficial, as it's rare that your data will be similar to the examples in a book. If you're willing to spend just a little bit of time with it, you will find that you have a good basic knowledge of statistics, able to tackle increasingly complex problems

A lifesaver, 11 Mar 2008
To my undying shame, despite more than a decade in market research and now holding the exalted title of Research Director, I'm still a bit hazy about statistics. This excellent book, of which I've bought two copies and recommended to many others, provides a clear and engaging description of both simple and complex statistical concepts. And it comes with a free CD! Unfortunately, it's of SPSS files rather than Andy Field's favourite music. This book has stopped me getting found out, and it might do the same for you.

The only maths book you will ever need, 21 Feb 2008
I have been out of education for 10 years before I started my degree so I was very apprehensive about the maths. This book works wonders especially the DVD you get with it to help problem solve. This is such a well structured book with lots of worked examples.

A must have for Engineering students

Simply outstanding..., 30 Sep 2007
This book is superb. It's the best book on mathematics I own and I have quite a few. It's exceptional because it graduates gently from one topic to another and each topic is explained clearly from start to finish through easy to follow steps. I can't recommend it highly enough.

Unrivalled; clear, concise and well written., 10 Aug 2007
This book is superb, I can only fault its size but the depth of coverage warrants such mammoth dimensions. The material covered within is done so in a structured fashion, ensuring the reader can actually grasp the material as appose to just learning the methodology. I have not had to use this book as a standalone revision tool but in conjunction with my maths notes, it is unbeatable. The exercise problems can get a bit tedious and some of the leaps in difficulty are inexplicable but a little extra searching and practice will iron out any reservations. If you are studying any engineering degree I would seriously recommend splashing the cash, you may not use it extensively at first but having it as a resource has been invaluable for me.

Got lost!, 16 Jul 2007
This is undoubtedly a good book but it put me to sleep at times as I could not see how all these calculations would be useful to me when I graduated. I assumed an Engineering Math book would have examples from Engineering cases but they were few and far between. I did find some other books that did this in the library.

This is a good book for learning by heart how to do these things but I think I remember about 20% of it now that the exam is over! I wanted to understand it not learn it by heart. :(

Stroud is massive! It has practically an entire intro to math book at the start which at best is good for a glance because, as an Engineer, my Math is OK. It is a huge big clunking book which broke my back carrying it but was useful none the less.



Brilliant! It got me through BSc and is helping me remember it as well!, 14 May 2007
I first bought Ken Stroud's book back in 1987, and found it extremely useful to help me get through my BSc (Hons) degree in microelectronics and computing.

Now I have bought the 6th edition to help me revise my maths knowledge, and it is helping me already with some post-graduate study.

The programme method really helps in self-study.

The updating has helped keep it current, and it is very readable!!

For undergraduate engineering maths study, this is the book that is a must have!

jean genie, 05 Oct 2008
Dawkins is excellent while he sticks to biology
however he may have lost the plot in the last chapter
as he has in thinking promoting science involves attacking
religion
If an evangalist is someone who does not leave people to work
it out for themselves but pushes his point of view Dawkins is one
Nutty Baptists and Dawkins looked similar on channel 4 for example
ie they both spin world events too far to promote a point of view

Imaginative guessing, 13 Sep 2008
I have attempted to read Dawkins's books on a few occasions but seldom get beyond the first 100 pages. I simply find his style of writing boring and his theories pure imaginative guesswork; I cannot take this author's ideas onboard yet biology fascinates me and especially that of epigenetics which seems to disprove all that this author advocates. I suspect that there is a snobbery value to those who support him. Irrespective of his academic standing I cannot avoid regarding the author as an imposter as I constantly want to wage war with his views. Admittedly, he comes across publicly as a very plausible academic but, that does not sway me.

Blind theorizing, 27 Jun 2008
Dawkins writes that "the argument of this book is that we, and all other animals, are machines created by our genes" (p.xxi) and that "We are survival machines - robot vehicles blindly programmed to preserve the selfish molecules known as genes" (p.xxi). Yet, according to him, this book "is not science fiction; it is science" (p.xxi)!

Dawkins contrives to overlook the twin discoveries that:
1. the observable traits of organisms are mostly conditioned by the interactions of many genes;
2. most genes have multiple effects on many of these traits.

Dawkins transfers characteristics with which he is familiar from human behaviour on the macro-level to the inanimate components, "genes", of which we are physically constructed. He then proceeds to argue that these impersonal entities, which he imagines to possess characteristically human traits, infallibly generate the same unpleasant traits in human behaviour on the macro-level. So he writes: "The gene is the basic unit of selfishness" (p.36).

The absurdity is evident in that genes or other nonconscious entities cannot be either selfish or unselfish. They cannot "compete" against anything or "choose" anything.

If Dawkins were right, what would be the point of declaring, as he does: "Let us try to *teach* generosity and altruism, because we are born selfish" (p.3)? For if we really were machines, as he believes, even these very concepts would be meaningless to us. And certainly his oratory could have no effect whatever on our actual behaviour.

In fact genes do not force us to behave in any particular way. Neither can they possess the ability to direct or to comprehend all that is required to adopt a course of either heartless selfishness or heartfelt, sacrificial compassion.

The arguments in this review have been challenged by the claim that Dawkins himself answers these charges. His claim is, in effect, that that "the evolution of behavioural reactions or patterns via natural selection" and "control by nonconscious mechanisms" are two vastly different ideas. Also it is said that Dawkins does not deny a freedom of choice as the very last lines in this book itself "celebrate the human ability to make choices that transcend genetic control and instinctive reactions." So it is said that Dawkins "repeatedly draws clear distinctions" to prevent his readers from jumping to the conclusions expressed above.

However, there is a vast difference between asserting that such distinctions exist and actually laying a solid theoretical foundation for such distinctions. To lay the kinds of foundations which Dawkins does and then to go on to insist that these foundations do not lead to their logical conclusion is nothing less than an act of faith on Dawkins' part. It certainly does not bestow any validity upon Dawkins alleged distinctions. The bottom line is that Dawkins' presuppositions simply do not lead logically to the sort of distinction which he asserts.

Essentially this debate is an argument not about data, but about underlying assumptions. Here is a example of what I mean:

ASSUMPTION: 1. "evolution is true";
DATUM: 2. "human beings have consciousness";
ASSUMPTION: 3. "therefore evolution is capable of generating consciousness".

Once again, it is a case of "garbage in, garbage out" (as Dawkins himself would say).



Scientifically sound but philosophically flawed, 29 May 2008
Darwin's theory of evolution is no doubt a successful scientific hypothesis, and Prof. Dawkins brings across this very clearly. However, I do have some doubts regarding his philosophical assertions.

Essentially Prof. Dawkins believes that:

1) Selfishness and competition is at the root of all biological phenomena - nature as "red in tooth and claw"
2) There is no basic "dis-continuity" between humanity and other animals - humans are not qualitatively different from other animals
3) There is however no ethical dilemma between this basic fact and the human desire for goodness - since descriptive and normative realities are intrinsically separate (what is and what should be are independent of each other)

Yet the basis for point 3) - the inherent seperation of "what is" and "what ought to be" is just a philosophical assertion. Prof. Dawkins is very correct in stating that the belief in God and all other religious assertions should be treated and critically analysed as scientific hypotheses. However, strictly speaking this should go beyond the subject of religion to include every other field of human intellectual activity, including of course philosophy itself. If we treat the assertion "'what is' is fundamentally separate from 'what ought to be'" as a strict scientific hypothesis in the same sense that "God exists" is treated as such a hypothesis, then it has to be said that it is no more than just a blank assertion without any kind of empirical justification.

In other words, Prof. Dawkins is mistaken in assuming that his particular view of evolution and Darwinism does not leave us with an ethical dilemma, because it evidently does. The only argument Prof. Dawkins has offered against this is the mere assertion that "what ought to be" must be seperate from "what is", yet this assertion, just like religious assertions regarding God, cannot be scientifically or empirically proven.

Still great after all these years, 24 Apr 2008
Despite being over 30 years old, this book is still a powerful and exciting account of how life, including humans, came to be. The examples and explanations (aphid & ant coexistence, fluke worms in snails) are breathtaking in their descriptions of the natural world, and could easily awaken an interest in zoology in the casual reader.

A rather complete book, 24 Sep 2001
For a student it is worth it buying as it starts with some basic stuff that can refresh the Maths knowledge needed to understand what will come afterwards. It covers all the Maths topics that they will have during their degree, except for Statistics. It can always be a reference to have in a bookshelf in case something comes up in the near future. For a Maths teatcher it is usefull as it has examples to apply the theory we want them to learn.

Good intoduction if your maths is a bit rusty, 07 Mar 2001
I found this book pretty helpful as it explains basic concepts from scratch, gradually building them up. It's easy to follow and a good foundation for businessy maths. it doesn't go into things like limitations of the modelling techniques though, but it helps you get to the level of maths needed for economics and business. It's not patronising, which is a problem I've encountered with other similar level texts. I'm pretty good at maths, but had forgotten some techniques and this provided a good reminder relevant to my degree, although it seems to be more like A level standard.

applying the maths to real world business scenarios is great, 17 Dec 2000
having just finished the first 3 chapters (linear equations) I can recommend this book to any person who seeks to improve their mathematics, regardless of prior knowledge. Having finished school nine years ago and never having been interested in maths until now, Ian Jacques offers an engaging 'business scenario' in introducing the subjects and step by step unfolding of the formula's make self study much easier and very rewarding

Very Very Basic, 11 Aug 2008
While the topic of this book is interesting and the authors do well in presenting each type of analysis / data fallacy with interesting examples anyone who can remember any maths from school should find this very basic and really not worth their time.

Making the boring bit of the news interesting., 06 Aug 2008
Freakanomics got a big push by its publishers and was quite the book to be seen to be reading about a year ago. Here with "The tiger that isn't" is a similar book aimed at a similar market but with nowhere near the same exposure.

Essentially this is a very well written book that talks the layman (like me) through the fog of averages, chance and statistical anomalies. Yes, that does sound a bit dull but there are excellent down-to-earth examples and information that will stick in your mind. Did you know for example that you almost invariable have MORE than the AVERAGE number of feet?

It didn't get the full 5 stars as it is quite a slender tome (like Freakanomics) but it is always well written with thought provoking examples and a definite sense of humour.

If you want an intelligent and fun read on a topic that you are unlikely to know much about, or you want to know more about what numbers actually mean when they are grandly announced on the news then this is the book for you.


A top class numeracy home-study book, 08 Jul 2008
I bought this book on the back of Kathryn Wood's review, as I was taking the National Certificate in Numeracy Level 2 exam under similar circumstances to her. I used it for home-study over several weeks and today I passed the exam first time! I am thrilled!

I would highly recommend this book.

The best maths book I've seen, 04 Jan 2007
I have used this book quite a lot when teaching in my Adult Numeracy class. I like it because of its ease of use and layout. My learners also love it and have bought it for themselves.

Excellent Text, 15 Jan 2006
This is an excellent resource for teachers of adult numeracy. Friendly than Llewlynn and Greer, which it has replaced as my main source text . Very useful is the ordering by curriculum reference. Recommended

The Holy Grail, 13 Nov 2005
This book is terrific. I'm a Maths phobic, 3 failures at O Level (yes I'm quite old...) and I needed the Level 2 Numeracy qualification to do teaching. Two intensive weeks of revision and working through this book and the exercises at the end of it lead to ...a pass! One of my happiest moments exam-wise and not possible without the help of this superb, key text. Thanks ladies I owe you one.

A really useful book!, 13 Dec 2004
I use this book as a main text for adults preparing for level 1 and level 2 adult numeracy tests (it is less useful for Entry 3 students). It is comprehensively referenced to the Core Curriculum which helps to keep my teaching on track and makes paperwork less of a chore. I have found the level and style of questions to be exactly right for the adults I teach and the plentiful examples throughout help students take control of their own learning. One of the most useful resources I have found.

Absolutely brilliant A **, 17 Apr 2006
The first time I've bothered to leave my thoughts on a book. But this one is well worth a recommendation. A must if you wanna recap or bridge knowledge from GCSE level onwards

Gives easily understood explanations, 31 Mar 2006
I've just started studying maths with the Open University and have found this book invaluable. I haven't really thought above maths since leaving school 30 years ago and so needed a refresher in the basics, algebra, fractions, etc. This book has been a great help!

Fantastic book to help bridge the gap, 12 Feb 2003
I was having real difficulty with the maths portion of my Computer Engineering degree having not done A level maths. This book goes over the concepts needed in everyday language and is easy to follow with helpful tips and assessment sections. A must for anyone who is having problems with maths.

If you are a statistics-phobe...this is the book for you!, 26 Aug 2008
If you are needing to learn both SPSS and statistics at the same time and intimidated at all by the math, this is a great book to help take you through the quagmire of both the SPSS software, the principles of statistics and make sense of it all too! Andy Field has done an excellent job at taking much of the mystery out of how and why to use the various tests. The book is comprehensive but the analysis of my research and study is focussed primarily on correlation, t-tests and regression. There are chapters in the book I will probably never read as I cannot foresee ever needing to read them. But, the book is very useful for referencing particular areas and providing a tutorial as you are working.

I love the way Andy has created and inserted his characters throughout the book - as I can identify myself as a cross between Cramming Samantha and Brian Haemorrhage.

Because I found Andy's book and CD so useful, I have not done any comparisons with other books. So, far, it has provided everything I have needed.

If you thought statatistics is complicated, this is the book for you, 21 Jul 2008
I am a post doctoral civil engineering student. I have been struggling with advanced statistics for months...when the problem was I did not have a good grasp of basic concepts. This book solved it all in a matter of days.
After reading this book.. you will be able to understand all the other more "complicated boo