Making Numbers Count: The Art and Science of Communicating Numbers

This is a book about an overlooked but important subject: how do you make numbers make sense? When someone cites a number to make a point about something, how do you give that the impact and import that it requires?

The federal government spends $6 trillion a year. Is that a lot? Well, sure, we know that’s a lot, but how much is it, really? “A lot” is a very vague and subjective statement.

The book has chapter after chapter of how to present numbers in such a way that your reader “gets it.”

For example:

• Round numbers off so that they’re “friendly”
• Make comparisons to familiar things
• Project your number to a different dimension. So, if you’re talking about money, put it in terms of time instead.
• Use emotion
• If you’re in-person, do some physical or practical demonstration of the number.

Each chapter explains the psychology behind the technique, and has lots of examples of the “wrong” way to explain a number, compared to a translation using the technique of the chapter.

But here’s the thing: you’re not going to remember everything in this book. This is a practical reference. Know where it is on your bookshelf so you can go grab it when you don’t feel like you’re hitting the right note in your explanation.

Book Info