The Manga Guide to Statistics
Shin Takahashi
No Starch Press, 2008, 215 pp., $19.95
www.nostarch.com
OK, I lived and studied in Japan, speak some Japanese and studied and taught math; so this Manga Guide to Statistics ought to be something I can handle.
First, this is not a religious book–unless you worship math or manga. Second, this may be a great book if you worship math or manga. Third, if that’s not you, then this book may not work for you.
As with all Manga books, the characters are mostly blond and blue-eyed with Japanese names, and the references are to Japanese things without cultural explanations. The writer does a fair job of trying to get past the hard moments of statistics, but one gets the sense that it’s all done in a hurry and might be too big to be useful. Bottom line: not useful for youth group or Bible studies.
