Slow down and smell the data

Abstract

This review of Nate Silver’s The Signal and the Noise discusses how Silver’s celebrity statistician status has been achieved and is well-earned. He touches on how the book reinforces, in an understandable fashion, that a conceptual understanding of Big Data is a crucial element of successful professional communication practice. This positive review identifies the strengths of Silver’s book – namely its solid organization and its use of real-world examples. The Signal and the Noise is recommended for professional communicators who want to gain an understanding of data and the many uncertainties inherent to its analysis. ©Journal of Professional Communication, all rights reserved.