Ten Great Ideas about Chance

by Persi Diaconis, Brian Skyrms

Overview

A fascinating account of the breakthrough ideas that transformed probability and statistics

In the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, gamblers and mathematicians transformed the idea of chance from a mystery into the discipline of probability, setting the stage for a series of breakthroughs that enabled or transformed innumerable fields, from gambling, mathematics, statistics, economics, and finance to physics and computer science. This book tells the story of ten great ideas about chance and the thinkers who developed them. Complete with a brief probability refresher, Ten Great Ideas about Chance is certain to be a hit with anyone who wants to understand the secrets of probability and how they were discovered.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780691196398
Publisher:	Princeton University Press
Publication date:	10/08/2019
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	272
Sales rank:	629,676
Product dimensions:	5.25(w) x 8.00(h) x (d)

About the Author

Persi Diaconis is the Mary V. Sunseri Professor of Statistics and Mathematics at Stanford University and the coauthor of Magical Mathematics: The Mathematical Ideas That Animate Great Magic Tricks (Princeton). Brian Skyrms is Distinguished Professor in the Department of Logic and Philosophy at the University of California, Irvine, and Professor of Philosophy at Stanford University. His books include Signals: Evolution, Learning, and Information.

Table of Contents

Preface ix

Acknowledgments xi

1 Measurement 1

2 Judgment 22

3 Psychology 48

4 Frequency 62

5 Mathematics 79

6 Inverse Inference 100

7 Unification 122

8 Algorithmic Randomness 145

9 Physical Chance 165

10 Induction 190

Appendix: Probability Tutorial 209

Notes 225

Annotated Select Bibliography 239

Image Credits 247

Index 249

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"A volume that should be on every scientist's reading list."—Barbara Kiser, Nature

"A terrific book."—Mathematics Magazine

"Fun and entertaining to read."—MAA Reviews

"To anyone with an interest in probability or statistics, this is a book you must read. . . . [It] is far-ranging and can be read at many levels, from the novice to the expert. It is also thoroughly engaging."—David M. Bressoud, UMAP Journal

"A very enriching journey. Your vision will be broadened."—Adhemar Bultheel, European Mathematical Society

"A great book for anyone who wants to understand some of the central tenets of probability, how they were discovered, and how they can be tamed in our day-to-day lives."—ZME Science

Editorial Reviews

"This book will not increase your odds of winning at games of chance, but it will give you some greater understanding of why you lose."

Cosmos

"A historical and philosophical tour of major insights in the development of probability theory."—-James Ryerson, New York Times Book Review

"A volume that should be on every scientist’s reading list."—-Barbara Kiser, Nature

From the Publisher

"Ten Great Ideas about Chance isn’t just about 18th century philosophical arguments, World War II events or tests of expensive, hard-to-pronounce drugs. The book’s ideas are as down to earth and as current as your busted bracket for NCAA Men’s Basketball."

Herald Business Journal

"Mathematically rigorous, yet also reasonably accessible; informative, yet fun and entertaining to read. Both students and faculty should find reading this to be a rewarding experience."

MAA Reviews

"A great book for anyone who wants to understand some of the central tenets of probability, how they were discovered, and how they can be tamed in our day-to-day lives."

ZME Science