How to Lie with Statistics. By Darrell Huff. Illustrated by Irving Geis. First Edition, First Printing. Norton. New York, 1954.

Darrell Huff was a journalist and popular non-fiction author whose most lasting contribution is this volume: How to Lie with Statistics. Published in 1954, it was perhaps the first general overview of statistics aimed at a popular audience. It became a bestseller. Readers adored its humorous anecdotes and clarity. It contains sections on fundamental statistical reasoning, including sampling, averaging, and data visualization. For each idea, Huff notes how improper or illogical analysis in statistics leads to false outcomes. Alongside the text are illustrations by Irving Geis. For all these reasons, How to Lie with Statistics remained a popular title for many years.

This first edition, first printing is in good condition. In the original cloth, very good with some bumping and rubbing to edges. Text block near-fine, only former owner’s signature to front pastedown. In the original dust jacket, good with tape repairs, closed tears, chipping, fading, creases, and soiling.

A good first edition of How to Lie with Statistics.