So Much Data So Little Math
Author: William D. May
List Price: $29.50
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ISBN: 0761816402
Publisher: University Press of America (28 April, 2000)
Sales Rank: 732,530
Average Customer Rating: 4.6 out of 5
Customer Reviews
Rating: 4 out of 5
Great Content, Poorly Written
As someone who wants to use practical mathematical concepts without delving into intense study of these tools, I found "So Much Data So Little Math" a valuable read. The author, William D May, introduces the use of correlation, linear regression, and neural networks for trend/time series prediction.The author produces practical, every day examples to illustrate potential uses of these mathematical concepts. Readers will find that these examples (particularly the last one in the book that cleverly encapsulates all the tools in one scenario) make the ideas much easier to grasp.
While I applaud May's tremendous effort, I must unfortunately deduct 1 star for the ill-edited and written text. First, simple spelling mistakes were strewn throughout. This is very distracting and makes the book less professional. Second, sections of the book were literally "cut-and-pasted" without alteration. Lastly, the style of the text is overly dry. While it's true I am not reading Herman Hesse, I do believe that more effort could have been taken to liven up the general discussion. Perhaps the "cut-and-pasted" sections contributed to this stale feeling.
Overall, I am glad I read this book due to the new information and concepts I have learned. The high-marks remain because the book's purpose was served. Maybe in the next edition, the author will be able to iron out the wrinkles.
Rating: 4 out of 5
teaches how to use math to create business models.
This book is an introduction to business applications of certain mathematical techniques. The author focuses on data analysis, which allows you to use collected data to predict trends and formulate business plans. He wrote the book for people with not-so-strong math backgrounds, and I think he succeeded in making the book understandable for such people. (I gave the book 4 stars instead of 5 only because there were a couple of explanations which were not clear to me--however, I fully admit that the problem could lie with me rather than the author in these instances.) Topics covered include statistics, spreadsheets, neural networks (a very good chapter), how to use databases, and basic logic. The tone of the book is conversational and the author does a good job of presenting dry information in a manner which is non-threatening and friendly. I recommend this book to those who want to learn to use math as a tool to improve managerial performance.
Rating: 5 out of 5
Clear, concise writing with excellent methods
This book provides superb examples of real-world methods forusing data analysis techniques without loading up on math. TheQuestion and Answer sections in the chapters are also one of the best features I've seen in this type of book. There is no doubt in my mind that anyone can use this book for real applications. Whether you are just starting, a seasoned pro, or need a desk reference, this book should suit the needs perfectly. All of my employees have copies, as do all of my friends. Well worth the money. Hopefully we'll see more work like this from other authors.
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