5 Must read books on Data Visualization
Data Visualization (DV), in simple terms, is the presentation of a data ornate with graphics, which looks aesthetic, when large amounts of data and complex statistics for the easy comprehension. DV is no doubt witnessing exponential growth. No matter whether you are an expert or a novice, a gamut of books are available to hone your skills. If you wonder how you need to know more about DV, all you need to do is to enter the Amazon book section, where you will find in excess of 15,000 items. Let us now see five must-read books on Data Visualization.
The Visual Display of Quantitative Information
Authored by Edward R.Tufte, this book is undoubtedly the most referred information storehouse on DV. One of the pioneers in the field, this book is one of his famous works on the topic, which covers the theory and design of data graphics and further provides 250 illustrations of best and worst instances. Published in 1983, the book till date remains to be a classic and a bestseller on Amazon.
Storytelling with Data: A Data Visualization Guide for Business Professionals
Written by Cole Nussbaumer Knaflic, this equally popular book is introduced by Lazlo Bock, SVP of People Operations and Google, which complements the work of data visualization pioneers including Edward Tufte. Cole’s book emphasizes how to go beyond conventional tools to reach the root of your data, and how to use your data to create an engaging and informative story.
“Good Charts: The HBR Guide to Making Smarter, More Persuasive Data Visualizations”
Scott Berinato’s book is perhaps the newest book on this subject, which was out on the market only in May last year, making the work one of the most relevant DV books on the market. The book is accessible for both the rookies as well as the seasoned designers.
Berinato highlights the important point that DV is no longer being left to just the specialists: data scientists and professional designers. In this book, Berinato provides an invaluable guide to how data visualization works and how to use Data Visualization to influence and persuade, this book is a must read.
Information Dashboard Design: Displaying Data for At-a-glance Monitoring”
Stephen Few’s book has a repertoire of information on data visualization, providing a wide spectrum of good and bad dashboard examples. What is more, he also provides a great introduction to the principles of data visualization and design theory.
Beautiful Visualisation, Looking at Data Through the Eyes of Experts
Authored by Julie Steele and Noah Iliinsky, this magnificent book is part of O’Reilly’s “Beautiful” series with each book a collection of essays from people who work in the field. “Beautiful Visualization” describes the design and development of some well-known visualization by examining the methods of 24 visualisation experts. The book deals with a slew of perspectives that is helpful for artists, designers, commentators, analysts, scientists, and statisticians. The topics covered in this book are the importance of storytelling through a simple visualization exercise; color, and how it conveys information that our brains recognize before we are cognizant of it and uncovering a method to the madness of air travel with a civilian air traffic visualization that is portrayed in an awesome way.
