`The author must be congratulated for a very clear, pithy and useful book on statistics.... What is unique and makes the book cogent and valuable is the versatile way in which concepts are introduced and illustrated, with many examples selected with great precision' - Journal of Biosocial Science

Doing statistics for the first time? `Don't panic', says Fred Coolidge. He shows how statistics needn't be difficult or dull. He likens the role of the statistician to a detective, searching for clues to causation at the scene of a crime. He minimises the use of formulas, but provides a step-by-step approach to their solution, and includes practical assignments. The book contains a wealth of real-world examples that give students a sense of how the science of statistics works, solves problems and helps us make informed choices about the world we live in.