Data Analytics:The Best Book I ever Read On The Subject

A review of the book that changed my relationship with data forever and what it can do for all “data phobes” around the world.

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As with hundreds of thousands of readers on this page and elsewhere, I used to be seriously intimidated by chunks of data on the computer screen. This is despite the fact that my post graduate degree was in economics, which had courses in statistics and quantitative analysis.

So what changed for me?

A few years ago, at my favourite London bookshop, I stumbled on a book on data analytics, which forever changed my world view.

“Keeping up with the quants”, authored by Thomas J. Davenport and Jinho Kim, imbued me with the requisite skills to do the following:

· How to formulate an analysis

· How to gather and analyze data

· How to interpret and communicate analytical results

· How to develop habits of quantitative thinking

· How to effectively deal with quants in your organization.

All of the skills listed above are entirely universal for everyone and anyone, ranging from whether you are at the supermarket looking for a bargain, to shopping online for the best possible deal on your car insurance, or you are trying to improve your credit score, data is inescapable in the modern world.

The Universe in which we operate in these polarizing times, is governed not by the newspapers of old, the politicians nor the astrologers, it is governed by data; Data is the all consuming force of our time.

Reading this book will make a huge degree to your life and will compel you to look at the world of numbers, rather differently.

Data is here to stay and the sooner we begin to appreciate this salient fact, the better.

Thanks very much for reading.