Visual Miscellaneum: The Bestselling Classic, Revised And Updated: A Colorful Guide To The World's Most Consequential Trivia (2012) - Plot & Excerpts
“The Visual Miscellaneum” is a poorly, inadequate representation of data. Despite the exuberant, colorful, and pert graphs and charts, there was not that much else to offer. Many of the graphs were difficult to discern and would be difficult to prognosticate for future events. Some of the data was informative, but in totality of things most of it is tiring and somewhat leaves you delusional after trying to chase each piece of information. What a crashing disappointment. This book, which positions itself as a showboat of creative data visualization, LOOKS great. It is initially fun to browse. But it is no fun to pay attention to, as you soon realize that almost every single item on display is marred by something. The something differs from image to image -- sometimes it's just that the information is pointless, but often the most fundamental laws of visual representation are ignored. Indeed, several images do a considerably worse job at representing information than a set of typed lists would do: check out "Most Successful Rock Bands" for a particularly egregious example. Then, some "images" really ARE just typed lists ("Loevinger's Stages of Self Development", "Internet Virals"). And obvious factual errors are rife (your chances of dying in a bus or train accident are 1 in 77, apparently, as opposed to your 1 in 18,585 chance of dying in a car accident. uh huh).In beautiful full-spectrum color, this will be the most disappointing book on information design you ever look at carefully.
What do You think about Visual Miscellaneum: The Bestselling Classic, Revised And Updated: A Colorful Guide To The World's Most Consequential Trivia (2012)?
This is a very interesting book. It is a very different approach to presenting its contents.
—jazz
Random facts compiled in diagrams and drawings :)
—Chey
