» Probability For Dummies (For Dummies (Math & Science))

Probability For Dummies (For Dummies (Math & Science)) Reviews

Customer Rating:
Summary: The author is proof that not all Ph.D.s (and "for Dummies" books) are created equal
Comment: I've read about half the book and encountered numerous syntactical and, worse yet, fundamental mistakes on the subject matter, which I have verified with my Professor (at a top-tier university). If I have time, I will construct an errata sheet, which I could, then, send to the publisher. Those non-grammatical, fundamental mistakes have pernicious consequences: The reader can be confused or even be learning false approaches to probability problems - the opposite of the reader's motivation.

Also, the passages strongly fluctuate in terms of the ease at which the concepts are understood: Sometimes Dr. Rumsey does a good job at explaining the subject matter at an informal level; at other times, however, it is more challenging to decipher the material than in a mathematically rigorous and formal probability textbook. In contrast, "Calculus for Dummies" is very consistent in terms of difficulty of understanding the concepts: the style at which the topics are presented in "Calculus for Dummies" make them very easy to understand. Dr. Rumsey probably skimmed over that book - the similar lame and unfunny chapter titles are a strong indication - and thought it a half-hearted attempt at emulating that style would be sufficient to satisfy this key criteria.

Speaking of calculus, integration and differentiation are not used enough in the book, even though the author mentions that she intends to please that target group as well. Joint probabilities, along with covariance and correlation are left out. Pointless "extender" topics, as well as non-academic chapters, serve as a disappointing substitute.

The reason I give it two and not one star is that the book gives a nice introduction to some of the distributions, and I like the practical examples to the key concepts, which my (theoretical) course fails to present.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: probability explained
Comment: A complex subject explained in a straightforward way with real world examples. Another exellent book by the same author of Statistics for Dummies.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Excellent introduction for the subject of Probability
Comment: "Probability for Dummies" is an excellent book for students who are new to the subject of probability. It is easy to read, witty and very informative. This book would also serve as a fine review for students with previous experience in probability and statistics as well, for it deals with subject matter relative to both (in fact, the author makes references to another of her books, "Statistics for Dummies"). Highly recommended!

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Not bad, but really for dummies!
Comment: I mostly enjoyed this book, and I now feel more comfortable with certain concepts that I had always tended to ignore. Gone are the days when, upon hearing the slightest complex-sounding word on probabilities, I would automatically revert to the ostrich technique. This book definitely helps you face such little words in probabilities and statistics, and it truly gives you confidence in doing so.

Yet, important as the above may be if you do not intend to use a lot of probs theory, that's about all this book does for you... Evidently, that's just not enough for someone you wants to start using probabilities. And my intuition is that, if you want to read a book on probabilities, that's because you want to use them.

Plainly, this book is a little bit too easy. I do not consider myself to be anything like beyond the mean of a normal distribution of IQ scores. And yet I constantly thought that I needed a more of two things, and less of another.
1) I needed more exercises: if one buys this, it is probably because one wants to start using probs, and exercises are the best way to start learning; and
2) I needed more text on applications: if one buys this, it is probably because they want to see how props are used in real-world and/or academic contexts.
3) Conversely, I thought I needed a little bit less of repetition: every chapter need not read as a self-standing piece, which recaps everything and then adds just a tiny little bit more. People tend to read books from the beginning to the end; they do not just open this king of books at a random page and start reading... In my experience, repetition reaches a point where it starts having decreasing returns: instead of consolidating knowledge, it confuses (he or she starts wondering what is new about the new page or chapter) and bores the reader.

So, do buy this book if you're revising for exams, or if you really know nothing about probabilties. But if you either care to really learn about probabilities, or you already know a little bit about them, then try another book that can get you further (lots of books on finite maths take you further than this one in just one chapter...).

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Customer Rating:
Summary: A little skeptical
Comment: I was a little disappointed to see a mistake in the introduction, under discussion of odds. The claim made was that if a horse had a 50% chance of winning, the odds were 2 to 1. In fact the odds are 2 FOR 1 or 1 to 1. If a horse has a .50 probability of winning, it stands that it also has a .50 probability of losing. 0.50 = 0.50 therefore 1 TO 1. In a gambling setting, if someone paid you 2 to 1 odds on a .50 probablility event, they would go broke quickly. If they paid you 2 FOR 1 everyone would break even in the long run.

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