View The Math
Facts and figures aren’t usually married to design and color (unless maybe you broke out markers to do your math homework as a kid). But this new book I bought totally proves that statistics and art can live happily ever after after all.
The Visual Miscellaneum is the perfect read for someone like me (a total geek when it comes to trivia and trends, but a sucker for something beautifully or interestingly designed). David McCandless has taken “the world’s most consequential trivia” and visualized it for easier and more entertaining consumption. It caught my eye when WIRED magazine featured this excerpt showing Pantone’s official summer and winter colors for the past 8 years:
Since I’m always on the hunt for a good coffee table book / conversation starter (or even wall art – just tear out a page and throw a frame around it) I just had to buy this book. Its 200+ pages contain fun facts about history, entertainment, health, religion and even humor. Here are some of our other favorite visual grids, graphs, and charts:
A Periodic Table that shows when certain condiments go bad:
A visual list of baby names graphed by popularity (the darker spots indicate the years where the name peaked in popularity and sometimes even suggest why):
For coffee lovers, a mixologist’s chart of popular java drinks (with lots of visual ideas for serving up something gourmet):
And lastly, since I mentioned there’s a bit of humor mixed in, here’s the ever-important graphic entitled: Farty Animals. ‘Nuff said.
So that’s a little taste of my new favorite book. Hope you guys enjoy it. And just to be clear, no one gave us this book for free in exchange for a little write up, we bought it with our own money and thought it was so visually appealing and entertaining that we just had to share it. And the fact that some of the graphs could make awesome wall art or the book itself would be a great conversation starter on a coffee table/guest bedroom nightstand doesn’t hurt either. Oh and we’d love to hear if anyone else has found other books that might satisfy my craving for information-turned-art. Do tell.
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Comments
I want this book! Love the graphics. I’m sitting here trying to think of who I still need to buy Christmas presents for that would like this book, but I don’t think anyone in my family would appreciate as much as me. Maybe I’ll just buy it for myself :) I agree with AW, not sure about the condiments. If that’s true, I’d be constantly replacing half of the stuff in my refrig.
This book looks amazing! And maybe I’ll actually read it, since it’s less time-consuming than most novels (I still haven’t started Freakonomics!). Thanks you guys, this is definitely going on my Hanukkah List!
Hey! I am a fellow Richmonder….Where is the re-store? I have been looking for one in the area.
The “Periodic Table” is a hoot!
BTW- You guys got a shout-out at the design blog Simplified Bee, for your living room fire place make-over.
Hey Cecelia,
Thanks for the heads up! Headed over there to check it out…
xo,
s
Wow! I bought this book a few days ago for my brother-in-law for Christmas. Just based on the description, I knew he would love it. Now seeing some of the pages, I am even more sure it was the perfect choice!
You guys are trend setters! It’s sold out at Amazon.com!! Let us know when it’s available again! Looks like a fun book:)
Hey Allison,
Here’s the link for ya with all that info: http://www.richmondhabitat.org/restore.html
xo,
s
This book reminds me of a site called The Visual Aid Shop
http://www.visualaid-shop.com/index.php
It was profiled recently on the Print and Pattern blog
http://printpattern.blogspot.com/2009/11/booksposters-visual-aid.html
It has some amazing posters, with graphically displayed information, in much the same way. There were too many favorite posters for me to mention. We are thinking of getting some to decorate our new house, they print them in a huge variety of sizes.
Enjoy.
Great suggestions guys. Thanks so much for sharing them! I’m sure I’ll eat them all up. Ah, visual information. So tasty.
-John
this book is also listed in RealSimple mags december issue in their 50 gifts under $50 section. it’s listed as a “universal crowd pleaser.” sounds like it will definitely make for a great xmas gift, if anyone can find it!
Holy crap that book looks amazing! As a nerdy list maker, color coder (who DID break out some markers during math homework) and art studio major I am in LOVE with this book. Thanks for sharing!!!! I gotta snatch one up!
I bought the book from a local Borders and there are indeed some pages that have the graphics but no text. Bummer – I’ll have to find another copy to see if it has the same issue.
Hey Heather,
That stinks! Perhaps it’s just certain regions that are having the issue (or certain print runs)? Either way we hope you find a pristine copy soon!
xo,
s
Actually every US 1st edition (printed in 2009) has the problem according to the Harper Collins. So you may not have realized it but your copy should have the same issues. For example, see page 64. The author has posted a PDF of the messed up pages so if anyone else purchases the book, head to the URL in the post above and get yourself the PDF! I also read that you can order a reprint from Harper Collins.
Hope it helps!
I forgot – yours does have print issues as well since the graphic of the farts above is incorrect. Each yellow area actually has text in it. The cow is 3500, pig is 370, goat is 230, sheep is 320 and human is 73. Go to his site and get yourself the PDF. :)
Crazy! Thanks for the heads up! We’re glad it’s such a small issue that neither of us even noticed it when we read our copy!
xo,
s
Good news! I just received an email from Harper Collins apologizing for the issue. They asked for my address (as long as you are in the US and it isn’t a PO Box) so they can send me a replacement copy!
I’m really surprised y’all didn’t see the issues. I saw the graphics without text and wondering if it was a test to see if I could figure out what the graphic was trying to tell me. Perhaps you just browsed the book rather than reading it since it’s really hard to miss the error!
Thanks for the tip Heather! We both sat down with the book and some hot tea and neither of us noticed! Maybe our minds were elsewhere (like on the big bathroom reno, haha). Anyway we’re so glad they’re sending a new issue your way!
xo,
s
Dijon mustard goes bad after a month? Did everyone else already know this? Is it disgusting that I’ve had the same jar for like a year? Very cool book though. I obviously need to consult the condiment chapter!