An Adventure in Statistics: The Reality Enigma

Once again, bestselling author and award-winning teacher Andy Field hasn’t just broken the traditional textbook mould with his new novel/textbook, he has forged the only statistics book on the market with a terrifying probability bridge, zombies and a talking cat!

Andy Field’s unique approach gently introduces students across the social sciences to the importance and relevance of statistics in a stunningly illustrated format and style. By weaving in a compelling narrative, he takes students on an exciting journey through introductory level statistics overcoming potential anxiety around the subject and providing a vibrant alternative to the dullness of many typical offerings.

The medium, the message and the rock-solid statistics coverage combine to raise the level of attainment of even the most Maths-phobic student. It assumes no previous knowledge, nor requires the use of data analysis software.

It covers the material you would expect for an introductory level statistics module that his previous books (Discovering Statistics Using IBM SPSS Statistics and Discovering Statistics Using R) only touch on, but with a contemporary twist, laying down strong foundations for understanding classical and Bayesian approaches to data analysis.

In doing so, it provides an unrivalled launchpad to further study, research and inquisitiveness about the real world, equipping students with the skills to succeed in their chosen degree and which they can go on to apply in the workplace.

Editorial Reviews

A UNIQUE, ENGAGING EXPERIENCE…The narrative helps to build a context for introducing concepts and allows for the characters to explain the concepts through their successive parts. This is a must-have for those studying statistics.
– Benjamin Schade

„I have at last encountered a book that provides solid, innovative statistics instruction alongside lessons in coding. And it’s fair to say that it does so like no other. Andy Field’s An Adventure in Statistics: The Reality Enigma–an introductory statistics educational text embedded in a science fiction story with graphic-novel artwork–has caught my attention and kept it. If only I’d had this book back in grad school…As an experienced educator, Field has a good sense of where a student might get held up, and he makes sure to cover such topics repeatedly to emphasize certain points…the fictional story exists in service of the statistics instruction, as the narrative flow is driven by wherever the statistics lessons need to go next…it succeeds in making a normally dry read into one that is fun, emotive, and even suspenseful. “

– The Scientific Research Society – Katie L. Burke

It’s an excellent resource and successfully makes statistics more accessible […] the story format encourages readers to persevere and to complete the course. It also gives readers quirky (and therefore memorable) analogies with which to visualize or conceptualise the statistical theories
– Marguerite Adewoye

Funny and engaging book, YOU CANNOT STOP READING it because you cannot wait to know what happens to Zach and Alice.
– Eszter Stockl

‘ „Try to have a theory of mind about your audience; that is, try to think back to a time when you didn’t understand, remember what that was like, and think about what would have helped you „‘

– from an interview with Andy Field in June 2016’s edition of Significance

„Andy Field is a true superstar…“
– Times Higher Education article on taking statistics teaching to a new level

This book is EXTREMELY HELPFUL IN UNDERSTANDING THE BASICS behind some of the more complex statistical procedures gone over in lectures.
– Payne Rebecca

A MUST-HAVE FOR ANY STATISTICS STUDENT looking for a thorough understanding of statistical terminology and concepts. Students will come for the statistics and stay for the narrative.
– Tess Liddell

See what students are saying!

„PERFECT FOR EVERYONE that finds stats difficult, pointless or boring, this book proves them wrong! The way the concepts are explained is so easy to grasp and it makes it even entertaining to learn! I wish I had discovered this sooner!“
– Larissa Quiroga Escamilla

Students who come to the book for statistics learning stay with it for the engaging story. By the end of the book, the reader gets completely satiated not only from the story but also from the abundant concepts learned during the unfolding of the story. The book is highly entertaining, tremendously exciting, meticulously thorough on subject matter coverage and amazingly simple to understand and follow
– Naveen Kashyap