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The Flaw of Averages: Why We Underestimate Risk in the Face of Uncertainty
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The Flaw of Averages: Why We Underestimate Risk in the Face of Uncertainty

by Sam L. Savage
June 2009
Intermediate to advanced
416 pages
9h 5m
English
Wiley
Content preview from The Flaw of Averages: Why We Underestimate Risk in the Face of Uncertainty
PART 8
THE FLAW OF AVERAGES AND SOME HOT BUTTON ISSUES
There is nothing like life-and-death issues to get people thinking irrationally and making bad decisions. The Flaw of Averages only makes this tendency worse.
This part begins with the hotbed of World War II statistical research in which my father’s career was forged. Next I discuss the War on Terror, which is poorly understood from a statistical perspective. Climate change and health care provide many additional opportunities for misunderstanding. Part 8 concludes with some observations on the differences in the genetic portfolios of men and women.
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ISBN: 9780470488126Purchase book