Guess what? I missed you! After focusing on making our first BI Data Storytelling Accelerator 3-day live workshop a major success, I’m back! Registration is now open for the next workshop on January 28-30, 2020. It’s the hottest thing since fried rice!
Today, I am talking to the amazing Alberto Cairo, author of How Charts Lie. He’s an AoF alumnus, who was on my very first AoF podcast episode where we were the first to announce, The Functional Art (one of the most well-known books in our industry). Stay tuned to the end for an insane book giveaway you won’t find anywhere else!
"A visualization can only be worth a 1,000 words if we know how to read it." - Alberto Cairo [19:11]
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This exciting season of AOF is sponsored by our BI Data Storytelling Mastery Accelerator 3-Day Live workshop. Our second one is coming up on Jan 28-30, 2020 and registration is now open! Join us and consider upgrading to be a VIP (we have tons of bonuses planned). Many BI teams are still struggling to deliver consistent, high-engaging analytics their users love. At the end of three days, you’ll leave with the tools, techniques and, resources you need to engage your users. Register today!
3 Knowledge Bombs
- Alberto on Visualizations - "An argument made into a visual that needs to be decoded."
- Alberto on Charts - "Show and tell to enable understanding and avoid misinterpretation.”
- Alberto on Biases - "Without context, charts don’t make any sense."
In this episode, you'll learn:
- [04:50] - If you don’t know Alberto, you’re living under a BI or data visualization rock.
- [06:15] - Key Quote: "I have devoted my career to learn, read, write, and design data visualizations." - Alberto Cairo
- [08:42] - Alberto’s books make concepts clear, straightforward, fun, and visual.
- [12:00] - Learn why Alberto warns: “Be aware of what some people call the Curse of Knowledge.”
- [13:21] - Alberto's new book 'How Charts Lie' target audience is not just journalists or scientists: It's about how to create a message or story that can be understood by a broader audience.
- [16:40] - Be Better Chart Readers: Do charts lie? Or, do we misinterpret them?
- [18:30] - Key Quote: Charts that are perfectly well designed, they are perfectly fine, but are commonly misinterpreted. - Alberto Cairo
- [19:11] - Key Quote: A visualization can only be worth a 1,000 words if we know how to read it. - Alberto Cairo
- [21:41] - Key ways to overcome biases: Steps to read a visual. Read the title, message, and patterns.
- [27:03] - Learn why without context, your charts don’t make any sense.
- [33:07] - Bad Data: Bias audience in a positive way; don’t get defensive and place blame..
- [36:50] - The Purpose of How Charts Lie: Appreciate charts more, assume charts are not a lesser way of communication than words, and take them seriously.
- [39:27] - Albert on Chart Design: Justify decisions based on scientific evidence, not rules; think outside the templates.
- Right-click here and save-as to download this episode to your computer.
“You cannot just look at a chart. You need to read that chart to understand it.” Alberto Cairo [19:31]
Links and Resources mentioned in this episode:
- For a chance to win a signed copy of Alberto Cairo’s new book, How Charts Lie be sure to join our BI Data Storytelling Master Facebook Group!
- Connect to Alberto Cairo via Twitter | Facebook | Subscribe to his website
- Check out Alberto Cairo’s new book, How Charts Lie (pre-order on Amazon)
- Check out Alberto’s other books and FREE resources:
- AoF 1: The Truthful And Functional Art – How To Visualize Your Data with Alberto Cairo
- Subscribe to his blog!
- Keep up with his Upcoming Events!
- Alberto’s book recommendations are pure dynamite:
- The Big Book of Dashboards: Visualizing Your Data Using Real-World Business Scenarios by Andy Cotgreave, Jeffrey Shaffer, and Steve Wexler
- The Tangled Tree: A Radical New History of Life by David Quammen
- The Beginning of Infinity: Explanations That Transform the World by David Deutsch
- Alberto works at the University of Miami (my Alma Mater - small world!)
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