The Signal and the Noise cover art

The Signal and the Noise

The Art and Science of Prediction

Preview
LIMITED TIME OFFER

3 Months Free

£5.99/mo after 3 months. Cancel monthly.
Get this deal
Offer ends on 15 July 2026 at 11:59 BST.
More purchase options

The Signal and the Noise

By: Nate Silver
Narrated by: Mike Chamberlain
Get this deal

£5.99/mo after 3 months. Cancel monthly.

Buy Now for £14.51

Buy Now for £14.51

Every time we choose a route to work, decide whether to go on a second date, or set aside money for a rainy day, we are making a prediction about the future. Yet from the global financial crisis to 9/11 to the Fukushima disaster, we often fail to foresee hugely significant events. In The Signal and the Noise, the New York Times' political forecaster and statistics guru Nate Silver explores the art of prediction, revealing how we can all build a better crystal ball.

In his quest to distinguish the true signal from a universe of noisy data, Silver visits hundreds of expert forecasters, in fields ranging from the stock market to the poker table, from earthquakes to terrorism. What lies behind their success? And why do so many predictions still fail? By analysing the rare prescient forecasts, and applying a more quantitative lens to everyday life, Silver distils the essential lessons of prediction.

We live in an increasingly data-driven world, but it is harder than ever to detect the true patterns amid the noise of information. In this dazzling insider's tour of the world of forecasting, Silver reveals how we can all develop better foresight in our everyday lives.

©2012 Nate Silver (P)2024 Penguin Audio
Forecasting & Strategic Planning Management & Leadership Mathematics Natural Disaster
adbl_web_anon_alc_button_suppression_t1
All stars
Most relevant
wordy. he made a great website, not a great book. too wordy, few original ideas.

same point made a lot.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

To quote the author in jest, "we ran 80,000 simulations" - and it turns out even if you wrote a book about making predictions, you sill can't do it well.

Predicting is hard

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.