The Norm Chronicles
Stories and Numbers about Danger
Book • 2014
The Norm Chronicles combines storytelling with statistical analysis to explore how people perceive and respond to risk.
The book introduces three main characters: Norm, who is average in every way and calculates risk based on statistics; Prudence, who is extremely risk-averse; and Kelvin, who is reckless and enjoys taking risks.
Each chapter addresses different aspects of life, such as the risks associated with driving, eating processed foods, or having a baby, and uses these characters to illustrate how different people respond to similar levels of risk.
The authors argue that while statisticians see risk in terms of numbers, people assess risk through stories, anecdotes, and personal experiences.
The book introduces three main characters: Norm, who is average in every way and calculates risk based on statistics; Prudence, who is extremely risk-averse; and Kelvin, who is reckless and enjoys taking risks.
Each chapter addresses different aspects of life, such as the risks associated with driving, eating processed foods, or having a baby, and uses these characters to illustrate how different people respond to similar levels of risk.
The authors argue that while statisticians see risk in terms of numbers, people assess risk through stories, anecdotes, and personal experiences.
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Brian Cox
David Spiegelhalter
Risk
