Stephen Few

Stephen Few is a data visualization expert and consultant who has written extensively about information dashboard design and data presentation. He founded the consultancy Perceptual Edge in 2003, focusing on data visualization for business intelligence and analytics. Few's most influential works include "Show Me the Numbers" and "Information Dashboard Design," which have become standard references for data visualization professionals. His writing emphasizes clarity, efficiency and the removal of unnecessary visual elements that can distract from the core message of data presentations. He developed and popularized several key concepts in data visualization, including the principle of "data-ink ratio" and techniques for effective dashboard design. His work builds upon the foundations laid by visualization pioneers like Edward Tufte while focusing specifically on business applications. Few regularly speaks at conferences and has taught data visualization at universities including the University of California, Berkeley. His critical analyses of common visualization practices, particularly his stance against pie charts and excessive decoration in business graphics, have sparked important discussions in the field of data presentation.

Readers value Few's clear explanations of data visualization principles and practical examples, particularly in "Show Me the Numbers" and "Information Dashboard Design." Business analysts and data professionals cite his books as useful desk references. Likes: - Step-by-step instruction for creating effective charts and graphs - Strong stance against excessive decoration and visual clutter - Real-world examples of both good and bad visualizations Dislikes: - Writing style can be repetitive and pedantic - Some readers find his rules too rigid and inflexible - High price point of books relative to page count - Limited coverage of newer visualization tools/techniques Ratings across platforms: Amazon: 4.5/5 average across all books (2,000+ reviews) Goodreads: 4.1/5 for Show Me the Numbers (2,100+ ratings) 4.2/5 for Information Dashboard Design (1,800+ ratings) Notable reader comment: "Few's principles helped me clean up messy dashboards, but his tone comes across as unnecessarily dogmatic about what constitutes good design."

Show Me the Numbers: Designing Tables and Graphs to Enlighten (2004) A comprehensive guide to the visual display of quantitative information, focusing on the fundamental principles of table and graph design.

Information Dashboard Design: The Effective Visual Communication of Data (2006) A detailed examination of dashboard design principles, including what to display, how to display it, and how to arrange information for maximum effectiveness.

Now You See It: Simple Visualization Techniques for Quantitative Analysis (2009) A practical guide to data visualization techniques that help analysts explore, make sense of, and communicate quantitative information.

Signal: Understanding What Matters in a World of Noise (2015) An analysis of how to identify meaningful patterns in data while filtering out irrelevant information and statistical noise.

Big Data, Big Dupe: A little book about a big bunch of nonsense (2018) A critical examination of common misconceptions about big data and its role in business decision-making.