Reading the analysis and re-analyses and critiques and defenses of the many polling numbers, it makes the book I am currently reading seem incredibly timely and one I would like to recommend widely. In addition to being a useful reminder of the limits of numerical accuracy, it's written in an entertaining and witty way.

The book is Proofiness, by Eric Seife. There's  a nice review by the New York Times here: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/19/books/review/Strogatz-t.html and that has a link to a small excerpt. I am sure it will seem remedial to some of you, but also serve as a handy reminder that polling and elections are full of "proofiness."

I am not sure of the etiquette about recommending a  book more about numbers and statistics than election law, but considering that one chapter title is Electile Dysfunction, I decided to go ahead. i have to confess that I am a fan of Eric Seife, having read his book Zero: the Biography of a Number a few years back. I liked it so well, I gave copies for Christmas to several friends and family. They are all still friends! 

Of course, some of you might have your hair set on fire by his opinion of the Franken-Coleman and Gore-Bush recounts and his recommendation for similar close elections. But, after all the angst and money spent for results that leave everyone exasperated, his suggestion of tossing a coin does seem cheaper, easier and less exasperating.

RuthAlice





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