{"title":"Michael Blastland","description":"\u003cp\u003eWelcome to the Michael Blastland collection, a compelling curation of thought-provoking books that explore the fascinating realms of science, nature, philosophy, and psychology. Renowned for his ability to demystify complex ideas, Michael Blastland brings a refreshing perspective to topics that are often shrouded in mystery.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eDelve into \u003cem\u003eThe Hidden Half\u003c\/em\u003e, where you'll discover the unpredictable forces that shape our world, challenging the illusion of certainty in nature and human affairs. Next, embark on an insightful journey with \u003cem\u003eThe Norm Chronicles\u003c\/em\u003e, an engaging exploration of risk and probability that will alter the way you perceive everyday hazards.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn \u003cem\u003eThe Tiger That Isn't\u003c\/em\u003e, Blastland, alongside co-author Andrew Dilnot, strips away statistical confusion to reveal the clear truths lurking behind numbers and data. Completing the collection is \u003cem\u003eThinking in Pictures\u003c\/em\u003e, a deep dive into the world of ideas, encouraging us to perceive beyond the immediate and engage with the abstract.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eMichael Blastland's works are a must-read for anyone curious about the underpinnings of our world. His accessible writing style ensures that even the most intricate subjects are approachable and enlightening. Enjoy uncovering the profound insights these books have to offer.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"the-norm-chronicles-by-david-spiegelhalter-9781846686214","title":"The Norm Chronicles","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMeet Norm. He's 31, 5'9\", just over 13 stone, and works a 39-hour week. He likes a drink, doesn't do enough exercise, and occasionally treats himself to a bar of chocolate (milk). He's a pretty average kind of guy. In fact, he is the average guy in this clever and unusual take on statistical risk, chance, and how these two factors affect our everyday choices.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWatch as Norm (who, like all average specimens, feels himself to be uniquely special), and his friends, careful Prudence and reckless Kelvin, turn to statistics to help him in life's endless series of choices — should I fly or take the train? Have a baby? Another drink? Or another sausage? Do a charity skydive or get a lift on a motorbike?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eBecause chance and risk aren't just about numbers — it's about what we believe, who we trust, and how we feel about the world around us. From a world expert in risk and the bestselling author of \u003ci\u003eThe Tiger That Isn't\u003c\/i\u003e, this is a commonsense (and wildly entertaining) guide to personal risk and decoding the statistics that represent it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Allen \u0026 Unwin","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46555568308460,"sku":"9781846686214","price":30.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/13589593482845.jpg?v=1750105566"},{"product_id":"the-hidden-half-by-michael-blastland-9781786496393","title":"The Hidden Half","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhy does one smoker die of lung cancer but another live to 100? The answer is \u003cem\u003eThe Hidden Half\u003c\/em\u003e - those random, unknowable variables that mess up our attempts to comprehend the world.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWe humans are very clever creatures - but we're idiots about how clever we really are. In this entertaining and ingenious book, Blastland reveals how in our quest to make the world more understandable, we lose sight of how unexplainable it often is. The result - from GDP figures to medicine - is that experts know a lot less than they think.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFilled with compelling stories from economics, genetics, business, and science, \u003cem\u003eThe Hidden Half\u003c\/em\u003e is a warning that an explanation which works in one arena may not work in another. Entertaining and provocative, it will change how you view the world.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Allen \u0026 Unwin","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46855005176044,"sku":"9781786496393","price":27.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9781786496393.jpg?v=1759260536"},{"product_id":"the-tiger-that-isnt-by-andrew-dilnot-9781846681110","title":"The Tiger That Isn't","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMathematics scares and depresses most of us, but politicians, journalists, and everyone in power use numbers all the time to bamboozle us. Most maths is really simple—as easy as 2+2, in fact. Better still, it can be understood without any jargon, formulas, and not even many numbers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eMost of it is commonsense, and by using a few really simple principles, one can quickly see when maths, statistics, and numbers are being abused to play tricks or create policies that can waste millions of pounds. It is liberating to understand when numbers are telling the truth or being used to lie, whether it is health scares, the costs of government policies, the supposed risks of certain activities, or the real burden of taxes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Allen \u0026 Unwin","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46855275839724,"sku":"9781846681110","price":29.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9781846681110.jpg?v=1759266206"},{"product_id":"thinking-in-pictures-by-michael-blastland-9781838957469","title":"Thinking in Pictures","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhy thinking in pictures? Short answer: because the words seem to need help. If you sample the many big ideas books to hit the shelves recently, they all promise a smarter, more rational you. But if the books are that good, why are there so many?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eUsing illustrations and photographs, Michael Blastland shows how pictures can help put ideas to the test, making them vivid, showing them in action. Part guide, part gallery, \u003cem\u003eThinking in Pictures\u003c\/em\u003e is a brilliant introduction to smart-thinking - how to use it and when to question it - for anyone trying to make sense of a puzzling world.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Allen \u0026 Unwin","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47000826446060,"sku":"9781838957469","price":45.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/20559513482842.jpg?v=1763307960"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.pro\/collections\/michael-blastland.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}