Tim Harford, also known as the Undercover Economist, writes his first book for children and it is a superb read (and NO, that is not fake news).
In a world full of sensational statistics, bamboozling bombshells and dodgy data, it can be hard to make sense of what is really going on. The truth is often hidden behind fabulous-looking figures, manipulated maths and head-scratching headlines. But it doesn’t have to be, you just need to look in the right places to see the facts amongst the fictitious. Grab your magnifying glass and best detective hat, power-up that brilliant brain and start seeing the world differently as a truth detective…
The Truth Detective is a fascinating, eye-opening and hugely beneficial exploration of the facts and figures that are reported daily and how to make sense of them. Tim wants children to become the Hercule Poirot of statistics, the Sherlock Holmes of fake news, the Nancy Drew of numbers. And any reader, young or old, who browses these masterly written pages will become an expert detective who can determine fact from fiction, truth from trash and the nonsense from the notable.
Ten chapters explore ten simple rules; looking at the right thing, thinking about what information is missing, controlling your brain guard, seeing the truth through the lies, unpicking statistics, reading between the lines, analysing accurately, making sensible comparisons and more. Real world examples are used brilliantly to highlight complex ideas and ensure accessibility for the target audience. I loved meeting the dastardly villains who tried to outfox the world with their nonsense numbers and the heroic truth detectives who showed the world what was really going on - special shout-out to Florence Nightingale whose pie chart revolutionised medical practices and the trio of teens who showed Australians the true covid numbers.
Readers will find it easy to engage with Tim’s chatty conversational tone and Ollie Mann’s funky, fluorescent orange cartoon-style illustrations really bring characters and stories to life. Together they make for a read that is smart, slick and savvy.
It is a brilliant investigative exposé of how not to be fooled by misleading information and it all culminates in a Swiss army knife of skills, tools, tricks and mindset that will empower children to make sound, evidence-based and informed judgements. Fresh, important and bang-up-to-date, this is essential reading for all kids growing up in today’s world. The more truth detectives in the world, the better! Recommended for 10+. With huge thanks to Hachette and Wren & Rook for the copy I received in exchange for an honest review.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Archives
March 2024
|