Book Review: Show Me the Numbers by Stephen Few
In “Show Me the Numbers,” Stephen Few advocates for clear and concise data visualization through tables and graphs. He argues that simplicity reigns supreme, encouraging designers to ditch the clutter and focus on effectively communicating the message.
The book primarily focuses on charts and visual representation of numbers, but it also contains significant information on creating tables. Even if you don't have many numbers to showcase, Few's book is worth reading to enhance your table skills.
Whether in charts or tables, Few emphasizes understanding the nature of data, distinguishing between qualitative and quantitative values, and choosing the appropriate visual format accordingly. Tables excel at precise value lookup and individual value comparison, while graphs shine at revealing relationships among multiple values. He passionately discourages using pie charts, deeming them ineffective and visually misleading. (We agree.)
Throughout the book, Few underscores the importance of design principles. White space, contrast, and proximity are crucial in guiding the viewer’s attention and enhancing comprehension. He encourages minimalism, urging designers to remove any element that doesn’t directly contribute to the message. We can empower viewers to understand the data and make informed decisions by carefully crafting informative and aesthetically pleasing visuals.
When we help folks improve their presentation visuals, we often say, “Treat each electron on the screen as if it costs money and ask yourself, would I pay for that line, icon, line of text, or any other noise that often appears on slides.” Few explains this concept in detail:
The process of subtracting unnecessary non-data ink involves asking the following question about each visual component: "Would the message of the data suffer any loss of meaning or impact if this was eliminated?" If the answer is "no," then get rid of it. Resist the temptation to keep things just because they're cute or because you worked so hard to create them. If they don't support the message, they don't serve the purpose of communication. As the author Antoine de Saint-Exupery suggests: "In anything at all, perfection is finally attained not when there is no longer anything to add, but when there is no longer anything to take away." (Page 114)
By ditching the unnecessary and embracing simplicity, clarity, and effective design principles, “Show Me the Numbers” encourages us to transform data into impactful and readily understood visual stories.