How Charts Work

How Charts Work brings the secrets of effective data visualisation in a way that will help you bring data alive.

Charts, graphs and tables are essential devices in business, but all too often they present information poorly. This book will help you:

Feel confident understanding different types of charts, graphs and tables – and how to read them

Recognise the true story behind the data presented and what the information really shows

Know the principles and rules of how best to represent information so you can create your own information-driven (and beautiful) visuals

Design visuals that people engage with, understand and act upon

Don't value design over information – present data persuasively.

Find the FT Chart Doctor's columns here - https://www.ft.com/chart-doctor

Foreword

Acknowledgements

1. Why you need this book

2. Why charts matter

PART 1 - KNOW YOUR CHARTS

3. The FT Visual Vocabulary

4. Charts of magnitude

5. Charts of change over time

6. Charts of correlation

7. Charts of distribution

8. Charts of flow

9. Charts of ranking

10. Charts of deviation

11. Charts of part to whole

12. Spatial is special

PART 2 - PUTTING CHARTS TO WORK

13. Using the Visual Vocabulary in your own organisation

14. The science behind good charts

15. Scales of justice, axes of evil

16. The best charts are well written

17. Designing for charts

18. Visualising uncertainty - a case study