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Storytelling with Data: A Data Visualization Guide for Business Professionals
Don't simply show your data � tell a story with it! Storytelling with Data teaches you the fundamentals of data visualization and how to communicate effectively with data. You'll discover the power of storytelling and the way to make data a pivotal point in your story. The lessons in this illuminative text are grounded in theory, but made accessible through numerous real-world examples � ready for immediate application to your next graph or presentation.
Storytelling is not an inherent skill, especially when it comes to data visualization, and the tools at our disposal don't make it any easier. This book demonstrates how to go beyond conventional tools to reach the root of your data, and how to use your data to create an engaging, informative, compelling story. Specifically, you'll learn how
Together, the lessons in this book will help you turn your data into high impact visual stories that stick with your audience. Rid your world of ineffective graphs, one exploding 3D pie chart at a time. There is a story in your data � Storytelling with Data will give you the skills and power to tell it.
Storytelling is not an inherent skill, especially when it comes to data visualization, and the tools at our disposal don't make it any easier. This book demonstrates how to go beyond conventional tools to reach the root of your data, and how to use your data to create an engaging, informative, compelling story. Specifically, you'll learn how
Together, the lessons in this book will help you turn your data into high impact visual stories that stick with your audience. Rid your world of ineffective graphs, one exploding 3D pie chart at a time. There is a story in your data � Storytelling with Data will give you the skills and power to tell it.
288 pages, Paperback
First published October 7, 2015
3410 people are currently reading
17237 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 781 reviews
April 23, 2019
This book is super-useful for anyone dealing with data of any size or scope. It’s clear, practical advice backed by insight into how the human brain works.
As I’ve worked on improving my visual communication skills, I’ve gotten better at including visuals such as graphs. However, I tend to stop there � “okay, I have a graph; visual checkbox ticked off!� � which is necessary but not sufficient. Just because I’ve visually outlined information does not mean I have done so in a way that’s best for my audience, or in a way that best conveys the point I’m trying to make.
My favorite parts where when Nussbaumer Knaflic would present a first version of a data visualization, then walk through her principles of removing clutter, highlighting only key data, and telling a story. She changes the visual with each principle, and every iteration shows how more clarity emerges. The before and after comparisons really grounded for me how much all this matters. I wish I could go through old data visualizations I made and re-do them with this book (I may try and do so from memory using these tactics, just for my own purposes and practice).
The only reason it doesn’t get 5 stars is because I reserve that rating for books that make me think about the world at large differently. This will make me think about business, communication, data, and visuals differently. Would give it 4.5 stars.
As I’ve worked on improving my visual communication skills, I’ve gotten better at including visuals such as graphs. However, I tend to stop there � “okay, I have a graph; visual checkbox ticked off!� � which is necessary but not sufficient. Just because I’ve visually outlined information does not mean I have done so in a way that’s best for my audience, or in a way that best conveys the point I’m trying to make.
My favorite parts where when Nussbaumer Knaflic would present a first version of a data visualization, then walk through her principles of removing clutter, highlighting only key data, and telling a story. She changes the visual with each principle, and every iteration shows how more clarity emerges. The before and after comparisons really grounded for me how much all this matters. I wish I could go through old data visualizations I made and re-do them with this book (I may try and do so from memory using these tactics, just for my own purposes and practice).
The only reason it doesn’t get 5 stars is because I reserve that rating for books that make me think about the world at large differently. This will make me think about business, communication, data, and visuals differently. Would give it 4.5 stars.
March 29, 2016
Ever since I read when it came out in the 1980's, I have been awed by the power of a really good graphic to communicate insight. From time to time I pick up a book on the topic to find tips to help me improve my information design skills.
I have not seen a better introduction to the subject of data visualization for storytelling than Storytelling with Data. The audience is clearly analysts using basic tools (think Excel) who are new to the subject. The author patiently steps through the process, starting with consideration of the context (target audience, objective, format, etc.) and selection of the appropriate chart format. Perhaps the best discussion is on eliminating clutter, focusing the viewer on key elements, and other design considerations. She provides many examples and explains the cognitive considerations behind each design choice.
My reason for rating it 4 instead of 5 stars is that the book does not get far beyond the basics and only considers a narrow range of format options.
I have not seen a better introduction to the subject of data visualization for storytelling than Storytelling with Data. The audience is clearly analysts using basic tools (think Excel) who are new to the subject. The author patiently steps through the process, starting with consideration of the context (target audience, objective, format, etc.) and selection of the appropriate chart format. Perhaps the best discussion is on eliminating clutter, focusing the viewer on key elements, and other design considerations. She provides many examples and explains the cognitive considerations behind each design choice.
My reason for rating it 4 instead of 5 stars is that the book does not get far beyond the basics and only considers a narrow range of format options.
July 14, 2018
TODO full review:
--- Overall, yet another book about information visualization. There is nothing bad in it, but also there is nothing particularly new, or particularly good, or particularly inspiring.
+ Summary: take the idea of storytelling being the most important part of communication (many sources, including authors of excellent books on presentations and , plus pop-science authors and ), combine with the idea of communicating in visuals ('s as trailblazer, but then also many popular and more accessible books from , , etc.).
--- Data means for this author merely classic charts, and visualization is much about de-cluttering these classics in ways already proposed by others. Extracting knowledge and actionable information are given lip-service.
--- One more thing that should also bug you: when the author tells you to focus on the story, and push it through visual means, the author effectively tells you how to manipulate people viscerally. That is done by all information visualization, but particularly so by visualizations that use knowledge from cognitive sciences, such as the role of color and gestalt positioning on the brain, to persuade. What is missing? The warning signs concerning the ethics of this, and making sure you test the ethics of what you do before publishing the graph. There are many authors on information visualization cautioning about this; for an example, read .
+ The author has been part of the Project Oxygen at Google, about understanding what makes good managers for making successful the people and projects in global-systems engineering. There is even a nice endorsement by . (She's a good practitioner, he says, and she is also good with teaching others how to do this stuff. But has she has created in this book "a complement to the work of data visualization pioneers"? If not, why not simply get one of the books of , , or ?)
--- Overall, yet another book about information visualization. There is nothing bad in it, but also there is nothing particularly new, or particularly good, or particularly inspiring.
+ Summary: take the idea of storytelling being the most important part of communication (many sources, including authors of excellent books on presentations and , plus pop-science authors and ), combine with the idea of communicating in visuals ('s as trailblazer, but then also many popular and more accessible books from , , etc.).
--- Data means for this author merely classic charts, and visualization is much about de-cluttering these classics in ways already proposed by others. Extracting knowledge and actionable information are given lip-service.
--- One more thing that should also bug you: when the author tells you to focus on the story, and push it through visual means, the author effectively tells you how to manipulate people viscerally. That is done by all information visualization, but particularly so by visualizations that use knowledge from cognitive sciences, such as the role of color and gestalt positioning on the brain, to persuade. What is missing? The warning signs concerning the ethics of this, and making sure you test the ethics of what you do before publishing the graph. There are many authors on information visualization cautioning about this; for an example, read .
+ The author has been part of the Project Oxygen at Google, about understanding what makes good managers for making successful the people and projects in global-systems engineering. There is even a nice endorsement by . (She's a good practitioner, he says, and she is also good with teaching others how to do this stuff. But has she has created in this book "a complement to the work of data visualization pioneers"? If not, why not simply get one of the books of , , or ?)
December 7, 2021
این کتاب واقعا یه هدف متمرکز داره، که بهتر نشون دادن نمودارها و به صورت کلی دادهها� در انواع ارائه است. و این کار رو به بهترررررین نحو ممکن انجام مید�. جزو کتابها� شگفتانگیزی� که خوندم و دیدم.
+ خود کتاب یک نمونه زیبای کاریه که داره میگه انجام بدین.
ترجمه خوب، صفحه بندی قشنگ و دقیق. همه چیزش رو دوست داشتم.
+ خود کتاب یک نمونه زیبای کاریه که داره میگه انجام بدین.
ترجمه خوب، صفحه بندی قشنگ و دقیق. همه چیزش رو دوست داشتم.
July 14, 2017
As the amount of data we generate grows exponentially, it is increasingly important that we can make sense of it for decision making. To do this we need to be able to use data visualisation to discover the story, the insight, behind the raw data.
Knaflic sets out six key points for effective storytelling using data: start by understanding the context and choosing an appropriate method to visualise the data. Then focus attention on the key points and eliminate clutter. And adopt user-centred design thinking to tell a story.
Given the number of times we see confused and confusing charts, there are many who would benefit from the tips in Knaflic’s book. However given much of this is available online (for example from sites like ) Knaflic needed to provide more indepth insights.
While Knaflic provides many practical tips, her analysis is shallow. The book would have been more meaningful if it had included greater commentary and examples � perhaps even a decision tree � on what data visualisation techniques work most effectively for what type of information.
And a major omission is the role and use of infographics as a way to provide engaging, data driven storytelling.
So a practical guide for more effective charting but one which falls short of its broader goal of data visualisation for story telling.
Knaflic sets out six key points for effective storytelling using data: start by understanding the context and choosing an appropriate method to visualise the data. Then focus attention on the key points and eliminate clutter. And adopt user-centred design thinking to tell a story.
Given the number of times we see confused and confusing charts, there are many who would benefit from the tips in Knaflic’s book. However given much of this is available online (for example from sites like ) Knaflic needed to provide more indepth insights.
While Knaflic provides many practical tips, her analysis is shallow. The book would have been more meaningful if it had included greater commentary and examples � perhaps even a decision tree � on what data visualisation techniques work most effectively for what type of information.
And a major omission is the role and use of infographics as a way to provide engaging, data driven storytelling.
So a practical guide for more effective charting but one which falls short of its broader goal of data visualisation for story telling.
August 2, 2018
Storytelling with data is a great book for anyone who desires to grasp the basic concepts behind communication with data. From general understanding of the different types of graphs to pick from to showcase different stories, to learn how to declutter and improve your creations, this book gives you great insights. It is a fun, enjoyable and easy to read book.
August 25, 2022
หนังสือที่ควรมีติดบ้าน เวลานึกไม่ออกว่าต้องเอาข้อมูลมาทำเป็นกราฟไงก็เปิดไปเลย
Q : ไม่ได้ทำงานด้า� data อ่านดีมั้ย
A : อ่านก็ได้ไม่อ่านก็ได� เราก็ไม่ได้ทำงานด้า� data แต่ชอบเก็บข้อมูลนู่นนี่ในชีวิตแล้วก็เอามาทำเป็นกราฟเพื่อวิเคราะห์ตัวเอง การได้อ่านเล่มนี้ก็ช่วยทำให้เราเห็นภาพง่ายขึ้นว่าเวลาจะทำกราฟออกมาเพื่อสื่อสารควรทำอย่างไรให้เข้าใจง่า�
จริง� อ่านเล่มนี้ไม่ยากเลย ไม่ต้องอ่านตั้งแต่หน้าแรกจนหน้าสุดท้ายก็ได� อ่านเฉพาะจุดที่เราสนใจหรือจุดที่เราติดก็ได้ มันเป็นเหมือ� handbook ไว้เปิดเวลาคิดงานไม่ออกจริงๆ ซึ่งเราว่ามันดีมา� หรือเอาไว้ฉุกเฉินจะต้องทำพรีเซนต์แล้วต้องเตรียมตัวอย่างไ� เล่มนี้ก็ช่วย
นอกจากนั้นท้ายเล่มยังมีเว็บอื่นๆ ไว้อ้างอิงหรือเราไปดูกราฟเพื่อเอามาประยุกต์ใช้ได้อีกด้ว� หรือเราสามาถเข้าไปดูในเว็บไซต์ของคนเขียนก่อนก็ได� ทำเว็บออกมาได้ดีมาก
Q : ไม่ได้ทำงานด้า� data อ่านดีมั้ย
A : อ่านก็ได้ไม่อ่านก็ได� เราก็ไม่ได้ทำงานด้า� data แต่ชอบเก็บข้อมูลนู่นนี่ในชีวิตแล้วก็เอามาทำเป็นกราฟเพื่อวิเคราะห์ตัวเอง การได้อ่านเล่มนี้ก็ช่วยทำให้เราเห็นภาพง่ายขึ้นว่าเวลาจะทำกราฟออกมาเพื่อสื่อสารควรทำอย่างไรให้เข้าใจง่า�
จริง� อ่านเล่มนี้ไม่ยากเลย ไม่ต้องอ่านตั้งแต่หน้าแรกจนหน้าสุดท้ายก็ได� อ่านเฉพาะจุดที่เราสนใจหรือจุดที่เราติดก็ได้ มันเป็นเหมือ� handbook ไว้เปิดเวลาคิดงานไม่ออกจริงๆ ซึ่งเราว่ามันดีมา� หรือเอาไว้ฉุกเฉินจะต้องทำพรีเซนต์แล้วต้องเตรียมตัวอย่างไ� เล่มนี้ก็ช่วย
นอกจากนั้นท้ายเล่มยังมีเว็บอื่นๆ ไว้อ้างอิงหรือเราไปดูกราฟเพื่อเอามาประยุกต์ใช้ได้อีกด้ว� หรือเราสามาถเข้าไปดูในเว็บไซต์ของคนเขียนก่อนก็ได� ทำเว็บออกมาได้ดีมาก
May 31, 2023
Ble litt distrahert av den pretensiøse business-streiting-språkdrakten («leverage a friend for their fresh perspective» 🥲).
Men: datavisualisering mestrer forfatteren til gangs, masse bra tips og inspirasjon.
Men: datavisualisering mestrer forfatteren til gangs, masse bra tips og inspirasjon.
July 13, 2024
Had to read this for class. I appreciated the author giving interesting ways to present data and tell a story using numbers.
November 10, 2018
One of the most important books I read this year. It's the kind of inspiring book that open your eyes and make you see the world differently. It also makes you a much better and nicer person, and will help you go to heaven when you die, because by finishing this book you will treat the audience of your visualizations with love and respect. Your data, your story, your friends, your colleagues, your clients... all of them deserve better.
100/10 recommended.
100/10 recommended.
March 3, 2019
An absolutely fantastic book and a must read for anyone who is doing any sort of data analytics. The author has an awesome simplistic style not only in her data visualization but also in her writing. The book was powerful and concise in its messaging. I don't think a single word in the book was superfluous, and the author does an amazing job of walking you step by step in how you can have that same power in communicating with data.
March 8, 2021
Для тех, кто ранее особо не задумывался и не читал о визуализации - отличная вообще книга! Для тех, кто постоянно рисует слайды и графики, удобно просмотреть и забрать для себя новые приемы и советы. Забрал штук 5 идей, что для 1 книги неплохо. Отлично структурированно и полно примеров.
July 27, 2023
The best business book I've read so far. It has clear examples, direct and concise language, and great points. I honestly believe every professional, especially in managerial positions should read it.
March 3, 2017
Coming from a design background, I was looking for more of something that could be relevant to UI design. I guess this book targets business people more than designers and I think ways to apply her ideas mainly concerns static powerpoint presentations rather than interactive user interfaces.
My take-away is the storytelling chapter. Other than that, it's basically just usability principles redefined in a business context.
My take-away is the storytelling chapter. Other than that, it's basically just usability principles redefined in a business context.
August 26, 2019
Great book!! Lots of great reminders, and excellent points! Lots of us use data to help our clients (internal and external) but most of us don’t have formal training on how to make sense of it, and help our audience understand it. Like any other type of communication, you need to think about your audience and be organized. Very great read!
February 14, 2022
اگه تو کار آمار و ارقام و مصور سازی داده ها هستید این کتاب رو حتما بخونید حتی اگه دکترای آمار هم باشید!!
خانم نافلیک با یک دیدگاه مختص خودش به مصورسازی داده ها میپردازه. من یکی که خوشم اومد
خانم نافلیک با یک دیدگاه مختص خودش به مصورسازی داده ها میپردازه. من یکی که خوشم اومد
December 13, 2024
BORINGGGG. Had To read for class. I felt like a lot of this was common sense. Could’ve been condensed to like 1 chapter LOL.
August 24, 2020
I've read a few more books on this topic before. Some points in this book contradict what I have read before. For example, in the book "Say it with Charts" I read before, pie chart was suggested in the representation of the components that make up the parts of the whole. In this book, it is suggested to avoid visualizations such as pie chart or donut chart and to focus on alternatives.
According to the author, it seems very important to focus especially on the story to be told. The graphs to be displayed can vary significantly depending on the story to be told. Furthermore, color, size and font used stand out as factors that determine where the audience should pay attention.
It is especially nice to use the 3-act rule in the cinema while telling the story and the gestalt theory while drawing attention to the points we want to emphasize, and to touch the scientific side of the work. As the author says, this is both science and art.
According to the author, it seems very important to focus especially on the story to be told. The graphs to be displayed can vary significantly depending on the story to be told. Furthermore, color, size and font used stand out as factors that determine where the audience should pay attention.
It is especially nice to use the 3-act rule in the cinema while telling the story and the gestalt theory while drawing attention to the points we want to emphasize, and to touch the scientific side of the work. As the author says, this is both science and art.
December 28, 2017
The biggest impact this book had on me was in changing the mindset of showing the data to actually telling a story with the data. The focus of the book is to make clear data visualizations that makes the audience see the results you want them to see. The author urges the reader to go beyond the default settings in your tool and guides the reader on choosing the right type of visualization, removing clutter and design tips. I think the design tips are especially helpful since most non-designers do not spend time thinking about the use of colors, white space, alignment, etc. Many of the concepts in the book are transferable to presentations too. Would highly recommend the book to anyone who has to present results using data!
January 28, 2018
Great resource for data biz basics ... explains the psychology and reasoning behind all of the best practices using the standard arsenal: gestalt principles and preattentive attributes. Would recommend to anybody who wants to spruce up their charts or data-based presentations.
January 3, 2020
Good reminder how to make data vizuals better, what works and what does not.
Comparable graphs in the book make visual understanding easy.
Comparable graphs in the book make visual understanding easy.
June 7, 2024
Alguns livros técnicos tem títulos pretensiosos demais, talvez nem por culpa do autor e sim pela pressão das editoras pra venderem mais. Aqui não sei nem por onde começar minha crítica, já que a autora, mesmo usando como referência grandes gurus de storytelling (como o McKee), utiliza as 288 páginas pra dar dicas de como fazer gráficos de linhas / barras mais visíveis e fáceis de serem compreendidos e esquece a promessa do título.
Daí que o livro tem pouco ou quase nada de storytelling e menos ainda explora interfaces gráficas que, ao meu ver, tem muito mais potencial de contar histórias e não simplesmente servirem de meio para explicar esclarecer algum dado / número. Onde estão as matrizes? Os diagramas de Venn? Os gráficos de dispersão (acho que esse ela até cita, mas não usa nenhuma vez como exemplo)? Os mapas mentais? Me parece que em nome da simplificação extrema - o que passa por um certo menosprezo da audiência ou homogeneização delas -, a autora preferiu jogar num território seguro e fugir de temas mais controversos.
Pobres dos gráficos de pizza e rosca que ficam solitários no lado oposto do corner, como más práticas generalizadas...
Daí que o livro tem pouco ou quase nada de storytelling e menos ainda explora interfaces gráficas que, ao meu ver, tem muito mais potencial de contar histórias e não simplesmente servirem de meio para explicar esclarecer algum dado / número. Onde estão as matrizes? Os diagramas de Venn? Os gráficos de dispersão (acho que esse ela até cita, mas não usa nenhuma vez como exemplo)? Os mapas mentais? Me parece que em nome da simplificação extrema - o que passa por um certo menosprezo da audiência ou homogeneização delas -, a autora preferiu jogar num território seguro e fugir de temas mais controversos.
Pobres dos gráficos de pizza e rosca que ficam solitários no lado oposto do corner, como más práticas generalizadas...
August 11, 2024
For some reason I found it hard to finish this book.
Three words come to mind: superficial, redundant and obvious. This, rather than a book, felt like a long, long blog.
Okay, maybe this review is biased since I have been myself professionally trained in data visualization, but this book felt unusually worse than others I've read.
Sometimes I was simply learning the names of things I was already doing, other times I wondered if I actually needed a book to explain me that. Also, some graph problems might've been exaggerated, in my opinion.
This said, there are also a few positive things to mention. For instance, I think this is a good reference point to guide my plot design thoughts, and there are indeed many examples of good graphs.
Overall, I think I did learn a couple of things, but it wasn't exactly a pleasant reading for me.
Three words come to mind: superficial, redundant and obvious. This, rather than a book, felt like a long, long blog.
Okay, maybe this review is biased since I have been myself professionally trained in data visualization, but this book felt unusually worse than others I've read.
Sometimes I was simply learning the names of things I was already doing, other times I wondered if I actually needed a book to explain me that. Also, some graph problems might've been exaggerated, in my opinion.
This said, there are also a few positive things to mention. For instance, I think this is a good reference point to guide my plot design thoughts, and there are indeed many examples of good graphs.
Overall, I think I did learn a couple of things, but it wasn't exactly a pleasant reading for me.
October 13, 2024
Hands down the best data visualization and story telling with data book I ever read. Well structured with concrete examples on when to use each type of graphs and how to emphasize on the details. The story telling chapter is just amazing. I am now equipped with much better ability to tell a good graph from a bad one and on my way to master presentation with data visualization!
January 4, 2025
Sehr gut zu lesen, ich habe viel gelernt. Man entwickelt einen guten Blick für Daten-Visualisierung. Ich habe für meine Vorträge, für Football und für die Arbeit einige Sachen mitnehmen und bereits anwenden können.
May 9, 2022
I don't normally bother to log books related to work, but this one was at least peripherally related to story telling and it was a nice and easy read. As you'd expect from someone teaching aspects of how to clearly present data
May 20, 2024
read this for work but really enjoyed it - lots of practical and applicable tips!!!
May 9, 2025
An easy to read and insightful book on some best practices for visualizing data. Even after all the years I've spent making charts, Cole's book taught me some new tips and ideas for making sure the message of the chart is clear.
November 14, 2021
Simple but powerful tactics for anyone who wants to explore the beauty of data and storytelling.
February 20, 2025
forced reading for work lmao but helps my reading challenge
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