Books

The Little SAS Book: A Primer, Third Edition

Average customer rating:

good book.
Best for learners
Good Status and Fast Delivery.
Best book for SAS learners
A main dish of basics with a hint of little-known tricks.

The Little SAS Book: A Primer, Third Edition
Lora D. Delwiche , and Susan J. Slaughter
Manufacturer: SAS Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Programming | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books

Mathematical & Statistical | Software | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Computer Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Qualifying Textbooks - Spring 2007 | Stores | Books

Mathematical & Statistical | Software Books | Custom Stores | Stores | Software
Similar Items:

SAS Programming by Example
Applied Statistics and the SAS Programming Language (5th Edition)
SAS Learning Edition 2.0
Handbook of Statistical Analyses Using SAS, Second Edition
Cody's Data Cleaning Techniques Using SAS Software

ASIN: 1590473337

Book Description

Getting started with SAS is easy with The Little SAS Book. This friendly, easy-to-read guide gently introduces you to the most commonly used features of SAS software plus a whole lot more! The book has been revised to include concepts of the Output Delivery System; the STYLE= option in the PRINT, REPORT and TABULATE procedures; ODS HTML, RTF, PRINTER, and OUTPUT destinations; PROC REPORT; more on PROC TABULATE; exporting data;the colon modifier for informats.

You'll find clear and concise explanations of basic SAS concepts (such as DATA and PROC steps), inputting data, modifying and combining data sets, summarizing and presenting data, basic statistical procedures, and debugging SAS programs.

Each topic is presented in a self-contained two-page layout complete with examples and graphics. This format enables new users to get up and running quickly, while the examples allow you to type in the program and see it work!

Customer Reviews:

good book........2007-05-22

I've used SPSS, but never SAS. This book is well organized and helped me to start using SAS quickly.

Best for learners.......2007-03-09

A "must have" book for SAS learners. Some of the best features of the book ---well organised, easy to follow, simple examples that help to understand the material.
A good reference book for SAS BASE and ADVANCED certification exams.

Good Status and Fast Delivery........2007-03-09

The status of the book is very good. And it was delivered very fast. So I'm satisfied.

Best book for SAS learners.......2007-03-08

Little SAS is one of the best books for researchers and SAS beginners who want to work with SAS. Programmes were simple and the language was very understandable with lot of examples.

A main dish of basics with a hint of little-known tricks........2007-03-08

This is an indispensable SAS reference for programmers. I cannot speak on its value as a learning text, however, as I lack the proper experiential context.

Introduction to Probability and Statistics (with CD-ROM)

Average customer rating:

Very poorly written.
Disappointing
An "easy" introduction but lacks content
Very good as a required text

Introduction to Probability and Statistics (with CD-ROM)
William Mendenhall , Robert J. Beaver , and Barbara M. Beaver
Manufacturer: Duxbury Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Science | Subjects | Books

General | Mathematics | Science | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Science Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Qualifying Textbooks - Spring 2007 | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

Student Solutions Manual for Mendenhall/Beaver/Beaver's Introduction to Probability and Statistics, 12th
Data Analysis with Microsoft Excel: Updated for Office XP (with CD-ROM)
Discovering Statistics Using SPSS (Introducing Statistical Methods S.) (2nd Edition)
Nature of Mathematics (11th Edition)
Health Policymaking in the United States, Fourth Edition

Accessories:

iLrn? Student Homework for Mendenhall/Beaver/Beaver's Introduction to Probability and Statistics, 12th
Student Solutions Manual for Mendenhall/Beaver/Beaver's Introduction to Probability and Statistics, 12th

ASIN: 0534418708

Book Description

Used by hundreds of thousands of students since its first edition, INTRODUCTION TO PROBABILITY AND STATISTICS continues to blend the best of its proven coverage with new innovations. While retaining the straightforward presentation and traditional outline for descriptive and inferential statistics, the Twelfth Edition incorporates exciting new learning aids like MyPersonal Trainer, MyApplet, and MyTip to ensure that students learn and understand the relevance of the material. The book takes advantage of modern technology, including computational software and interactive visual tools, to facilitate statistical reasoning as well as the understanding and interpretation of statistical results. In addition to showing how to apply statistical procedures, the authors explain how to meaningfully describe real sets of data, what the statistical tests mean in terms of their practical applications, how to evaluate the validity of the assumptions behind statistical tests, and what to do when statistical assumptions have been violated. This new edition retains the statistical integrity, examples, exercises and exposition that have made it a market leader, and builds upon this tradition of excellence with new technology integration.

Customer Reviews:

Very poorly written........2004-03-15

I had to buy this book for an introductory graduate stats class. This book assumes you have some knowledge of stats and so provides very brief explanations for most concepts. This is a big problem for students with little or no stats background.

Another problem is that there are too few examples. Considering their meager explanations, one would hope they would at least provide enough examples to help students understand the concepts. But they usually provide only one or two problems, which are woefully inadequate.

Also, the CD is totally useless. Most of the practice is multiple choice, which I think is pretty silly for a stats class. In addition, there is no explanation for how they got to the answer, so if you can't figure it out and choose the wrong answer, you're out of luck for any explanation.

I stopped using this book for my course and instead began using Elementary Statistics, A Step by Step Approach by Bluman. This book is excellent; it explains everything from step 1. There are also many, many examples and lots of pictures to help you further understand stats. Also, they explain very clearly when you should use the different formulas, which I found extremely helpful in bringing all the concepts together.

Disappointing.......2004-01-16

The text we used for our undergrad Stats class covered the exact same material as this text, which we used for a graduate level class and which cost about 60 bucks more, but the undergrad text was written more clearly, concisely and logically. We even found a mistake in one of the tables in the back of this book.

An "easy" introduction but lacks content.......2003-09-18

Author: Computer Science/Mathematics Undergraduate at Cameron University

This book was required for an introductory non-calculus based statistics course at my school and it turned out to be a mixed bag. The theories are explained well in most cases but the book doesn't have enough examples for all of the theorems. Many times only one case is explained in dynamic situations leaving this reader more than a little lost. Usually the theorems are explained well enough that this is not a big deal, but not so in every case. So there tends to be those points where the student may get a little stuck without assistance from their professor.

Another problem I found was that the book was a little bit dumbed down in many areas. This book uses no calculus, so the theories are presented often without the mathematical rigor required to properly formulate accurate results. The book still presents the theorems and formulas in a way where the student can get something out of this without calculus, but it becomes a problem later in the book in the sections on regression. For a non-calculus based class like the one I took, this is all unavoidable, so the book handled the situation well considering the constraints.

This book presents a very light introduction to statistics and is good prep for more advanced statistics courses, but as a stand-alone only the most basic material is presented since it is non-calculus based and the material is spread thin between combinatorics, probability, binomial distributions, normal distributions, t distributions, ANOVA tests, regression, non-parametric statistics, etc... To attain a significant amount of useful knowledge you really need to buy separate books tackling each of these subjects independantly, so this book is really unneccessary even for an introductory text but might serve well the student who needs to be eased into statistics lightly or just wants a brief overview of the subject.

Very good as a required text.......2003-06-15

This was the required text for a 2003 graduate Biostatistics course, so you should already know the basics. If you don't, buy the Study Guide and Solutions Manual to help you out.

Discovering Statistics Using SPSS (Introducing Statistical Methods S.) (2nd Edition)

Average customer rating:

Better than any graduate level statistics course I have taken
Andy Field is brilliant!
Nice handbook for the statistics
Statistics makes sense with Field's Book
Speedy service

Discovering Statistics Using SPSS (Introducing Statistical Methods S.) (2nd Edition)
Andy Field
Manufacturer: Sage Publications Ltd
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Programming | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books

Research | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Statistics | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

General | Mathematics | Science | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Computer Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Nonfiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Science Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Qualifying Textbooks - Spring 2007 | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

SPSS Survival Manual
Using Multivariate Statistics (5th Edition)
Reading and Understanding Multivariate Statistics
Reading and Understanding More Multivariate Statistics
Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches (2nd Edition)

ASIN: 0761944524

Book Description

Get the Statistics Book That's Sweeping the Nation!

Appropriate for All Levels--Undergraduate to Doctorate Programs in Every Discipline!

This new edition of Field's bestselling textbook provides students of statistical methods with everything they need to understand, use and report statistics - at every level. Written in Andy Field's vivid and entertaining style, and furnished with playful examples from everyday student life (among other places), the book forms an accessible gateway into the often intimidating world of statistics and a unique opportunity for students to ground their knowledge of statistics through the use of SPSS. The text is fully compliant with the latest release of SPSS (version 13).

Key updates in Second Edition:

- More coverage with completely new material on non-parametric statistics, loglinear analysis, effect sizes and how to report statistical analysis

- Even more student-friendly features, including a glossary of key statistical terms and exercises at the end of chapters for students to work through, with datasets and answers to chapter exercises on the accompanying CD-ROM

- A larger and more easy-to-reference format: notation in each section identifies the intended level of study while the new 2-color text design enhances the features in the book and, together with the larger format, provides extra clarity throughout

- A companion website is available at www.sagepub.co.uk/field, containing resources for both students and instructors: a testbank of MCQs for students to test their own knowledge; online glossary in flash card format; multiple choice questions and answers to use for class assessment – available on restricted access basis to instructors via entry password; and PowerPoint Slides of all formatted artwork in the textbook for instructors to include in their own lecture slides.

Andy Field is a Senior Lecturer in Psychology at The University of Sussex, U.K. where his success in making statistics accessible was recognized with a teaching award in 2001.

"The Second Edition of Andy Field's Discovering Statistics Using SPSS is an excellent book and a valuable addition to the teaching of statistics in the behavioral sciences. The title of the book accurately reflects the approach taken. This is not simply a primer on how to use SPSS, but is a very good statistics text using SPSS as a vehicle for illustrating and expanding on the statistical content of the book. At the same time it also serves as a manual for SPSS, and has taught me things that I had not known about the software. I find this flexible approach to the blending of content and software to be an effective way of teaching the material. It is impossible to review this book without commenting on Andy's particular style. I enjoyed it immensely and think that it would appeal to both students and their instructors. It is refreshing to see someone who doesn't take himself too seriously."
-- David C Howell, Professor Emeritus, University of Vermont

Customer Reviews:

Better than any graduate level statistics course I have taken.......2007-06-14

I am a 4th year PhD student and wish I had discovered this book earlier. It is far better than any of the graduate level statistics course I have taken, and definitely better than any of the textbooks I have seen. In fact, I have thrown out all my other statistics textbooks - this is the only one I need. Aside from explaining the theory in an easy to understand way, Andy Field provides the practical aspect that no other texts or courses do (or, if they do, they fail to link it to the theory). Field shows you how to use SPSS to implement the theory in an easy, step by step way; he even tells you how to report the results in APA format. Don't waste your money on any other statistics textbooks!

Andy Field is brilliant!.......2007-05-17

This is the best stats book ever. Andy Field makes all of the important concepts understandable to even the most stats phobic among us.

Nice handbook for the statistics.......2007-05-13

It's best statistic handbook I ever bought. 1. It is writen in good structure; 2. The concept is explained clearly; 3. it is practical. Reader can follow the instruction step by step. 4. the author is really nice guy! You can download his teaching ppt online for free; and you can donate some money to a charity fund if you think materials are useful.

In a word, it is a book deserving to have. You are supportting an author who try to teach statistics in an easier way.

Statistics makes sense with Field's Book.......2007-05-13

Andy Field gives simple explanations and humorous examples to make the confusing world of statistics more understandable. Highly recommended for anyone who is required to take statistics.

Speedy service.......2007-05-07

It was delievered as fast as possible and as new as it described.

Applied Statistics and the SAS Programming Language (5th Edition)

Average customer rating:

Poor book
Great for real life applications
Too much unecessary detail about reading in data
Poor value
Blergh

Applied Statistics and the SAS Programming Language (5th Edition)
Ron P. Cody , and Jeffrey K. Smith
Manufacturer: Prentice Hall
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Science | Subjects | Books

General | Mathematics | Science | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Computer Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Science Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Qualifying Textbooks - Spring 2007 | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

The Little SAS Book: A Primer, Third Edition
SAS Programming by Example
Handbook of Statistical Analyses Using SAS, Second Edition
Applied Regression Analysis and Multivariable Methods
Categorical Data Analysis Using The SAS System

ASIN: 0131465325

Book Description

As the SASÂ© programming language continues to evolve, this guide follows suit with timely coverage of the combination statistical package, database management system, and high-level programming language. Using current examples from business, medicine, education, and psychology, Applied Statistics and the SAS Programming Language is an invaluable resource for applied researchers, giving them the capacity to perform statistical analyses with SAS without wading through pages of technical documentation. Includes the necessary SAS statements to run programs for most of the commonly used statistics, explanations of the computer output, interpretations of results, and examples of how to construct tables and write up results for reports and journal articles. Illustrated with SAS GraphâÂ„¢ output. Provides readers with ample models for developing programming skills. For anyone interested in learning more about applied statistics and the SAS programming language.

Customer Reviews:

Poor book.......2007-03-20

I hoped more. It is a very basic book, with elemental examples and no clear directions on the best use of SAS.

Great for real life applications.......2007-01-01

Great book.. It is a great asset to my SAS library.

Too much unecessary detail about reading in data.......2006-11-10

Theres just too much unecessary material in this book about ways to read in data etc. Its all unecessary cos like myself most professional analysts and statisticians have access to SAS enterprise guide, which is incredibly powerful and so much less time consuming. The programming language is only useful for algorithms these days, as most professionals havent got the time to be debugging code all day. The text covers nothing about cluster analysis either which is central to a lot of multi variate analysis.
The mathematics and statistical detail is of far more interest and importance to us in the working environment than reading in of files.

Poor value.......2006-10-14

The book can be helpful to college students, but is of little benefit to more seasoned statisticians. The title notwithstanding, most of its chapters deal with general-purpose SAS programming; the rest (totaling 100-150 pages) offer a very basic review of REG, TTEST, LOGISTIC and FACTOR procedures, something that you can easily find online. (Check out the SAS tutorials offered by UCLA). I like and recommend Ron Cody's other books, but not this overpriced softcover.

Blergh.......2006-09-13

I did not like this book. The organization was abysmal, and I decided to sell it back to the college bookstore for use by future hapless students, because it is not good as a reference guide.

I did not like how the author seemed to gear the book to an audience that is terrified of their computers or anything dealing with *gasp* math.

Average customer rating:

misled into thinking there were sample tests in the book
Good, but with many shortcomings. Too specialized, and improperly named
Be aware of the errors of the book
Very Good Text With Limitations
One of the best textbooks

Statistical Inference
George Casella , and Roger L. Berger
Manufacturer: Duxbury Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Science | Subjects | Books

General | Mathematics | Science | Subjects | Books

Qualifying Textbooks - Spring 2007 | Stores | Books

Look Inside Science Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

Microeconomic Theory
Mathematics for Economists
Advanced Macroeconomics
Bayesian Data Analysis, Second Edition (Texts in Statistical Science)
Microeconomic Analysis

ASIN: 0534243126

Book Description

This book builds theoretical statistics from the first principles of probability theory. Starting from the basics of probability, the authors develop the theory of statistical inference using techniques, definitions, and concepts that are statistical and are natural extensions and consequences of previous concepts. Intended for first-year graduate students, this book can be used for students majoring in statistics who have a solid mathematics background. It can also be used in a way that stresses the more practical uses of statistical theory, being more concerned with understanding basic statistical concepts and deriving reasonable statistical procedures for a variety of situations, and less concerned with formal optimality investigations.

Customer Reviews:

misled into thinking there were sample tests in the book.......2007-05-13

I thought there were sample tests in the booklet (85 pages). Not true.
One needs to pay more to get the tests.

Good, but with many shortcomings. Too specialized, and improperly named.......2007-02-26

Although not particularly advanced, this book is quite specialized and in my opinion, too narrowly focused for a book at this level. It is not a comprehensive introduction to statistical inference. Also, it often focuses on the "what" and the "how" while ignoring the "why".

The book's strengths are self-evident. The exposition of probability theory is excellent, and presented with an eye towards its use in statistics. The mathematical aspects of this book are clean and thorough, and the omissions of certain difficult proofs enhance rather than detract from the book's quality. But as one progresses further in this text, there are many shortcomings. The order in which topics are presented doesn't always seem natural to me.

My main criticism of this book is that it presents a narrow view of what statistics is. The book is written from one particular perspective within the frequentist approach; not acknowledging other paradigms. This book is mis-named: "Statistical Inference" encompasses much more than what this book covers. The Bayesian paradigm is one area (among many) that is hardly mentioned, and the book doesn't point the reader in directions to cover such material. This book is really about applications of elementary probability theory to frequentist statistics; it is not a general introduction to statistical inference.

My second criticism of this book is that it is divorced from applications; there is almost no data presented in the text or problems. Discussion of modeling is almost completely absent, and the material on distributions in chapter 3 doesn't probe very far into the particular reasons why certain distributions arise in certain situations. This remark leads into my next criticism: the book emphasizes symbolic manipulations and ignores the deeper meaning of the mathematics. I think that an understanding of the meaning is critical if one is to find useful applications of the material.

This book is clearly more suited to certain learning styles than others. People who find manipulations of equations and formulas natural will find the proofs natural and the exercises helpful. But people interested in the ideas behind the equations will find this book lacking. The proofs are clean and easy to follow but many give little insight into the meaning of the theorems. While the motivated reader can find meaning (sometimes with considerable effort), this book's approach isn't particularly pedagogical. The exercises are numerous and challenging, but the challenge is technical rather than deep--most exercises require a clever or lucky manipulation, and occasionally drawn-out calculations, and as other reviewers have pointed out, the authors do not do a good job of creating a gradient of problems of different difficulty levels. Many of the problems in advanced chapters can be solved without really understanding the implications and meaning of the results. A few of the problems in advanced chapters require truly tedious and lengthy calculations that, in my opinion, are a total waste of a students' time.

I understand why people use this text as a textbook, but in my opinion it needs to be supplemented by something else, either by teacher who focuses on the "why" and the deeper meaning, or, preferably, by another book that does so. This book will advance a students' understanding of certain topics but it will do little to help the students connect that knowledge with applications or other related theoretical areas. Instructors should be cautious when assigning exercises from this book--there are many excellent exercises but the level of difficulty (as well as the amount students can learn from a given exercise) is highly inconsistent. In many ways, I think this book is supplemented or complemented by the text by A.H. Welsh, a book whose weak points are more than covered by this Casella & Berger text. Another book that is a better alternative is "All of Statistics" by Larry Wasserman; his book is less thorough, but more balanced in terms of perspective, and more focused on helping the reader to learn and understand the underlying ideas.

Be aware of the errors of the book.......2006-10-01

The book consists of two parts: probability (the first 250 pages) and statistics. The first part is extremely well written; however, the second part (I read page 427 totally so far) is not satisfying. The theorm derivations have missing steps, and not easy to follow. Moreover, it has ERRORS (which are not listed in the errata available in the authors' website). For example, Definition 8.3.16 of monotone likelihood ratio is wrong (page 891): it can only be non-decreasing (cannot be non-increasing). With the wrong definition, no way to approve Thm 8.3.17. I want to ask the author: how did you write down that proof by referring the wrong definition? Another example: Line 5 of example 8.3.19. You cannot draw the conclusion by using the analysis in Example 8.3.18. Instead, you have to use the analysis in Thm 8.3.17! Third example, the definition of power function is not accruate. The definition of power should be independant of H0 or H1. (In fact, the author did a poor job in give the insight of power function. Without such an insight, no way to solution example 8.3.19). Forth example, the second 8.3.4 on p-values is poorly written. The author does not bother to point out that p-values is the smallest level at which we can reject null hypothesis with given samples. Instead, the author's definition on p-values based on an formula whose meaning is very hard to understand! Do you know how many hours I have to spend to figure out these?

Last words to the author who wrote the Hypothesis chapter: pls learn writing from your co-author and then rewrite your chapters!

Very Good Text With Limitations.......2006-08-18

Very good intro to grad level stats - the problem is that it does not use any real analysis so it is limited if you want to study probability theory at the level of Borovkov or Billingsley. The problems can be tough so a good calculus background is assumed.

One of the best textbooks.......2006-07-15

The is one great textbook and is as good as Cormen's introduction to algorithms. It does not require advanced math. I was a biology major and did not learn much Calculus at all. I had to use it in a graduate statistics class. Fortunately we used this book. It is very easy to follow. It gives very good examples and explains them well but not wordy. The exercises are excellent. This book is definitely not an applied statistics book. But it really helps you to understand applied statistics. It is absolutely not just another dry math book. I also want to say that this book is for newcomers. Neither me nor many of my classmates had statistical training before we took the course. When instructors were not clear about something, we always went back to this book and always found an answer.

Interest Rate Models - Theory and Practice: With Smile, Inflation and Credit (Springer Finance)

Average customer rating:

Best book on interest rate models
The best book I have read on the subject
New stuff and nice overview: hard to beat!
Nicely written overview of interest rate models
Well written and useful book

Interest Rate Models - Theory and Practice: With Smile, Inflation and Credit (Springer Finance)
Damiano Brigo , and Fabio Mercurio
Manufacturer: Springer
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Popular Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Statistics | Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Planning & Forecasting | Management & Leadership | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

General | Mathematics | Science | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Business Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Nonfiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Science Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Qualifying Textbooks - Spring 2007 | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

The Volatility Surface: A Practitioner's Guide (Wiley Finance)
Monte Carlo Methods in Financial Engineering (Stochastic Modelling and Applied Probability)
Volatility and Correlation: The Perfect Hedger and the Fox (Wiley Finance)
Modern Pricing of Interest-Rate Derivatives: The LIBOR Market Model and Beyond
Stochastic Calculus for Finance II: Continuous-Time Models (Springer Finance)

ASIN: 3540221492

Book Description

The 2nd edition of this successful book has several new features. The calibration discussion of the basic LIBOR market model has been enriched considerably, with an analysis of the impact of the swaptions interpolation technique and of the exogenous instantaneous correlation on the calibration outputs. A discussion of historical estimation of the instantaneous correlation matrix and of rank reduction has been added, and a LIBOR-model consistent swaption-volatility interpolation technique has been introduced.

The old sections devoted to the smile issue in the LIBOR market model have been enlarged into several new chapters. New sections on local-volatility dynamics, and on stochastic volatility models have been added, with a thorough treatment of the recently developed uncertain-volatility approach. Examples of calibrations to real market data are now considered.

The fast-growing interest for hybrid products has led to new chapters. A special focus here is devoted to the pricing of inflation-linked derivatives.

The three final new chapters of this second edition are devoted to credit. Since Credit Derivatives are increasingly fundamental, and since in the reduced-form modeling framework much of the technique involved is analogous to interest-rate modeling, Credit Derivatives -- mostly Credit Default Swaps (CDS), CDS Options and Constant Maturity CDS - are discussed, building on the basic short rate-models and market models introduced earlier for the default-free market. Counterparty risk in interest rate payoff valuation is also considered, motivated by the recent Basel II framework developments.

Customer Reviews:

Best book on interest rate models.......2002-12-14

This is the best book available on interest rate models. Very detailed. Much more focused and readable than Rebonato's book. More pragmatic and explicit than Musiela and Rutkowski. Not as theoretical as Hunt and Kennedy. James and Webber also looks very good, but I'm not that familiar with it. All other books have only bits and pieces on interest rates.

The best book I have read on the subject.......2002-05-06

With all the due respect to the other authors I would say that if one is interested in a good theoretical book whihc is also good on the implementation side then the book of Brigo and Mercurion is definetly the best book I have ever read on the subject.

Anyone interested in implementing the LMM/BGM/MSS model in practice is well advised to read it.

I would just say that this is certainly a must have in the field.

New stuff and nice overview: hard to beat!.......2002-01-17

In the late nineties I went through Brigo's innovative work on stochastic nonlinear filtering with differential geometry techniques. I was favorably impressed by results and style, particularly in his dissertation and in his 'geometry in present day science' very readable overview. Interesting results are found and nicely told with accurate - but not pointlessly complicated - advanced mathematics for the problems at hand, I reasoned.

I've followed a similar path from control to finance, and having worked with interest rate models, I couldn't help but order this Brigo-Mercurio book. I had high expectations 'cause these two guys are working in a bank on the real thing.

Sure enough I'm not disappointed.

1-factor models are handled with great care, a ton of formulas and recipes are given. I've never seen this kind of analysis of pricing with Gaussian 1-f models. The new upgrade of the CIR model is interesting and accurate. "CIR++" is now my favorite 1-f model. I like the treatment of lognormal 1-f models and the explanation of Monte Carlo and trees -- the flow-chart for Bermudan swaptions is crystal clear! Plots of market implied structures and volatility calibration are useful additions.

The chapter on 2-f extensions has one of the best discussions on volatility, and two tons of useful formulas/recipes. Two dimensional trees!

The HJM chapter size is OK. I agree - the useful models embedded in HJM are short rate models and market models.

Market models - these three chapters alone are worth the book. You'll find yourself nodding as you read the guided tour. They make it look easy all the time. The exposition is focused, clear, intuitive, detailed. There's also new stuff, just check the calibration discussion! Smile modeling begins with a brilliant tour and ends with Brigo-Mercurio's new approach - the mixing dynamics - deserving a whole chapter if expanded.

The detailed explanation on products is a much welcome original addition. Cross currency derivatives!

Quotes - as in Brigo's old work - are a pleasant diversion while reading. The 500 and more pages are a treat given the competitive price.

Still there's room for improvements - more "CIR2++"! Something on 3-f models. Historical estimation of the correlation matrix and low-rank optimized approximations. Expand smile modeling! More hedging. Something on structured products. Cross currency libor model. chapter 9 - other interest rate models - sounds out of place and can be suppressed for other things.

This book rings true and has useful teachings for students, academics and practitioners. Although it requires some background in stochastic calculus, it's hard to beat on the pricing front. Kudos to Brigo and Mercurio! It only harms there aren't enough books like this.

Nicely written overview of interest rate models.......2001-12-15

This recent book, written by two Italian "quants" Mercurio & Brigo, gives a nice and accessible overview of interest rate models which is a compromise between the practitioner viewpoint, expressed for ex. in Rebonato's book "Interet Rate option models"
and the theoretical viewpoint such as the one in Musiela & Rutkowski.
The authors, themselves PhDs in quantitative finance/ applied maths, wrote this book while working as quants in an Italian bank and this first hand contact with the market gave them a
practical view on the subject which markes this book very interesting.

The book contains a "rational" catalogue of models used in practice ( as opposed to models which are impossible to implement!).

In contrast with academic books on interest rate modeling which deal with HJM formulation, there is a lot of emphasis here on LIBOR and Swap market models
(BGM -Jamshidian models) which reflects the current market practice. This is a positive point since there are not many books with details on implementing and using these "market models".

Part II: Interest rate models in practice is particularly useful because it deals with implementation and calibration which, as any practitioner knows, are important and usually delicate issues.
However calibration issues are dealt with somewhat lightly, especially recent developments on modeling cap/swaption smiles
are not included here.

This book can also be used for a graduate level/PhD course on interest rate models.

There are a lot of numerical examples in the book and mathematics is kept to the necessary level while keeping the
approach both rigorous and understandable.

Overall, it is one of the best books written on the subject.
I highly recommend it to PhD students, quants and researchers interested in this field.

Well written and useful book.......2001-11-04

In my humble opinion, this is the best book on Interest Rate modeling out there. The writing style is clear and focused and the appendices are fantastic. The book is rigorous but someone with some background in Stochastic Calculus will find it easy to follow. If you need refresher, dont worry the authors have you covered, see the appendix on Stochastic Calculus. Not an introductory book. Very exciting book.

Probability and Statistics (3rd Edition)

Average customer rating:

Good in theory, short on examples
A Lucid Introduction to the Underlying Math
Do Not Use For Self Study
Good Book ? Yes....For Self Study? NOOOOO !!
Excellent Book, Not in Good Condition

Probability and Statistics (3rd Edition)
Morris H. DeGroot , and Mark J. Schervish
Manufacturer: Addison Wesley
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Statistics | Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

General | Science | Subjects | Books

General | Mathematics | Science | Subjects | Books

Qualifying Textbooks - Spring 2007 | Stores | Books

Look Inside Business Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Nonfiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Science Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

Mathematics for Economists
Statistical Inference
Microeconomic Theory
Econometric Analysis (5th Edition)
Game Theory for Applied Economists

ASIN: 0201524880

Customer Reviews:

Good in theory, short on examples.......2007-02-20

First all, everyone wishing to learn probability comes from different background, math level, and motivation. There is no book that suits all. Recently I needed to know something about moment generating functions. With all my advanced engineering background though, I find it difficult to get into probability.

So I bought the following supposedly introductory texts: Ross, DeGroot, Stirzaker, Bersekas & Tsitsiklis. To me, Ross seems like a review lesson to cram for finals; it's choke full of examples but fairly spare in exposition. DeGroot is the opposite, long on descriptions but short on examples; by the time it finishes describing the problem, you have forgotten how to solve it. Probability is set up more as a prelude to statistics in the second half of the book. Stirzaker calls his book "elementary" the way Sherlock Holmes dismissed a case after slogging all night through the English bogs. It is more for the well-drilled boys from elite British "public" (private actually) schools. Bersekas comes closest to what I look for in a text, straightforward in prose with a judicious selection of examples to explain theory.

For beginners, the best approach I found, in the end, was to go the local community college and buy the text used for Finite Math. Usually, there are 3 to 4 chapters that introduce probability.

Such a text is aimed an audience from wider academic and language backgrounds, as community colleges are mandated to do. Therefore, probability is taught in simple, plain-spoken language crafted through multiple editions. One such is Finite Math, by Karl J. Smith; however, many others like it will do. For self-study, one might start in the chapter on probability to understand the author's approach, then go back a chapter or two to pick up the permutation and combinatorial math needed to calculate probability. Another alternative is just to enroll in a Finite Math course at a community college. Generally, such a course stops at Markov's chain which is enough to get you jump started in probability.

In any case, a good Finite Math text gives plenty of examples with clear, succinct, and layman-like explanation to help you tackle Ross' book or supplement any other at a higher level. If you plan to apply probability to your work, then shop around for another text after you get the basics. The thicker tomes delve more into theory which is good because real life problems are seldom like the examples given. However you can't go wrong by planting your feet solidly on a good Finite Math text first

A Lucid Introduction to the Underlying Math.......2007-01-11

DeGroot's text is an introduction to the mathematical side of probability and statistics. Of the books on that subject, it is by far the most lucid I have seen. Its intended audience will likely find it useful for self study or for supplemental study in comparable courses that use other textbooks.

This book is not an applied, take-you-by-the-hand tutorial on applied statistical techniques, nor is it a failed take-you-by-the-hand tutorial on applied statistical techniques. It is not a text for the social scientist who wishes to learn statistics at home.

DeGroot's text is what it is, and I recommend it enthusiastically in its intended contexts.

Do Not Use For Self Study.......2006-10-30

This book is not meant for self study. This book is too theoretical, and it does not give enough basic examples. It is too abstract. I do not recommend this book to anyone.

Good Book ? Yes....For Self Study? NOOOOO !!.......2006-03-09

I am doing a self study and do not have any facility to get help of any instructor. I purchased the book after got good reference from some of my friends. The content of the book is pretty good...BUT when it comes to the problems...there are a very very few worked out examples (as usual they are the easiest ones)...Addition to that the publisher decided to earn every bits of pennies. So they created a Student's solution manual. No where in the publisher's site anything mentioned about the manual. But when I purchased , found that the manual has solution for ONLY Odd numbered solution (for them the answers are given in the original book). I was wondering whether they have another solution manual for EVEN numbered problems...!!!

The instructor's manual is out of stock and you cannot download it from the publisher's site (unless you are an Instructor which I am not).

Now I am wondering how I can get help on the even numbered problems....any idea???

Excellent Book, Not in Good Condition.......2006-03-09

It's very good book in Probability and Statistics, a must-have for any researcher.
Book's Condition is bad. There're 2 pages severely scratched.

Average customer rating:

The perfect tool...for some jobs
Don't Ask Alice
not the best preparation for my students to move up
A must!!!
Statistics by David Freedman

Statistics
David Freedman , Robert Pisani , and Roger Purves
Manufacturer: W. W. Norton
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Popular Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Statistics | Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

General | Science | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Business Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Nonfiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Science Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

Statistical Models: Theory and Practice
Principles of Statistics
A Microsoft Excel Companion for Business Statistics
Economics: Private & Public Choice, 11th Edition
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Statistics (The Complete Idiot's Guide)

ASIN: 0393929728

Book Description

In its first edition, Statistics set a new standard for introductory texts, written in accessible language that teaches students how to think about statistical issues through real-world examples, such as political polls and Galton's regression paradox, and in terms of models that underlie statistical inference. Retaining these core strengths, the Fourth Edition adds a diverse body of new examples, exercises, and data sets, and has been thoroughly updated to reflect the most recent developments in the field.

Customer Reviews:

The perfect tool...for some jobs.......2006-11-06

D. Messer asks how his/her review can be so different from Alice's. That's easy. They're both right. They are looking at the same book through different lenses.

If the goal is to explain what's really going on "under the hood" in an introductory class, there's no better book than FPP. However, it works its magic by discarding things that don't matter--like mathematical notation. I would argue that students who take a course using FPP would be able to successfully tackle problems that would cause others to shrug their shoulders from lack of comprehension.

However, it comes at a price. Students do not see the mathematical notation that is necessary to pursue the subject at advanced levels. Imagine, if you will, being an instructor with a class of students who had completed an introductory course with excellent grades and wouldn't recognize the formula for Student's t statistic in standard notation.

I've used FPP in a university setting. It works fine, BUT there has to be careful coordination with teachers of follow-up classes so that they can adapt their methods accordingly, that is, for a class who has a deeper understanding of the principles of statistics without having been exposed to the usual formulas in the traditional way.

Don't Ask Alice.......2006-06-24

I'm not sure what book Alice read, but I find it hard to believe it was this one.

I won't bother repeating what so many others have said in other reviews, as I find them to be in alignment with my own opinion. However, I find Alice's review puzzling. How can so many other reviewers find this book to be so helpful, yet an instructor of the topic found it difficult to use as a course text? I actually feel like we read different books, as her description doesn't agree with my experience.

not the best preparation for my students to move up.......2006-04-28

I'm fascinated by the rave reviews for this text. I used it for a community college stats course and once I was in the classroom with it, I became aware that I had some problems. It is true that it's written in a friendly style and has plenty of exercises, but I found it to be poor preparation for my students who will be going on to higher levels of statistics in behavioral science courses.

I found myself explaining, more times than I wish to recall, how formulas look different in other statistics books, and I was disconcerted at the lack of use of symbols that one usually sees in beginning statistics courses. Simple terms most commonly used in statistics were not introduced at all, and most statistical tests were not mentioned. Many students found it to be cumbersome and a bit overwhelming.

It's my own fault, really. I did not spend enough time perusing texts. And my familiarity with statistics prevented me, when looking it over, from realizing how much was really missing. I realized that my students would enter bachelor's programs lacking some very basic information that is always used in statistics for the behavioral sciences. Most of my students plan to earn graduate degrees; I had to spend quite a bit of time preparing notes for them as well as lectures explaining formulas, symbols, and terminology that "some of" their higher courses might use. And with nary a mention of ANOVA or any other higher level tests, I felt I really had done my students a disservice.

I began to wonder - have I been out of school so long that things have changed this much and I'm not aware of it? But - as I am teaching at a state college, stats texts started trickling in from other publishers. I saw that it was not me. This massive text, costing my students $120, is lacking quite a bit that they should be exposed to - to better prepare them for future statistics studies in the behavioral sciences. This was certainly a bitter lesson for me! I had to waste far too much time putting together information that was missing just so my students would have the course they should have.

I recommend Sally Caldwell's text, "Statistics Unplugged" for beginning students - at least in behavioral sciences programs. It's a third the cost, a third the SIZE, and much more reader-friendly. And it contains the information that I had to supply to my students just so they would get what they paid for.

I do not recommend this book. I'll certainly be much more careful in future when choosing textbooks.

A must!!!.......2006-02-17

This is perhaps one of the most enjoyable textbooks I have ever laid my hands and eyes upon. And to think that it is meant to teach you statistics. The authors use an unconvential approach to the subject, but manage very successfully to hit the heart of the matter. In other words, they go beyond formulas and mathematical conceptions and push you to understand the logic behind statistics. What does represent? How should we interpret? What are the possible fallacies? All of this while guided by the simple, entertaining yet thorough language employed. A must have for all that want to be introduced to the strangely wonderful world of statisitcs. Simply read the praises on the back cover to get a sense of the book's power.

Statistics by David Freedman.......2004-05-15

Useful book. Lots of helpful examples. Don't really need any extra stats resources (like a workbook) if you buy this.

Average customer rating:

Lots missing
Statistics for Dummies
Statistics for Dummies
Statistics for Dummies is the bomb
Good intro - clear but too repetitive

Statistics for Dummies
Deborah Rumsey
Manufacturer: For Dummies
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Science | Subjects | Books

General | Mathematics | Science | Subjects | Books

Reference | Mathematics | Science | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Science Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

All Amazon Upgrade | Amazon Upgrade | Stores | Books

Professional & Technical | Amazon Upgrade | Stores | Books

Science | Amazon Upgrade | Stores | Books

For Dummies | Amazon Upgrade | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

Statistics Workbook For Dummies (For Dummies (Lifestyles Paperback))
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Statistics (The Complete Idiot's Guide)
Statistical Analysis with Excel For Dummies
Statistics (Cliffs Quick Review)
Probability For Dummies (For Dummies (Math & Science))

Accessories:

Statistics Workbook For Dummies (For Dummies (Lifestyles Paperback))
Intermediate Statistics For Dummies (For Dummies (Math & Science))

ASIN: 0764554239

Book Description

In the numbers explosion all around us in our modern-day dealings, the buzzword is data, as in, “Do you have any data to support your claim?” “The data supported the original hypothesis that . . .” and “The data bear this out. . . .” But the field of statistics is not just about data. Statistics is the entire process involved in gathering evidence to answer questions about the world, in cases where that evidence happens to be numerical data.

Statistics For Dummies is for everyone who wants to sort through and evaluate the incredible amount of statistical information that comes to them on a daily basis. (You know the stuff: charts, graphs, tables, as well as headlines that talk about the results of the latest poll, survey, experiment, or other scientific study.) This book arms you with the ability to decipher and make important decisions about statistical results, being ever aware of the ways in which people can mislead you with statistics. Get the inside scoop on number-crunching nuances, plus insight into how you can

Determine the odds
Calculate a standard score
Find the margin of error
Recognize the impact of polls
Establish criteria for a good survey
Make informed decisions about experiments

This down-to-earth reference is chock-full of real examples from real sources that are relevant to your everyday life: from the latest medical breakthroughs, crime studies, and population trends to surveys on Internet dating, cell phone use, and the worst cars of the millennium. Statistics For Dummies departs from traditional statistics texts, references, supplement books, and study guides in the following ways:

Practical and intuitive explanations of statistical concepts, ideas, techniques, formulas, and calculations.
Clear and concise step-by-step procedures that intuitively explain how to work through statistics problems.
Upfront and honest answers to your questions like, “What does this really mean?” and “When and how I will ever use this?”

Chances are, Statistics For Dummies will be your No. 1 resource for discovering how numerical data figures into your corner of the universe.

Customer Reviews:

Lots missing.......2007-06-10

This book was disappointing. Several items that should figure in an introductory text were absent, and there was a paucity of examples. Perhaps the author wanted to split up the material into two texts; I notice that there is an intermediate level Statistics for Dummies. However, in the category of works of this genre (simple and non-intimidating approach to the subject), I found "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Statistics" to be much more complete and useful.

Statistics for Dummies.......2007-06-09

I bought this book as a primer to help answer basic stats questions while taking a graduate level statistics course. The book has not been helpful at all. It has not helped me with any answer any basic question I have. I would have returned it- except I bought it through Amazon on line and do not know how to send it back. Do not bother purchasing this.

Statistics for Dummies.......2007-05-13

Book was very informative and easy to understand. However it did not discuss many of the concepts needed for my statistics class.

Statistics for Dummies is the bomb.......2006-07-26

I am very impressed with the Statistics for Dummies book. It is well written and really helped me grasp a basic understanding of statistics. The formulas that the author has provided are very helpful. The author really knows her stuff and has written a book that can help everyone understand the complex world of statistics.

Good intro - clear but too repetitive.......2006-06-09

Definitely does the job it sets out to do but could have done it without so much repetition hence only gets 3 stars.

Average customer rating:

A dry textbook + cartoons
Not for the feint of heart
Ok resource
Not to deep, not too shallow, and excellent introduction
Cartoon Guide to Statistics

Cartoon Guide to Statistics
Larry Gonick , and Woollcott Smith
Manufacturer: Collins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Statistics | Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Research | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

General | Education | Reference | Subjects | Books

General | Test Prep Central | Reference | Subjects | Books

General | Mathematics | Science | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Business Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Entertainment Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Nonfiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Reference Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Science Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

The Cartoon Guide to Chemistry (Cartoon Guide To...)
How to Lie With Statistics
The Cartoon Guide to Physics
The Cartoon Guide to Genetics (Updated Edition)
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Statistics (The Complete Idiot's Guide)

ASIN: 0062731025

Book Description

If you have ever looked for P-values by shopping at P mart, tried to watch the Bernoulli Trails on "People's Court," or think that the standard deviation is a criminal offense in six states, then you need The Cartoon Guide to Statistics to put you on the road to statistical literacy.

The Cartoon Guide to Statistics covers all the central ideas of modern statistics: the summary and display of data, probability in gambling and medicine, random variables, Bernoulli Trails, the Central Limit Theorem, hypothesis testing, confidence interval estimation, and much more--all explained in simple, clear, and yes, funny illustrations. Never again will you order the Poisson Distribution in a French restaurant!

Customer Reviews:

A dry textbook + cartoons.......2007-06-12

Whenever I try reading this book my eyes just gloss over. It's extremely dry material with cartoons added to every page to make it seem as if it'll be entertaining and easy to learn from but IMO it's neither. On the contrary, it would probably be best as a reference book. Almost every page has a new equation or symbol on it and I rarely felt that they were adequately discussed. "What does it do? When is it useful? What does it mean if the value is high/low?" are questions I constantly asked myself and the book doesn't take the time to answer.

Not for the feint of heart.......2007-05-19

Some people will complain that the book is difficult and/ or uninteresting. To this I say, "Dude, it's statistics! Mr. Gonick makes the best of a difficult subject. This is certainly not less friendly than your stats text book." If you want an easy laugh, get a Get Fuzzy compilation, if you want a different and more intuitive approach to statistics, this is your best bet.

Ok resource.......2007-05-13

My MBA program suggested this book to all incoming first years. In reading it so far, it outlines the concepts well, but doesn't give enough opportunity to practice them and get comfortable with them. I am not getting very much out of it, but I may use it as a resource when I am taking my actual stats class.

Not to deep, not too shallow, and excellent introduction .......2006-11-08

Larry Gonick was very successful in describing statistical terms in a funny and accessible way. The book covers a wide range of topics, and it gives all the background necessary to understand most statistical concepts.

When I read it, I already had a basic knowledge of statistics, but it did not make the book boring to me. The way Gonick presents the subjects is a good revision, and it brought a few smiles to my face.

Cartoon Guide to Statistics .......2006-11-03

THIS BOOK IS HELPFUL. IT IS WORTH THE MONEY!

Books:

Books