Category: Notes

Information is Beautiful is one of few books that I can check out over and over again. In fact, I know exactly where it is shelved in the university library (which is almost sad to say). The surprising bit, for me at least, is that the book is made entirely of infographics. There is no dialogue, monologue or “logue” of any sort. Instead, the book is a pure description of random information collected from various source.

Interesting tidbit: The human eyes process about tens times as much data as the tactile senses.

A delightful collection of visually intriguing ideas and concepts. The book is rich in images collected from a wide variety of places, each with some insight about concept and application accompanying it. It is not just a good table piece, but also a fun way learn new ways of looking at the world.

Interesting tidbit: Pacific Islanders used shells, rocks and sticks into their fishing nets that they used as a map of the islands, currents and winds.

A collection of fifty case studies in brief of advertising and design work preformed by Pentagram Design. The book is a bit more than most advertising book that merely through a serious of their “best” ads at the reader. Instead, they go into depth about the theory and principles behind the way they designed, including some analysis about what worked and what did not. This is not a book that one would sit down and read, rather it is a book to flip through and stow away the images with an increase in knowledge about good design.

Interesting tidbit: Pentagram Design was responsible for the Celebration, Florida. The special city built and maintained by Disney.

A fun research article that analyzes the walking styles (also known as “gaits”) of various animals. The article especially focuses on the gait differences between primates and other mammals.

The article can be found here http://jeb.biologists.org/content/209/11/2042.full.

This book explores the process we go through to make choices. It includes an analysis of why many people make the decisions they make and why they avoid others. There is a hefty discussion about people insisting on being able to make decisions, even though they do a poor job at making them (think health care, in which common people decide about their medical treatment despite being in the care of a highly trained doctor). Even though they make poorer decisions, they are happier for the opportunity to make them.

Interest fact: Reactance is what happens when a freedom is eliminated or threatened, people revolt by expressing the newly removed or forbidden freedom as a rebellion.