Synopses & Reviews
Synopsis
Until now, most of the content on data storytelling has focused solely on data visualization best practices. However, data storytelling is much more than just effective data visualization. In particular, the powerful narrative aspects have been overlooked or only lightly covered in the marketplace. In addition, very little attention has been spent on the psychological aspects of why stories outperform statistics. This book will introduce much-needed frameworks to better clarify what it means to tell stories with data and offer helpful techniques to be more effective with data storytelling.
Most of the current books associated with "data storytelling" focus primarily on just the data visualization aspects, overlooking other essential components such as narrative or audience. While they highlight the importance of communicating insights through data visualizations, they don't drill deeply into the actual storytelling and limit their coverage to a small section or short chapter. In contrast, this book takes a comprehensive look at all aspects of data storytelling--not just the visual elements. This book will:
- Show how to turn insights into data stories that are more engaging, persuasive, and memorable
- Explain why stories are more powerful than just facts or statistics alone
- Explain why our brains respond better to data stories
- Shows how to avoid common data storytelling mistakes
- Describe the six essential elements of a data story, the four steps to structuring your findings as a data story, and the seven principles for better visual storytelling
Synopsis
Master the art and science of data storytelling--with frameworks and techniques to help you craft compelling stories with data.
The ability to effectively communicate with data is no longer a luxury in today's economy; it is a necessity. Transforming data into visual communication is only one part of the picture. It is equally important to engage your audience with a narrative--to tell a story with the numbers. Effective Data Storytelling will teach you the essential skills necessary to communicate your insights through persuasive and memorable data stories.
Narratives are more powerful than raw statistics, more enduring than pretty charts. When done correctly, data stories can influence decisions and drive change. Most other books focus only on data visualization while neglecting the powerful narrative and psychological aspects of telling stories with data. Author Brent Dykes shows you how to take the three central elements of data storytelling--data, narrative, and visuals--and combine them for maximum effectiveness. Taking a comprehensive look at all the elements of data storytelling, this unique book will enable you to:
- Transform your insights and data visualizations into appealing, impactful data stories
- Learn the fundamental elements of a data story and key audience drivers
- Understand the differences between how the brain processes facts and narrative
- Structure your findings as a data narrative, using a four-step storyboarding process
- Incorporate the seven essential principles of better visual storytelling into your work
- Avoid common data storytelling mistakes by learning from historical and modern examples
Effective Data Storytelling: How to Drive Change with Data, Narrative and Visuals is a must-have resource for anyone who communicates regularly with data, including business professionals, analysts, marketers, salespeople, financial managers, and educators.