{"title":"Sharon Bertsch McGrayne","description":"\u003cp\u003eSharon Bertsch McGrayne is a distinguished author renowned for her ability to weave compelling narratives about complex scientific ideas. With a talent for making intricate concepts accessible to a broader audience, McGrayne specialises in demystifying the world of science and nature.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eHer acclaimed work, \u003cem\u003eThe Theory That Would Not Die\u003c\/em\u003e, exemplifies her knack for storytelling and educational insight. This captivating book delves into the history and impact of Bayesian statistics—a revolutionary theory that has significantly influenced fields ranging from genetics to economics. Through her engaging prose, McGrayne guides readers on a journey through the evolution of this statistical method, illuminating its profound implications and the fascinating stories behind its development.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eMcGrayne's contributions to the Science \u0026amp; Nature category are both insightful and inspiring, providing readers with clarity and an appreciation for the scientific advancements that shape our understanding of the world.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"the-theory-that-would-not-die-by-sharon-bertsch-mcgrayne-9780300188226","title":"The Theory That Would Not Die","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eA \u003ci\u003eNew York Times Book Review\u003c\/i\u003e Editor's Choice: A vivid account of the generations-long dispute over Bayes' rule, one of the greatest breakthroughs in the history of applied mathematics and statistics.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\"An intellectual romp touching on, among other topics, military ingenuity, the origins of modern epidemiology, and the theological foundation of modern mathematics.\"—Michael Washburn,\u003c\/b\u003e \u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eBoston Globe\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\"To have crafted a page-turner out of the history of statistics is an impressive feat. If only lectures at university had been this racy.\"—David Robson,\u003c\/b\u003e \u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eNew Scientist\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eBayes' rule appears to be a straightforward, one-line theorem: by updating our initial beliefs with objective new information, we get a new and improved belief. To its adherents, it is an elegant statement about learning from experience. To its opponents, it is subjectivity run amok.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn the first-ever account of Bayes' rule for general readers, Sharon Bertsch McGrayne explores this controversial theorem and the human obsessions surrounding it. She traces its discovery by an amateur mathematician in the 1740s through its development into roughly its modern form by French scientist Pierre Simon Laplace. She reveals why respected statisticians rendered it professionally taboo for 150 years—at the same time that practitioners relied on it to solve crises involving great uncertainty and scanty information, such as Alan Turing's role in breaking Germany's Enigma code during World War II. McGrayne explains how the advent of off-the-shelf computer technology in the 1980s proved to be a game-changer. Today, Bayes' rule is used everywhere from DNA decoding to Homeland Security.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eDrawing on primary source material and interviews with statisticians and other scientists, \u003ci\u003eThe Theory That Would Not Die\u003c\/i\u003e is the riveting account of how a seemingly simple theorem ignited one of the greatest controversies of all time.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Unknown","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46855275577580,"sku":"9780300188226","price":30.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9780300188226.jpg?v=1759266176"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.co.nz\/collections\/sharon-bertsch-mcgrayne.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}