Lying with Visualizations: Seeing Isn't Believing

Almost excellent. A second edition could easily push it to five stars.

There is a particular kind of technical book that is dense without being difficult, and this is one of them. The book rewards careful reading. Skimming it would be a mistake. I found myself making notes in the margins, which is always a good sign. A good addition to a technical library, as long as you know what you are buying.

Mixed feelings. The good parts are genuinely good; the rest is forgettable.

There is a particular kind of technical book that is dense without being difficult, and this is one of them. The examples are small enough to type out and experiment with, which is exactly what I want from a book like this. The explanations are careful without being condescending, which is a difficult balance to strike. Some terminology is introduced without much ceremony; I had to look a few things up along the way. Borrow it first if you can, or at least check the table of contents carefully before buying.