Description
Book SynopsisAn insightful exploration of political polling and a bold defence of its crucial role in a modern democracy
Trade Review"This book reads like a suspenseful whodunnit, tragedy, and love story for data. Packed with surprising history, fresh insights, and wise reforms, this is a landmark work that everyone who cares about society and politics must read." -- Kenneth Cukier, coauthor of Big Data
"Many Americans may be ready to give up on polls, but through this engaging history of public-opinion research, Elliott Morris makes the case that they make our politics better, not worse. And he’s brimming with urgent ideas for how all of us—citizens, journalists, pollsters, and politicians—can make better use of a tool essential to a healthy democracy." -- Sasha Issenberg, author of The Engagement
"In this lively story of the struggles and successes of polling from Gallup to the present day, Morris makes a convincing case that the measurement of public opinion is a key component of modern democracy." -- Andrew Gelman, Higgins Professor of Statistics, Columbia University
"In this short, valuable guide, G Elliott Morris gives us a brief history of how polls came to play such an important role in politics, and how they work." -- Sam Freedman - The Guardian
"A lively new book... Polling is flawed, and some of those flaws seem unfixable. But Mr Morris’s repeated refrain is that the critics of opinion surveys overstate their case. If you think polls can mislead, just try understanding the electorate without the" -- Tim Harford - The Economist
