In 'The Book of Why', Judea Pearl and Dana Mackenzie unveil the profound concepts of causality and its pivotal role in understanding the world around us. They challenge traditional statistical methods, introducing the causal revolution that will change how we interpret data. Through captivating anecdotes and accessible explanations, the authors reveal the tools necessary to discern cause from correlation. Readers will be drawn into the mystery of why things happen, unfolding layers of knowledge that provoke deeper inquiry. This book is not just about statistics; it's a pathway to mastering the art of reasoning itself.
By Judea Pearl, Dana Mackenzie
Published: 2018
"The power of causal thinking is the key to unlocking the mysteries of the universe, allowing us to transform mere correlation into profound understanding."
A Turing Award-winning computer scientist and statistician shows how understanding causality has revolutionized science and will revolutionize artificial intelligence "Correlation is not causation." This mantra, chanted by scientists for more than a century, has led to a virtual prohibition on causal talk. Today, that taboo is dead. The causal revolution, instigated by Judea Pearl and his colleagues, has cut through a century of confusion and established causality--the study of cause and effect--on a firm scientific basis. His work explains how we can know easy things, like whether it was rain or a sprinkler that made a sidewalk wet; and how to answer hard questions, like whether a drug cured an illness. Pearl's work enables us to know not just whether one thing causes another: it lets us explore the world that is and the worlds that could have been. It shows us the essence of human thought and key to artificial intelligence. Anyone who wants to understand either needs The Book of Why.
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“The power of causal thinking is the key to unlocking the mysteries of the universe, allowing us to transform mere correlation into profound understanding.”
The Book of Why
By Judea Pearl, Dana Mackenzie
Discover a world of knowledge through our extensive collection of book summaries.
Judea Pearl is a renowned computer scientist and philosopher best known for his pioneering work in artificial intelligence and statistics. He is the author of several influential books, including "Causality: Models, Reasoning, and Inference," which has become a foundational text in the field of causal inference. Pearl's writing is characterized by its clarity, rigor, and the ability to bridge complex theoretical concepts with practical applications. His contributions have not only advanced the field of AI but have also significantly influenced fields such as social sciences and epidemiology.
Dana Mackenzie is a distinguished author and mathematician known for his engaging exploration of mathematical concepts in literature. He is the author of notable works such as 'The Universe in Zero Words' and 'The Big Splat, or How Our Moon Came to Be', which blends narrative with scientific inquiry. Mackenzie’s writing is characterized by its clarity, creativity, and ability to make complex ideas accessible to a broad audience. He holds a Ph.D. in mathematics, and his background informs his ability to communicate intricate subjects with enthusiasm and insight.
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