Abstract

“TV ratings,” “exit polls,” “deviation scores,” “auto insurance,” “average life expectancy,” “cherry blossom forecasts” —
The mechanisms of society, the flow of money, and human behavior — everything can be understood through statistics!
This book is written for readers who have tried to read an “introductory book on statistics” but found it too difficult to understand.
It takes on the challenge of explaining “the very first steps of statistics” — a level so basic that no one has ever written about it before.
Each concept is broken down as simply as possible and explained with great care and clarity — “as easy to digest as it can possibly be.”
Even knowing just this super-basic level of statistics can completely change how you see the world.
If you take it seriously, even this most elementary understanding of statistics will surely become one of your greatest tools.

Author’s Information

Born in Tokyo in 1955. After graduating from Tokyo Metropolitan Koishikawa High School (now Koishikawa Secondary School), he earned degrees in Mathematics and Economics from the University of Tokyo, and later obtained a Ph.D. in Policy Studies.
He joined the Ministry of Finance in 1980, where he held key positions including Director of the Financial Planning Office, Visiting Fellow at Princeton University, Senior Policy Officer at the Cabinet Office (Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy), Advisor to the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications, and Senior Policy Officer to the Prime Minister.
Takahashi played a leading role in tackling one of postwar Japan’s most critical economic challenges—the disposal of non-performing loans—earning him the nickname “The Great Demon King of Bad Debt Write-Offs.”
He is currently Professor at the Faculty of Business and Economics, Kaetsu University, and Chairman of Policy Workshop Co., Ltd.
His numerous bestsellers and long-selling works include The Collapse of the Ministry of Finance, The Clear Guide to Accounting, Diplomatic Battles, The Clear Guide to Economic Theory, The Clear Guide to Political Science, The New Truth About Government Bonds That 99% of Japanese Don’t Know, An Illustrated Introduction to Geopolitics, and An Illustrated Introduction to Economics (all published by Asa Publishing).
He also won the 17th Yamamoto Shichihei Prize for his acclaimed book Farewell, Ministry of Finance!—Confessions of a Man Who Challenged Japan’s Bureaucracy (Kodansha).