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Visual Explanations Book Review

A book review dealing with the implications of the Edward Tufte Book Visual Explanations vis a vis Classification.

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Jason W. Dean
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365 views10 pages

Visual Explanations Book Review

A book review dealing with the implications of the Edward Tufte Book Visual Explanations vis a vis Classification.

Uploaded by

Jason W. Dean
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Visual Explanations, by

Edward R. Tufte
Book Review for IST 631, by Jason W. Dean
What is this book about?
This book is about the graphical representation of images,
words, and numbers – for presenting information. … And we
also enter the cognitive paradise of explanation, a sparkling and
exuberant world, intensely relevant to the design of information.
(p. [9])

The book is entertaining, and informative – but not exclusively


devoted to classification. The individual involved in
classification must keep this in mind. However, the book is quite
useful for evaluating classification schemes in three areas:
showing “hidden” connections (theme one), contextualizing
knowledge (theme two), and effective description vs. size
(theme three)
Theme one: Visibility
In chapter three of the text, Tufte discusses
illustrations of magic.
Explanations of magic involve pictorial instructions
demonstrating a sequence of performance, a step-by-
step description of conjuring activities. To document
and explain a process, to make verbs visible, is at the
heart of information design.
Making verbs visible is also at the heart of
classification.

How?
Making Verbs Visible
Classification describes connections between objects,
knowledge, or concepts.

It is the structure, and the description that


classification that makes seemingly ephemeral
connections between “things” clear and real.

It is the contextualization of these “things” that helps


to make the connections (both between the objects
classified and the connections made by the creator of
a scheme) clear, traceable, and very real.
Theme two: Contextualization
In chapter two, Tufte discusses the impact of the
contextualization of data in a visual display. This general
theme of contextualization is also applicable to classification.

It is the act of contextualizing knowledge that gives better


meaning to the items classified in a given theme.

This is related to, but separate from the first theme of making
verbs visible.

This theme is illustrated with Dr. John Snow’s Cholera Map,


and Minard’s Carte Figurative
Dr. Snow’s Cholera Map. Only when the data were placed on a
map (contextualized) was the source of the cholera outbreak
found – the Broad Street Pump
Minard’s Carte Figurative. This graphic illustrates the relative size of
Napoleon’s army to and from Moscow (on the right). This places the size
on a map, as well as in a date sequence. When the data is contextualized,
its meaning and impact becomes apparent.
Theme 2, Continued
Tufte provides four guidelines for the
contextualization of data, which I have adapted for
classifications:
Facet the parts of a classification in an appropriate
context for assessing cause and effect, as well as other
relationships.
Make connections and comparisons to clarify.
Consider alternate connections and contrast to
illuminate the scheme.
Assess possible errors or differences.
Theme three: Less is More
In chapter 4, Tufte adapts Occam’s Razor in this
quote:
Make all visual distinctions as subtle as possible, but
still clear and effective.
Or, what can be done with fewer is done in vain with
more.

The connection here is almost immediately evident:


too much can be overburdensome in a classification
scheme. Less can be more so long as your “less” is
effective.
How does the book apply to
classification?
The key here (and for the people we classify for) is that
contextualization provides a means to help our patrons and users
understand the classification schemes we use. The book simply
highlights the best practices for evaluating and displaying the
classifications (and data too) that we use.

I would recommend this for any librarian, or any information


professional as it is highly informative, accessible, and useful.

Tufte, E. R. (1997). Visual explanations: Images and quantities,


evidence and narrative. Cheshire, Conn: Graphics Press.

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