Well, it’s that time of year again! The end, that is. With thoughts turning to festivities and family gatherings, we naturally look back on the times we’ve had. If that phrase makes you think of graduating high school, I apologize. At VPL, we’re looking back on all the millions of checkouts and check-ins of 2025. Unsurprisingly, many of the same authors remain popular, even the same titles. The lists in their entirety are at the end of this post, but all this talk of checkouts and predicting popularity has me thinking about statistics and what they can tell us about our world. I’ve always found data to be a powerful tool. We can apply statistical analysis to all kinds of subjects, gaining incredible insights on why things happen and whether they will happen again. Think of the brilliance of a movie like Moneyball about Oakland As coach Billy Beane (Brad Pitt) and the work of sabermetrician Bill James. It was James’ application of statistical analysis to the performance of a baseball team – first explained in his Baseball Abstract – that Beane used to take his As to twenty consecutive wins. (Long story short: it’s all about which players manage to get on base when they’re up to bat.) They were the first in the history of the American League to do so. It’s a truly wonderful movie, and not just for us analytical nerds. Michael Lewis’ non-fiction account of the underdog victory story helped director Bennett Miller adapt the events into film. Incidentally, Bill James is now a true crime author, even collaborating with his daughter to craft a meticulously researched account of a suspected serial killer from the turn of the twentieth century. So, with the power of statistics in my mind, I thought I would see what books we have in our catalogue about creative analysis of data. Not so much the straightforward, educational books about data analytics, but the ones with unique or even seemingly incredulous claims.

The Art of Statistics is what they call a Pelican Book. Penguin’s imprint of non-fiction works started in the 1930s as a way for folks who couldn’t afford tuition or textbooks to read about academic subjects without the hefty price tag. That’s the impression you get picking up Spiegelhalter’s Art of Statistics. It’s somewhat dry, complex information rendered more palatable and intriguing for a wider audience. This is exactly what I was looking for. Speaking of intriguing information, the author begins by analyzing the known victim data of the prolific, British serial murderer, Harold Shipman. It goes to show how varied the disciplines are that can benefit from statistical analysis and how much true crime and statistics overlap, apparently. If you’re looking for a primer on several concepts with crucial real-world applications like algorithms, modeling data, probability, and Bayesian statistics, this one’s for you.

Numbers Don’t Lie: 71 Stories to Help Us Understand the Modern World
I must admit to ignorance of this next author. Vaclav Smil seems to have been quietly penning cerebral but not inscrutable treatises that attempt to answer society’s most pressing questions. According to this Science article, he is regularly consulted by some of the world’s most prestigious figures. More than anything, Smil’s objective is clearing up falsehoods, common misconceptions, and half truths. Bill Gates has said he’s a huge fan. How cool, then, that Vaclav Smil’s title is Distinguished Professor Emeritus at the University of Manitoba (of all places!) in the Faculty of Environment. He seems to be a fascinating figure with several books to his name. His latest is How to Feed the World. Regardless of the subject, the approach appears to be providing quantifiable data. You’d think that would be where most people would start when trying to answer elusive questions, but alas, not so much. It’s a good reminder that verified data is so important, and not all inferences are created equal.

All this talk of probability, and the encroaching holiday season, reminded me of a holiday rom-com/Netflix Adaptation called Love at First Sight. Inspired by the young adult romance, The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight, its voice over narration includes several faux statistics. I appreciate the irony that happens when you use the language of a real statistical fact to convey an absolutely untrue statement. Voice over narrator/cupid/fairy godmother Jameela Jamil (of The Good Place fame) conveys said irony splendidly. The theme of probability and percentages carries over to protagonist Oliver, who has an obsession with the clarity that comes from quantitative data. It’s endearing on him. The constant peppering of dubious statistics into his dialogue. Despite its prerequisite corniness, the movie succeeds at getting us to think about the likelihood of meeting someone and falling in love. It’s not exactly a common occurrence, which is why the word “fate” gets thrown out a couple times. Side note: the likelihood of experiencing what we refer to as “love at first sight” might not actually be that rare. This may be because it’s not actually love that people experience, but who knows? Aside from all this discussion of numbers and whatnot, I just wanted to come on here and recommend you watch this film. It’s surprisingly poignant, charming, and potentially cathartic for folks who have lost someone important to them. I apologize that it’s not in our collection, but we do have the book. There’s one significant change: the Netflix adaptation takes place during the winter holidays. Whereas, the book sets the story in summer. I must admit, I quite like the former setting.

Please check out one of these books or Love at First Sight if you’re looking for a holiday movie, and peruse the top ten lists in their entirety below. Take care, eat good food, and I’ll see you in the new year! Bye for now.