An Accidental Statistician

Celebrating the life of an admired pioneer instatisticsIn this captivating and inspiring memoir, world-renownedstatistician George E. P. Box offers a firsthand account of hislife and statistical work. Writing in an engaging, charming style,Dr. Box reveals the unlikely events that led him to a career instatistics, beginning with his job as a chemist conductingexperiments for the British army during World War II. At thisturning point in his life and career, Dr. Box taught himself thestatistical methods necessary to analyze his own findings whenthere were no statisticians available to check his work.Throughout his autobiography, Dr. Box expertly weaves a personaland professional narrative to illustrate the effects his work hadon his life and vice-versa. Interwoven between his research withtime series analysis, experimental design, and the qualitymovement, Dr. Box recounts coming to the United States, his familylife, and stories of the people who mean the most to him.This fascinating account balances the influence of both personaland professional relationships to demonstrate the extraordinarylife of one of the greatest and most influential statisticians ofour time. An Accidental Statistician also features:* Two forewords written by Dr. Box's formercolleagues and closest confidants* Personal insights from more than a dozen statisticianson how Dr. Box has influenced and continues to touch their careersand lives* Numerous, previously unpublished photos from theauthor's personal collectionAn Accidental Statistician is a compelling read forstatisticians in education or industry, mathematicians, engineers,and anyone interested in the life story of an influentialintellectual who altered the world of modern statistics.

Foreword xiSecond Foreword xvPreface xixAcknowledgments xxiFrom ThePublisher xxiii1 Early Years 1''Who in the world am I? Ah, that's the greatpuzzle.''2 Army Life 19''Contrarywise, if it was so, it might be: and if itwere so, it would be: but as it isn't, it ain't.That's logic.''3 ICI and the Statistical Methods Panel 44''Can you answer useful questions?''4 George Barnard 53''When I use a word . . . it means just what Ichoose it to mean-neither more nor less.''5 An Invitation to the United States 63''The time has come, 'the walrus said,'to talk of many things. Of shoes and ships and sealing wax, ofcabbages and kings.''6 Princeton 78''Ah! Then yours wasn't a really goodschool.''7 A New Life in Madison 94''Digging for apples, your honor!''8 Time Series 124''What do you know about thisbusiness?''9 George Tiao and the Bayes Book 139''It gets easier further on.''10 GrowingUp (Helen and Harry) 144''There are 364 days when you might get unbirthdaypresents, and only 1 for birthday presents, youknow.''11 Fisher--Father and Son 151''I only hope the boat won't tippleover!''12 Bill Hunter and Some Ideas on Experimental Design157''There goes Bill!''13 The Quality Movement 181''The race is over!. . . 'Everybody has wonand all must have prizes.'''14 Adventures with Claire 197''What else had you to learn?''''Well, there was Mystery.''15 The Many Sides of Mac 209''There's nothing like eating hay whenyou're feeling faint.''16 Life in England 218''What matters is how far we go? There is anothershore, you know, upon the other side.''17 Journeys to Scandinavia 224''What sort of people live here?''18 A Second Home in Spain 228''I know something interesting is sure tohappen.''19 The Royal Society of London 24520 Conclusion 24721 Memories 248Index 265