An Accidental Statistician – The Life and Memories of George E. P. Box The Life and Memories of George E. P. Box

Celebrating the life of an admired pioneer in statistics

In this captivating and inspiring memoir, world-renowned statistician George E. P. Box offers a firsthand account of his life and statistical work. Writing in an engaging, charming style, Dr. Box reveals the unlikely events that led him to a career in statistics, beginning with his job as a chemist conducting experiments for the British army during World War II. At this turning point in his life and career, Dr. Box taught himself the statistical methods necessary to analyze his own findings when there were no statisticians available to check his work.

Throughout his autobiography, Dr. Box expertly weaves a personal and professional narrative to illustrate the effects his work had on his life and vice-versa. Interwoven between his research with time series analysis, experimental design, and the quality movement, Dr. Box recounts coming to the United States, his family life, and stories of the people who mean the most to him.

This fascinating account balances the influence of both personal and professional relationships to demonstrate the extraordinary life of one of the greatest and most influential statisticians of our time. An Accidental Statistician also features:

* Two forewords written by Dr. Box's former colleagues and closest confidants

* Personal insights from more than a dozen statisticians on how Dr. Box has influenced and continues to touch their careers and lives

* Numerous, previously unpublished photos from the author's personal collection

An Accidental Statistician is a compelling read for statisticians in education or industry, mathematicians, engineers, and anyone interested in the life story of an influential intellectual who altered the world of modern statistics.

In 1942, trained chemist George Box was performing research for the Bristish Army, conducting chemical experiments that would ultimately shape the technology used in World War II. When no statisticians were available to analyze his various findings, Box picked up a statistics book and taught himself the needed methods. What followed was the start of the one of the most well-known and celebrated careers in the field of statistics. In An Accidental Statistican : The Life and Memories of George Box, the world-renowned statistician opens up to readers about his early life and the unlikely series of events that led to his career in statistics. This fascinating account follows Dr. Box's life from his childhood in Kent, England and groundbreaking work with the British Army during World War II to the beginning of his academic career with stints at North Carolina State University, Princeton University, and  the University of Wisconsin-Madison where he has served on the faculty of Department of Industrial and Systems Engineerin for over fifty years. Throughout the book, Dr. Boxs accounts of his professional accomplishments are illuminated by his insights and stories of the relationships, both professional and personal, that he built along the way. Shedding light on Dr. Boxs influence on his peers, the memoir begins with Forewords written by the authors closest colleagues and confidants and concludes with insights from over a dozen practicing statisticians, each offering personal accounts of how Dr. Box shaped their careers and lives. Whether or not they are familiar with Boxs professional work, readers will enjoy this charming, intimate account a great intellects life, and develop an appreciate for his contributions to modern state of statistics and engineering professions.

Celebrating the life of an admired pioneer in statisticsIn this captivating and inspiring memoir, world-renowned statistician George E. P. Box offers a firsthand account of his life and statistical work. Writing in an engaging, charming style, Dr. Box reveals the unlikely events that led him to a career in statistics, beginning with his job as a chemist conducting experiments for the British army during World War II. At this turning point in his life and career, Dr. Box taught himself the statistical methods necessary to analyze his own findings when there were no statisticians available to check his work.Throughout his autobiography, Dr. Box expertly weaves a personal and professional narrative to illustrate the effects his work had on his life and vice-versa. Interwoven between his research with time series analysis, experimental design, and the quality movement, Dr. Box recounts coming to the United States, his family life, and stories of the people who mean the most to him.This fascinating account balances the influence of both personal and professional relationships to demonstrate the extraordinary life of one of the greatest and most influential statisticians of our time. An Accidental Statistician also features: Two forewords written by Dr. Boxs former colleagues and closest confidants Personal insights from more than a dozen statisticians on how Dr. Box has influenced and continues to touch their careers and lives Numerous, previously unpublished photos from the authors personal collectionAn Accidental Statistician is a compelling read for statisticians in education or industry, mathematicians, engineers, and anyone interested in the life story of an influential intellectual who altered the world of modern statistics.