How to Lie with Statistics

Darrell Huff (1913-2001) was an American writer and freelance journalist. Born in Gowrie, Iowa, he studied sociology and journalism at the University of Iowa, receiving bachelor’s and master’s degrees. He initially worked as a journalist for The Herald in Clinton, Iowa, and The Gazette in Cedar Rapids before becoming an editor for Look in Des Moines. His most high-profile positions were managing editor for Better Homes and Gardens and executive editor for Liberty magazine. After World War II, Huff stopped editing and moved to California, where he pursued a career in freelance writing and a hobby of building houses. The home he built in Carmel-by-the-Sea won awards and was featured in many articles. He lived there until his death in 2001.

Over time, the scope of Huff’s work has been lost, and it is unknown how many books and articles he published. Most of his published work covered the how-to genre across a wide range of subjects in magazines and published books. These include How to Work with Concrete and Masonry (1968) and Living High on $6500 a Year (1962). Huff’s hands-on nature is reflected in the subjects of his writing. This includes How to Lie with Statistics.