Just before this BBC podcast gets underway, here's something you may not know.

My name's Linda Davies and I Commission Podcasts for BBC Sounds.

As you'd expect, at the BBC we make podcasts of the very highest quality featuring the most knowledgeable

experts and genuinely engaging voices. What you may not know is that the BBC

makes podcasts about all kinds of things like pop stars,

poltergeist, cricket, and conspiracy theories and that's just a few examples.

If you'd like to discover something a little bit unexpected, find your next podcast over at BBC Sounds.

Hello and welcome to more or less on the BBC World Service.

We're your guide to the numbers all around you in the news, I did life, and I'm Tim Harford.

A true number geek never gets a day off.

So when I was challenged to take some time out of my seaside break and sum up everything I know about analyzing statistics, I couldn't resist.

Just one problem. All I had to hand was this postcard. Very nice and it'll just have to do.

The complete guide to tearing apart dodgy statistics in the same amount of space it takes to say,

wish you were here. It's not going to be easy,

but I'll give it a try.

I can't afford to take a holiday from fighting the good statistical fight

because it's vital we're able to judge the things we read, watch or even

hear on the radio. We're not just passive consumers of catchy statistics. With a word or a click,

we can pass them on to the people around us too.

If we fall for things that aren't true, we can find ourselves accidentally deceiving others.

But don't worry, here's my guide on a postcard, sent air mail from me to you.

Number one, observe your feelings.

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