Painting with Numbers: Presenting Financials and Other Numbers So People Will Understand You

I rarely write reviews but I have to for this book, especially for those like me that may not be numbers people. I have significant proposals to present approx. four to five times a year; they always vary somewhat in the kind of information they provide. However, numbers are ALWAYS included and ALWAYS critical, particularly by the time the project has reached the stage where my input is made. I am the final person to put the information together. This can mean when I am given the numbers to assemble ( and of course they're from the numbers people!) they can arrive in various forms and it is now my job to decipher them and what they are saying and make them coherent to the folks I am presenting to. Not being a 'numbers person' this NEVER fails to be an agonizing exercise. (And I otherwise love putting these proposals together.)I have just completed a proposal and I used this book to help me. I used only a few of the guidelines and immediately saw a difference (e.g. consistently right justify vs. centering). I now believe that there actually IS a system that is consistent and simple, after all. That there are rules for numbers communication - like we have for grammar, so to speak - that exist in a systematic form!! They are in this book.It lead me to Bolten's web page [...] and there are some simple ways to understand widely presented numbers there, too. Nifty!

First of all this book isn't just for financial people. This book is a must read for engineers, technical sales people, management and sales and marketing professionals.Secondly, this isn't a read and put away book. This is a reference that can be used everyday when you are putting together presentations and reports.Randall does a great job of teaching how to communicate and present numbers so that you are credible and communicate effectively with your audience.This book helps the reader to develop new communication skills that will build credibility and rapport with your audience.I am sharing this book with my colleagues and my customers and it will be used on a regular basis to help my customers and teammates.

Useful in its field. Presentations made simple from someone who has had to deal a lot in these numerical issues.

It is surprising how many people - even senior business types - are intimidated by numerical data. Occasionally this can be an advantage in marketing to the naive or just in selling an idea. Generally, though, this fear of numbers works against you as the presenter. Apparent agreement evaporates after the meeting or the meeting degenerates into confusion.This book is an invaluable tool for getting numerical data across clearly. The book is well designed and it reads well. There is humor in the quotes selected. A lot of thought - and experience - has gone into this work.Get it! You - Mr., Mrs. or Ms. - Business Person or Not Business Person - will find it highly useful.NB: I was at Stanford Business School with the author. Apart from remembering that he is very bright, we have only had brief contact since then. My reason for writing this review is that I found answers in this book to tough questions that my software marketing daughter asked me so she is getting it for Christmas.

This book should be read by anyone who has to tell a story with numbers. Easy and simple to understand if you are not a finance major and don't want to be one.Randall has a way of showing you how to deliver a creditable message to your audience with winning results. Brilliant.

The book is a great guide to effective presentation of data, and - just as importantly - to clarity of thought.

If you're new to the world of financial reporting and have never presented numbers or seen a financial report before, then this book might be a good read.

This is good information, but it's a little too focused on financials.