INFORMS Open Forum

  • 1.  What should we read for the July INFORMS Book Club?

    Posted 05-22-2025 20:32

    Have you recently read a book that you couldn't put down-or is there one you've been meaning to read? We're looking for the next great read for the INFORMS Book Club, and we need your suggestions!

    Put your recommendation in the comments or send it to me via email. Once we've gathered a few ideas, I'll send out a survey so we can vote on our next pick.

    Thanks in advance, and happy reading!



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    Jill Capello
    Membership Associate
    INFORMS
    Catonsville MD
    jcapello@informs.org
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  • 2.  RE: What should we read for the July INFORMS Book Club?

    Posted 05-23-2025 11:14

    I am just finishing "Proof: The Art and Science of Certainty"  by  Adam Kucharski  ISBN-13 978-1541606692, which was published May 6 of this year. Kucharski is a mathematical modeler, statistician and epidemiologist, and a good writer. The publicity blurb is below. Not surprisingly the chapter on the pandemic is particularly strong. Starts with foundations and then crises in mathematics and ends with ML/AI. 

    "How do we establish what we believe? And how can we be certain that what we believe is true? And how do we convince other people that it is true? For thousands of years, from the ancient Greeks to the Arabic golden age to the modern world, science has used different methods-logical, empirical, intuitive, and more-to separate fact from fiction. But it all had the same goal: find perfect evidence and be rewarded with universal truth."



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    Barry Nelson
    Walter P. Murphy Professor
    Northwestern University
    Evanston IL
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  • 3.  RE: What should we read for the July INFORMS Book Club?

    Posted 05-23-2025 11:45

    Thank you Barry! I'll add this to the survey.



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    Jill Capello
    Membership Associate
    INFORMS
    Catonsville MD
    jcapello@informs.org
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    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: What should we read for the July INFORMS Book Club?

    Posted 05-23-2025 21:00

    I'd like to recommend Practical Time Series Forecasting with R by Galit Shmueli and Julia P. Polak for the INFORMS Book Club. This book offers a clear and comprehensive introduction to forecasting, blending theory with hands-on application using R. What sets it apart is how effectively it demystifies the science of making accurate predictions while maintaining accessibility for readers with varying levels of technical background.

    Galit Shmueli, a well-respected professor and thought leader in business analytics, brings her expertise not only to the pages of the book but also through her excellent YouTube videos, which I found to be valuable complements. As a business analytics major, I appreciated how the book is structured. It strikes a great balance between depth and clarity.

    What I found most impactful, beyond the technical content, was its attention to the role of communication. The authors emphasize how analysts can present findings persuasively to non-technical stakeholders like executives and managers, a crucial skill in real-world settings.

    Whether you're brushing up on forecasting techniques or looking to enhance your data storytelling abilities, this book is a great choice.



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    Satkar Karki
    University of South Dakota
    Vermillion SD
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