Book excerpt: From SAT scores to job search methods, statistics influences and shapes the world around us. Marty Triola's text continues to be the bestseller because it helps students understand the relationship between statistics and the world, bringing life to the theory and methods. Essentials of Statistics (a briefer version of Elementary Statistics-see below for the full series) raises the bar with every edition by incorporating an unprecedented amount of real and interesting data that will help instructors connect with students today, and help them connect statistics to their daily lives. The Fifth Edition contains more than 1,585 exercises, 89% of which use real data and 86% of which are new.