A large number of trials, particularly in the United States, rely on statistics and probability calculations to decide whether a defendant is guilty or not. The book written by Leila Schneps, mathematician and research director at the CNRS, aims to demonstrate, using concrete examples taken from case law, that errors of assessment and calculation can have dramatic consequences on the lives of those on trial.
Why we like it:
Contrary to what one might think the book is very accessible, the concrete examples are very interesting and allow one to immerse oneself in fascinating legal stories. Moreover, it also allows us to address the reason for our dependence on mathematics and the solutions to bring so that these errors do not happen anymore.
Raphael Desmazières