Last year I purchased Data Flow: Visualising Information in Graphic Design and I have it sitting on my desk. The book showcases many good data visualizations, and some that are so complicated that I find them incomprehensible. For me, a good visualization is simple, humorous, and drives home a point. You can find my favorite data visualization on page 164 of the book. The best one has three overlapping circles. The first is named Middle Management; the second is Mortgage, and the third is Minivan. The union of the three circles is labeled Existential Crisis. Simple, yet effective for a middle-aged management guy with a minivan and a mortgage.

Data Flow 2: Visualizing Information in Graphic Design is scheduled to come out this month, and it will certainly be on my “To buy” list. You can find a sneak preview of the book at New Book Sneak Preview: Data Flow 2