How well do you know what you think you know? If you've ever pored over election polling data, argued about climate change, or read an article describing the latest study on a topic you care about, PAINTING BY NUMBERS is for you. Written in an entertaining and approachable style and with humorous illustrations to help explain complex modeling concepts, PAINTING BY NUMBERS is an essential tool for making sense of the numbers shaping modern society.

Jason Makansi, author of four non-fiction books relating to business, energy/environmental issues, and mathematical modeling, has published short stories in a variety of literary journals and collections. He is a 2009 alumnus of the Sewanee Writers Conference, has reviewed short story collections for The Short Review, and is currently a contributing editor for River Styx literary journal and Associate Editor for December literary magazine. In his spare time, he plays the viola in community orchestras, plays piano for fun, and rides his bike as often as he can.

Elena graduated from Oberlin College where she majored in Environmental Studies. She is currently pursuing an MFA in illustration & Design from the University of Arizona. She is a writer, artist, and vegan/vegetarian cook. She is part of the K. Makansi trio of writers of THE SEEDS TRILOGY (currently optioned for film by an award-winning independent production company), and is working on her first solo novel, LUNA AND THE MIDNIGHT CAFE. She blogs and runs a Facebook page about vegetables and cooking and works part-time for an organization promoting farmers markets and local artisans. She has worked on illustrations for several non-fiction titles and has designed many book covers. THE SECRET OF THE SANTA BOX is her first children's picture book.