---
title: "The Shocking Truth About Pie Charts"
id: "2726"
type: "post"
slug: "pie-chart-fai"
published_at: "2012-07-06T14:52:14+00:00"
modified_at: "2012-06-27T04:15:40+00:00"
url: "https://johnpoelstra.com/pie-chart-fai/"
markdown_url: "https://johnpoelstra.com/pie-chart-fai.md"
excerpt: "Pie charts are a horrible way to convey information, particularly when other formats are much more effective. Stephen Few has a compelling article explaining why this is true. I also recommend his books. If you need a little convincing before......"
taxonomy_category:
  - "Productivity"
---

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# [The Shocking Truth About Pie Charts](https://johnpoelstra.com/pie-chart-fai/)

[http://www.flickr.com/photos/hunson/5943995838/](http://www.flickr.com/photos/hunson/5943995838/)

Pie charts are a horrible way to convey information, particularly when other formats are much more effective.

[Stephen Few](http://perceptualedge.com/)
 has a [compelling article](http://www.perceptualedge.com/articles/08-21-07.pdf)
 explaining why this is true. I also recommend his books.

If you need a little convincing before reading the whole article, [open the pdf](http://www.perceptualedge.com/articles/08-21-07.pdf)
 and skip to the bottom of page 11. That pretty much sums up the situation.

[Picture credit to hunsonisgroovy on Flickr](http://www.flickr.com/photos/hunson/5943995838/)

#### John Poelstra

John Poelstra coaches directors in finance and software. Trained through the Co-Active Training Institute, he has coached for more than 10 years, with over 520 clients and 3,150 sessions, including people at well-known Fortune 100 companies. In over 30 years of professional experience, he spent 25 in technology and finance: software testing, project management and team leadership at Red Hat and Dell/EMC, and finance as a bank auditor at Wells Fargo and a CPA at Grant Thornton. He hosts The John Poelstra Show podcast and is based in Portland, Oregon.

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July 6, 2012

[Productivity](https://johnpoelstra.com/category/productivity/)

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