Gould - the Median Isn’t the Message

02/13/07

Analytical Summary of The Median isn’t the Message by Stephan Jay Gould

Gould’s “The Median isn’t the Message” is an essay about Stephan Jay Gould’s experience with cancer and the strategies he employed to overcome them. He comments on the necessity for a positive state of mind (164) as well as a full understanding of the information one is reading (165). These necessities lead to a pinnacle point: Gould insists we are not average and therefore, our fate will be anything but average. Therefore by bettering one’s lifestyle one can better their expected longevity (166). Gould is very successful in presenting this point to the reader by clearly explaining the fundamental concepts regarding averages and logically building upon them to reach his conclusion.

Gould’s colourful use of examples helps us to easily grasp the concepts Gould uses to reach his conclusion; this is best exemplified in the description of the two politicians that use different statistical averages to manipulate or bend the information