Probability is perhaps one of the most applicable and applied branches of mathematics today. This is in large part due to the fact that probabilistic reasoning underlies much of modern science and technology, which in turn are the backbones of the modern world.

There are many good probability textbooks out there, yet “Probability with Applications and R” stands out for several reasons. It is a textbook that effortlessly combines the theoretical and applied material, it is immensely up-to-date and relevant, and it uses computer simulations (and statistical language R in particular) in an organic and effective way. It is an almost ideal textbook for someone who wants to gain both the deep understanding and the hands-on experience with probability in an applied and relevant context.

This textbook was based on many years worth of experience teaching probability to upper level undergraduates at a liberal arts college. It assumes certain level of mathematical sophistication, and multivariable calculus in particular. Other than that, it’s open to a wide spectrum of students from a variety of majors and backgrounds – mathematics, physics, biology, computer science, etc. The chapters include “Conditional Probability,” “Random Variables,” “Continuous Distributions,” “Limits,” and several others. There is also a short background material on R that has been relegated to appendices. R is a scripting language, and the student should be familiar with at least the rudiments of computer programming before engaging with the material in this book.

One of this book’s greatest features are the numerous examples, tutorials, exercises and “experiments.” All of them are very clear and pedagogical, and greatly foster learning and the acquisition of this material. The book is written in a very clear and pedagogical style, and it was a pleasure to go through it.

There are very few textbooks out there that will not only help you learn the material, but actually make you want to learn it. This Probability textbook is definitely one of them. It assumes certain predisposition and mathematical aptitude on the part of the student, and it manages to work with them and tap into the innate desire for learning and exploration. The book is a wonderful combination of conceptual clarity and applied practicality. Dobrow comes across as an erudite and excited teacher who excels at imparting his wide knowledge and deep insights at students. This is a clearly a worthwhile book to go through for anyone interested in getting a solid grasp of the best modern understanding of probability and its applications.