Frederick Mosteller has inspired numerous statisticians and other scientists by his creative approach to statistics and its applications. This volume brings together 40 of his most original and influential papers, capturing the variety and depth of his writings. The editors hope to share these with a new generation of researchers, so that they can build upon his insights and efforts. This volume of selected papers is a companion to the earlier volume A Statistical Model: Frederick Mosteller's Contributions to Statistics, Science, and Public Policy, edited by Stephen E. Fienberg, David C. Hoaglin, William H. Kruskal, and Judith M. Tanur (Springer-Verlag, 1990), and to Mosteller's forthcoming autobiography, which will also be published by Springer-Verlag. It includes a biography and a comprehensive bibliography of Mosteller's books, papers, and other writings. Stephen E. Fienberg is Maurice Falk University Professor of Statistics and Social Science, in the Departments of Statistics and Machine Learning at Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA. David C. Hoaglin is Principal Scientist at Abt Associates Inc., Cambridge, MA.

One of the best known statisticians of the 20th century, Frederick Mosteller has inspired numerous statisticians and other scientists by his creative approach to statistics and its applications. This volume collects 40 of his most original and influential papers, capturing the variety and depth of his writings. It is hoped that sharing these writings with a new generation of researchers will inspire them to build upon his insights and efforts.

A large number of Mostellar's friends, colleagues, collaborators, and former students have contributed to the preparation of this volume in honor of his 70th birthday. It provides a critical assessment of Mosteller's professional and research contributions to the field of statistics and its applications.

From his unique perspective, renowned statistician and educator Frederick Mosteller describes many of the projects and events in his long career. From humble beginnings in western Pennsylvania to becoming the founding chairman of Harvard University's Department of Statistics and beyond, he inspired many statisticians, scientists, and students with his unabashed pragmatism, creative thinking, and zest for both learning and teaching. This candid account offers fresh insights into the qualities that made Mosteller a superb teacher, a prolific scholar, a respected leader, and a valued advisor.

A special feature of the book is its chapter-length insider accounts of work on the pre-election polls of 1948, statistical aspects of the Kinsey report on sexual behavior in the human male, mathematical learning theory, authorship of the disputed Federalist papers, safety of anesthetics, and a wide-ranging examination of the Coleman report on equality of educational opportunity.

This volume is a companion to Selected Papers of Frederick Mosteller (Springer, 2006) and A Statistical Model: Frederick Mosteller's Contributions to Statistics, Science, and Public Policy (Springer-Verlag, 1990).

Frederick Mosteller (1916-2006) was Roger I. Lee Professor of Mathematical Statistics at Harvard University. His manuscript was unfinished at his death and has been updated.