Features: Second edition has been updated with a new chapter on Nonparametric Estimation; a significant update to the chapter on Statistical Decision Theory; and other updates throughout No requirement for heavy calculus, and simple questions throughout the text help students check their understanding of the material Each chapter also includes a set of exercises that range in level of difficulty Self-contained, and can be used by the students to understand the theory Chapters and sections marked by asterisks contain more advanced topics and may be omitted Special chapters on linear models and nonparametric statistics show how the main theoretical concepts can be applied to well-known and frequently used statistical tools