(This is a draft that I propose posting to the top level, with such improvements as will be offered, unless feedback suggests it is likely not to achieve its purposes. Also reply if you would be willing to co-facilitate: I’m willing to do so but backup would be nice.)
Do you want to become stronger in the way of Bayes? This post is intended for people whose understanding of Bayesian probability theory is currently between levels 0 and 1, and who are interested in developing deeper knowledge through deliberate practice.
Our intention is to form a self-study group composed of peers, working with the assistance of a facilitator—but not necessarily of a teacher or of an expert in the topic. Some students may be somewhat more advanced along the path, and able to offer assistance to others.
Our first text will be E.T. Jayne’s Probability Theory: The Logic of Science, which can be found in PDF form (in a slightly less polished version than the book edition) here or here.
We will work through the text in sections, at a pace allowing thorough understanding: expect one new section every week, maybe every other week. A brief summary of the currently discussed section will be published as an update to this post, and simultaneously a comment will open the discussion with a few questions, or the statement of an exercise. Please use ROT13 whenever appropriate in your replies.
A first comment below collects intentions to participate. Please reply to this comment only if you are genuinely interested in gaining a better understanding of Bayesian probability and willing to commit to spend a few hours per week reading through the section assigned or doing the exercises. A few days from now the first section will be posted.
This sounds great, I’m definitely in. I feel like I have a moderately okay intuitive grasp on Bayescraft but a chance to work through it from the ground up would be great.
I’m in.
I already read the first few chapters, but it will be nice to go over them to solidify that knowledge. The slower pace will help as well. The later chapters rely on some knowledge of statistics, maybe some member of the book club is already knowledgeable to be able to find good links to summaries of these things when they come up?
I would be interested, what is the intended time period for the reading? I have a two-week trip coming up when I will probably be busy but aside from that I would very much like to participate.
The plan, I think, would be to start nice and slow, then adjust as we gain confidence. We’re likely to start with the first chapter so you could get a head start by reading that, before we start for real, which is looking likely now as we have quite a few people more than the last time this was brought up.
I’m interested. I already have the book but haven’t progressed very far so this seems like it’s potentially a good motivator to finish it. The link to the PDF seems to be missing btw.
Less Wrong Book Club and Study Group
(This is a draft that I propose posting to the top level, with such improvements as will be offered, unless feedback suggests it is likely not to achieve its purposes. Also reply if you would be willing to co-facilitate: I’m willing to do so but backup would be nice.)
Do you want to become stronger in the way of Bayes? This post is intended for people whose understanding of Bayesian probability theory is currently between levels 0 and 1, and who are interested in developing deeper knowledge through deliberate practice.
Our intention is to form a self-study group composed of peers, working with the assistance of a facilitator—but not necessarily of a teacher or of an expert in the topic. Some students may be somewhat more advanced along the path, and able to offer assistance to others.
Our first text will be E.T. Jayne’s Probability Theory: The Logic of Science, which can be found in PDF form (in a slightly less polished version than the book edition) here or here.
We will work through the text in sections, at a pace allowing thorough understanding: expect one new section every week, maybe every other week. A brief summary of the currently discussed section will be published as an update to this post, and simultaneously a comment will open the discussion with a few questions, or the statement of an exercise. Please use ROT13 whenever appropriate in your replies.
A first comment below collects intentions to participate. Please reply to this comment only if you are genuinely interested in gaining a better understanding of Bayesian probability and willing to commit to spend a few hours per week reading through the section assigned or doing the exercises. A few days from now the first section will be posted.
This sounds great, I’m definitely in. I feel like I have a moderately okay intuitive grasp on Bayescraft but a chance to work through it from the ground up would be great.
In. Have the deadtree version, but I was stymied in my first crack at it.
In. If needed I can cover a few of the early chapters.
I’m in. I already read the first few chapters, but it will be nice to go over them to solidify that knowledge. The slower pace will help as well. The later chapters rely on some knowledge of statistics, maybe some member of the book club is already knowledgeable to be able to find good links to summaries of these things when they come up?
I would be interested, what is the intended time period for the reading? I have a two-week trip coming up when I will probably be busy but aside from that I would very much like to participate.
The plan, I think, would be to start nice and slow, then adjust as we gain confidence. We’re likely to start with the first chapter so you could get a head start by reading that, before we start for real, which is looking likely now as we have quite a few people more than the last time this was brought up.
I’m in, been intending to read through some maths on my free time.
It’s thesis writeup period for me, but this is extremely tempting.
I’m interested. I already have the book but haven’t progressed very far so this seems like it’s potentially a good motivator to finish it. The link to the PDF seems to be missing btw.
I’m enthusiastically in.
I think that a book club is a great idea, and this is an excellent choice for a book. I’m definitely interested.
Feedback sought: is this too short? Too long? Is the intent clear? What if anything is missing?
Are you intending to do this online or meet in person? If you are actually meeting, what city is this taking place in? Thanks.
Excellent question, thanks. I can only offer to help with the online version, I live in France where only a few only LessWrongers reside.
And there’s nothing to prevent the online group from having a F2F continuation. I’ll ask people to say where they are.
A link to the Amazon Page if people want to read reviews and learn what the book is about.
The link to the pdf version seems to be missing in the original post.