In the 41st session of Chandoo.org podcast, Let’s take a trip to data hell and meet 6 ugly, clumsy, confusing charts. I am revisiting a classic Chandoo.org article – 6 Charts you will see in hell.

What is in this session?
In this podcast,
- Quick announcement about Awesome August
- 6 charts you should avoid
- 3D charts
- Pie / donut charts with too many slices
- Too much data
- Over formatting
- Complex charts
- Charts that don’t tell a story
- Conclusions
Listen to this session
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
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Click here to download the MP3 file.
Learn more about which charts to avoid, which ones to make
On Pie charts:
Here is an ugly, clumsy pie chart to prove the point. [ Source: Bill the Lizard ]

- Should you use pie charts? – podcast session 004
- Why 3D pie charts are evil
On making charts when you have too much data:
- Panel charts (or small multiples) in Excel
- Panel Chart case study – Survey results visualized
- Sparklines
On formatting:
- Avoid Gangnam styles
- Impressing your boss with Excel charts – 6 step road map for you – podcast session 029
Transcript of this session:
Download this podcast transcript [PDF]
Do you create any of these charts? Share your story
As a fresh analyst, I created all of these 6 charts. But I quickly realized that each time I made a 3D pie chart, I am selling a small piece of my soul to the devil. So I atoned my sins by scattering everywhere and visiting lots of bars. 😉
What about you? Have you ever created any of these charts? What did your users say when they saw these charts? Share your story in the comments.
Note: This is a part of Awesome August Excel festival.

















6 Responses to “A quick personal update”
Thank you for the personal update. It was quite encouraging and a breath of fresh air in my Inbox. Take care and stay safe.
David
Doctors advise:
Virus obstructs lungs with thick mucus that solidifies.
Consume lot hot liquids like tea, soup, and sip of hot liquid every 20 min
Gargle w antiseptic of lemon, vinegar, & hot water daily
It attaches to hair/clothes detergent kills it, when come from st go straight shower
Hang dirty clothes in sunlight/cold overnight or wash immediately.
Wash metal surfaces as it can live on them 9 days
Do not touch hand rails
Do not smoke
Wash hands foaming 20 sec every 20 min
Eat fruit/veg and up zinc levels.
Animals do not spread it
Avoid common flu
Avoid eat/drink cold things
If feel sore throat do above immediate as virus is there 3-4 days before descends into lungs
Would love help with my database mgt in excel.
Thanks for being thoughtful of us.
BTW How do you track your expenses/income in excel? Can you share the worksheet please.
Stay safe you and your family, best wishes.
Thanks for the update and happy to know that you and family are doing good. A 21 day lockdown has now been announced in India (I live around Kolkata) so it's uncertain times ahead. I check up on your wonderful articles often and will do so even more regularly now. Stay safe and God bless.
Hi from Argentina, I follow you for a lot of years now. We here are in a quarantine for 2 or 3 weeks, because the pandemia.
Excel is also my passion and I came here looking for a Num2Words formula, but in spanish. If anyone have it, please let me know.
Best regards.
Pablo Molina
La Rioja - Argentina
I'm glad to have your personal update. I'm from India & following you for so many years. Cheers to have any further personal update.