Presenting to Win: The Art of Telling Your Story

Pie Charts

Figure 8.3 shows a typical pie chart (also called a circle chart). This kind of chart is useful for showing a total amount divided into subordinate parts; in this case, the chart shows how a company's sales are divided geographically. At a glance, it's easy to see the relative share of the whole that each part, or each wedge of pie, represents.

Figure 8.3. A typical pie chart.

Unfortunately, the chart is needlessly cluttered and confusing to read. Stacking the name of the sales region, the sales figure, and the percentage (e.g., “Europe,” “$11 Million,” and “22%”) forces the viewer to pause and sort out what each element means.

Now look ...