I was honored when Mona Khalil invited me to write the foreword for her excellent new book, Effective Data Analysis, which I highly recommend. As a data analyst, I've encountered situations where there's no straightforward "right" answer, and one must fuse objective measurement with subjective interpretation and thoughtful communication. Mona's book breaks down these topics in all their nuance, unpacking concepts like defining metrics, the theory of measurement, and how to present findings to stakeholders. The book emphasizes the importance of simplicity in analysis, which is especially crucial as we enter the world of AI where models can produce results that require human interpretation and communication. Reading through this book has given me a new appreciation for the science and art of effective analysis, and I believe practitioners of all experience levels can benefit from it to avoid common pitfalls and make their own unique mistakes.