Pattern Recognition and Machine Learning

Pattern recognition has its origins in engineering, whereas machine learning grew out of computer science. However, these activities can be viewed as two facets of the same field, and together they have undergone substantial development over the past ten years. In particular, Bayesian methods have grown from a specialist niche to become mainstream, while graphical models have emerged as a general framework for describing and applying probabilistic models. Also, the practical applicability of Bayesian methods has been greatly enhanced through the development of a range of approximate inference algorithms such as variational Bayes and expectation pro- gation. Similarly, new models based on kernels have had significant impact on both algorithms and applications. This new textbook reacts these recent developments while providing a comprehensive introduction to the fields of pattern recognition and machine learning. It is aimed at advanced undergraduates or first year PhD students, as wellas researchers and practitioners, and assumes no previous knowledge of pattern recognition or - chine learning concepts. Knowledge of multivariate calculus and basic linear algebra is required, and some familiarity with probabilities would be helpful though not essential as the book includes a self-contained introduction to basic probability theory.

From the reviews:

"This beautifully produced book is intended for advanced undergraduates, PhD students, and researchers and practitioners, primarily in the machine learning or allied areas...A strong feature is the use of geometric illustration and intuition...This is an impressive and interesting book that might form the basis of several advanced statistics courses. It would be a good choice for a reading group." John Maindonald for the Journal of Statistical Software

"In this book, aimed at senior undergraduates or beginning graduate students, Bishop provides an authoritative presentation of many of the statistical techniques that have come to be considered part of ‘pattern recognition’ or ‘machine learning’. … This book will serve as an excellent reference. … With its coherent viewpoint, accurate and extensive coverage, and generally good explanations, Bishop’s book is a useful introduction … and a valuable reference for the principle techniques used in these fields." (Radford M. Neal, Technometrics, Vol. 49 (3), August, 2007)

"This book appears in the Information Science and Statistics Series commissioned by the publishers. … The book appears to have been designed for course teaching, but obviously contains material that readers interested in self-study can use. It is certainly structured for easy use. … For course teachers there is ample backing which includes some 400 exercises. … it does contain important material which can be easily followed without the reader being confined to a pre-determined course of study." (W. R. Howard, Kybernetes, Vol. 36 (2), 2007)

"Bishop (Microsoft Research, UK) has prepared a marvelous book that provides a comprehensive, 700-page introduction to the fields of pattern recognition and machine learning. Aimed at advanced undergraduates and first-year graduate students, as well as researchers and practitioners, the book assumes knowledge of multivariate calculus and linear algebra … . SummingUp: Highly recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through professionals." (C. Tappert, CHOICE, Vol. 44 (9), May, 2007)

"The book is structured into 14 main parts and 5 appendices. … The book is aimed at PhD students, researchers and practitioners. It is well-suited for courses on machine learning, statistics, computer science, signal processing, computer vision, data mining, and bio-informatics. Extensive support is provided for course instructors, including more than 400 exercises, lecture slides and a great deal of additional material available at the book’s web site … ." (Ingmar Randvee, Zentralblatt MATH, Vol. 1107 (9), 2007)

"This new textbook by C. M. Bishop is a brilliant extension of his former book ‘Neural Networks for Pattern Recognition’. It is written for graduate students or scientists doing interdisciplinary work in related fields. … In summary, this textbook is an excellent introduction to classical pattern recognition and machine learning (in the senseof parameter estimation). A large number of very instructive illustrations adds to this value." (H. G. Feichtinger, Monatshefte für Mathematik, Vol. 151 (3), 2007)

"Author aims this text at advanced undergraduates, beginning graduate students, and researchers new to machine learning and pattern recognition. … Pattern Recognition and Machine Learning provides excellent intuitive descriptions and appropriate-level technical details on modern pattern recognition and machine learning. It can be used to teach a course or for self-study, as well as for a reference. … I strongly recommend it for the intended audience and note that Neal (2007) also has given this text a strong review to complement its strong sales record." (Thomas Burr, Journal of the American Statistical Association, Vol. 103 (482), June, 2008)

"This accessible monograph seeks to provide a comprehensive introduction to the fields of pattern recognition and machine learning. It presents a unified treatment of well-known statistical pattern recognition techniques. … The book can be used by advanced undergraduates and graduate students … . The illustrative examples and exercises proposed at the end of each chapter are welcome … . The book, which provides several new views, developments and results, is appropriate for both researchers and students who work in machine learning … ." (L. State, ACM Computing Reviews, October, 2008)

"Chris Bishop’s … technical exposition that is at once lucid and mathematically rigorous. … In more than 700 pages of clear, copiously illustrated text, he develops a common statistical framework that encompasses … machine learning. … it is a textbook, with a wide range of exercises, instructions to tutors on where to go for full solutions, and the color illustrations that have become obligatory in undergraduate texts. … its clarity and comprehensiveness will make it a favorite desktop companion for practicing data analysts." (H. Van Dyke Parunak, ACM Computing Reviews, Vol. 49 (3), March, 2008)

​Chris Bishop is a Microsoft Distinguished Scientist and the Laboratory Director at Microsoft Research Cambridge. He is also Professor of Computer Science at the University of Edinburgh, and a Fellow of Darwin College, Cambridge. In 2004, he was elected Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, and in 2007 he was elected Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. 

Chris obtained a BA in Physics from Oxford, and a PhD in Theoretical Physics from the University of Edinburgh, with a thesis on quantum field theory. He then joined Culham Laboratory where he worked on the theory of magnetically confined plasmas as part of the European controlled fusion programme.