Knowing the Data

I like the idea of 'thinking with data',  not just solving a particular problem but knowing important process data and manipulating it for ongoing value.  Knowing the data as well as you know the analytic methods.

thinking with data with "Modern Data Science with R"
One of the biggest challenges educators face is how to teach statistical thinking integrated with data and computing skills to allow our students to fluidly think with data.  Contemporary data science requires a tight integration of knowledge from statistics, computer science, mathematics, and a domain of application. For example, how can one model high earnings as a function of other features that might be available for a customer? How do the results of a decision tree compare to a logistic regression model? How does one assess whether the underlying assumptions of a chosen model are appropriate?  How are the results interpreted and communicated?  .... "

Good example included.  Includes some free downloads of chapters from associated book.

See also 
SAS and R    Examples of tasks replicated in SAS and R ....