Chancing It: The Laws of Chance--And What They Mean for You

Synopsis

Over the years, some very smart people have thought they understood the rules of chance—only to fail dismally. Whether you call it probability, risk, or uncertainty, the workings of chance often defy common sense. Fortunately, advances in math and science have revealed the laws of chance, and understanding those laws can help in your everyday life.In Chancing It, award-winning scientist and writer Robert Matthews shows how to understand the laws of probability and use them to your advantage. He gives you access to some of the most potent intellectual tools ever developed and explains how to use them to guide your judgments and decisions. By the end of the book, you will know:How to understand and even predict coincidencesWhen an insurance policy is worth havingWhy “expert” predictions are often misleadingHow to tell when a scientific claim is a breakthrough or baloneyWhen it makes sense to place a bet on anything from sports to stock marketsA groundbreaking introduction to the power of probability, Chancing It will sharpen your decision-making and maximize your luck.