Luck
What It Means and Why It Matters
Published on 29. March 2012
Book
Paperback/Softback
256 pages
978-1-4088-2657-7 (ISBN)
Description
Tracing the history of the concepts of luck and fortune, destiny and fate, from the Ancient Greeks to the present day - in religion, in banking, in politics - Ed Smith argues that the question of luck versus skill is as pertinent today as it has ever been.
Weaving in his personal stories - notably the fortunate encounter, on a train he seemed fated to miss, with a beautiful stranger who would become his wife - he challenges us to think again about chance, and to re-examine the question of innate ability and of privileges, both accidental and unavoidable, that are conferred at birth.
Embracing luck leads us to a fresh reappraisal of the nature of success, opportunity and fairness, and the case is ready to be made.
Weaving in his personal stories - notably the fortunate encounter, on a train he seemed fated to miss, with a beautiful stranger who would become his wife - he challenges us to think again about chance, and to re-examine the question of innate ability and of privileges, both accidental and unavoidable, that are conferred at birth.
Embracing luck leads us to a fresh reappraisal of the nature of success, opportunity and fairness, and the case is ready to be made.
Reviews / Votes
Only those with scars on their body should be taken seriously when they talk about randomness. Ed is one of them; he is for real * Nassim Nicholas Taleb, author The Black Swan, on Luck * Very, very well written, excellent story-telling, great ideas. Brilliant * William Leith * There's hardly a sentence here that isn't clear, thought-provoking and beautifully expressed. Sport bores me rigid. Inspirational books repel me. But Smith on sport, life and luck brings fresh ways of looking at things on every page and, despite myself, I read on * Matthew Parris * Smith takes a taboo subject and knocks the cover off it. You start off reassessing sport and end up reassessing your own life * Simon Barnes * I love this book. It combines experience and erudition to show that luck shapes life in sport, politics, business, and love. In a way rare since ancient Athens, Ed Smith embodies a classical ideal: excellence in sport and thought * Felipe Fernandez-Armesto * Smith's entertaining exploration of creativity and inspiration would be every bit as useful to a poet or a songwriter as to an opening batsman * Nick Hornby on What Sport Tells Us About Life * Recommended to anyone interested in sport, history or simply human nature * Mark Lawson, Front Row * An exceptional book: lucid, thought-provoking, informative and fair. Outstanding * The Times * A terrific book * Mike Atherton *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Product notice
Paperback (UK-trade)
Dimensions
Height: 216 mm
Width: 135 mm
Weight
280 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-4088-2657-7 (9781408826577)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
03/2012
1st Edition
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
€10.49
Available for download
Person
Ed Smith is an author and journalist, and a former international cricketer who has represented England, Cambridge University, Kent and Middlesex. Ed Smith's previous books include Playing Hard Ball, On and Off the Field - the Wisden Book of the Year and shortlisted for the William Hill Sports Book of the Year and The Cricket Society Book of the Year Award - and the critically acclaimed, What Sport Tells Us About Life. After retiring from cricket Ed Smith became a leader writer for The Times. He is now a features writer for The Times, has a column in GQ and writes regularly for the Spectator. In 2010 he wrote and presented a TV documentary for BBC1 and now appears regularly on the Today Programme. Ed Smith lives in London.