Human beings have long been both fascinated and appalled by randomness. On the one hand, we love the thrill of a surprise party or the freedom of not knowing what tomorrow will bring. We are inexplicably delighted by strange coincidences and striking similarities. But we also hate uncertainty's dark side. From cancer to bird flu, diseases may strike with no apparent pattern. Terrorists attack, airplanes crash, bridges collapse, and we never know if we'll be that one-in-a-million statistic. In this entertaining look at the world of probabilities, Jeffrey Rosenthal, maths professor and improvisational comedian, explains the mechanics of randomness in fields as diverse as poker hands, email spam, crime statistics, opinion polls and lottery jackpots. Read Struck by Lightning and, chances are, you will never look at the world the same way again.
Publisher: Granta Books
ISBN: 9781862079960
Number of pages: 288
Weight: 203 g
Dimensions: 194 x 130 x 18 mm
Written in funny, easily understandable language, Rosenthal shows how understanding the odds can ... help us make better decisions about our lives - The Globe and Mail
A breezy mix of direct yet simple mathematical tools for decision-making along with explanations for things the non-mathematically minded have always wanted to know, but were unsure to ask ... Rosenthal writes about his topic with such clarity and warmth that even the fiercest mathphobe will feel welcome - Calgary Herald
Highly readable ... Numbers and logic and probability are not topics you'd think could be made lively or entertaining. But the probability that it can be done well by Rosenthal is pretty high - Winnipeg Free Press
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