As Luck Would Have It: Incredible Stories from Lottery Wins to Lightning Strikes

Rating:
Summary: Intriguing read
Review: I checked this out of the library recently, and yes, it's fascinating to read about these people's lives and how they have coped with various kinds of luck. If you've got a plane ride in your future or a day at the beach, bring this along.

Piven is an interesting writer, but employs some gimmicks that can misfire. For example, he starts each story with a striking detail from the middle of the story. Distracting and confusing? Could be for some, but it really hooked me. Also, every story is told in the present tense, which I found odd.

What's less than successful is the author's attempt to cobble together a scientific framework for the stories; worse yet is the last chapter, which reads like a 'PowerPoint' presentation on things we can do to manage our own luck.

On balance, though, it's readable and interesting.

Rating:
Summary: A fun read, but...
Review: I checked this out of the library recently, and yes, it's fascinating to read about these people's lives and how they have coped with various kinds of luck. If you've got a plane ride in your future or a day at the beach, bring this along.

Piven is an interesting writer, but employs some gimmicks that can misfire. For example, he starts each story with a striking detail from the middle of the story. Distracting and confusing? Could be for some, but it really hooked me. Also, every story is told in the present tense, which I found odd.

What's less than successful is the author's attempt to cobble together a scientific framework for the stories; worse yet is the last chapter, which reads like a 'PowerPoint' presentation on things we can do to manage our own luck.

On balance, though, it's readable and interesting.

Rating:
Summary: I believe in luck!
Review: I saw the author on the Today Show and own the Worst-Case Scenario books, so I went out and bought this new book. I was not disappointed.

The stories are fascinating, ranging from one-hit wonder Tommy Tutone (remember 867-5309/Jenny??) to plane crashes, and from the Pet Rock to wilderness survival.

Like the Worst-Case books, the information in each chapter is entertainingly presented, and clearly well researched. The difference is that this book is narrative, and the author is able to expand on the details of each story. The writing is lively--and in many places quite funny--and the stories really make you think about luck in a new way. I also think that the author did an excellent job in picking his stories, and each one is compelling in its own way. Unlike one of the reviews above, I found the psychological research to be complimentary to the stories--it was interesting to hear evidence about how luck really works, and it also helped to make the book more than just a collection of stories with nothing to tie them together.

All in all a very satisfying read, and one that, as another reviewer mentioned, can be put down and picked up easily.

Rating:
Summary: Intriguing read
Review: Piven writes a superb book about the seemingly inexplicable fortunes of everyday people -- a topic that is universally appealing, but little understood or explored. As a reader, I found myself wondering what I would have done in the same situation presented to the "luck receiver" (or "bad luck receiver" in some cases). The stories are interesting, well chosen and keep their reader wanting to know "what happens in the end." Who knows -- perhaps reading this book will bring similar luck to its readers.

Ultimately, Piven proves that he can write more than just "Worst Case" scenarios; he is a first-rate author with an easy-to-read style. It will be interesting to see what topic he decides to tackle next.

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful collection of stories!
Review: Sam Goldwyn, legendary film producer, is credited with having first said, "The harder I work, the luckier I get" . . . I kept thinking about that quote as I read AS LUCK WOULD HAVE IT by Joshua Piven--a fascinating collection of stories from lottery wins to fad products and a whole lot
in-between.

In nine short chapters, Piven introduces an eclectic range of individuals who all have something to say about how luck impacted their lives . . . he also brought in research on the subject, as well as these techniques that can help better ensure the results we get in life are ones we can live with:

First, when possible, be prepared.

Second, keep an open mind.

Third, stay informed.

Fourth, stay curious and know where to look for new ideas.

Fifth, maintain broad, diverse circles of personal and professional relationships.

Sixth, trust your emotions and your instincts.

Seventh, share your good luck with others.

Eighth, be self-reliant.

Lastly, keep a positive mental attitude--perhaps the most important aspect of effective luck management.

I particularly liked reading about Steve Roberts, the swimming pool repairman who had only a $100 bill to pay for his hot dog . . . so he asked for his change in lottery tickets and won $180 million . . . in addition, I was inspired by the stories of Gary Dahl and Al Kahn, the brains behind the Pet Rock and Cabbage Patch doll, respectively.

Also, there were several memorable passages; among them:
In attempting to counter his bad luck, Bennet was showing many of the signs of a condition mental health professionals call "illusory control." First identified by the Harvard psychologist Ellen Langer in the 1970s, illusory control is the belief that we are in control even when, objectively, we're not. Some common examples of this phenomenon deal with luck and chance. The lottery player who chooses his own number, or the gambler who insists on rolling his own dice, experiences the illusion of control over a random, uncontrollable situation. Illusory control is
an adaptive measure that can increase motivation when one is facing difficult or adverse circumstances. It may make the player feel better about his chances, that his actions will cause a specific outcome, even when, from an observer's perspective, it is obvious that the event itself cannot be influenced.

The mathematician and author John Allen Paulos relates the tale, probably a fable, of the frequent flyer who is deathly afraid of the remote possibility of a bomb on his plane. Knowing the chances are low-but not low enough for comfort-the man decides he will always travel with a bomb in his suitcase, reasoning that the odds against having two bombs on an airplane would be astronomical.

But perhaps the lens through which we judge bad luck needs a wider view, and a sharper focus. Steve feels that every negative is simply a chance to create a positive, and in this way his bad luck was transformed into good luck for the hundreds of people he and his organization have helped, people who desperately needed assistance and had nowhere left to turn. "You learn from bad experiences," he says. "And one of the things you learn is that you either hate the world
or you help the world. Being struck was my lot in life, but it happened for a reason."


Rating:
Summary: I believe in luck!
Review: This book addresses the phenomenon of luck by telling fascinating stories of good and bad luck. The stories have you churning pages and end with a quick but informative analysis of how the participants came upon such luck. I read the book while commuting on a train to and from work, and found that I completed one story per commute. The stories had me on the edge of my seat and are told with great attention to detail.

I think that the author has done a great job discussing the phenomenon of luck -- not sugar-coating it, but giving it a distanced, objective analysis. There is no psycho-babble here. I also think that the author has brought to our attention that some force, whether you call it "luck" or something else, can be invited or refused. Proceed accordingly!