In this irreverent and enlightening book, Leonard Mlodinow shows us how luck and probabilities reveal much about our everyday lives and how we misconstrue the meaning of our experiences, from a casual conversation to a serious financial setback. The result is that we often attribute life's successes and failures to clear causes, when in reality they are heavily influenced by chance.

The success of our favorite actor or author - in fact, the fate of all of us - reflects, as much as inherent virtues or design ability, the impact of luck. Even an entrepreneur like Bill Gates, who built an empire, may not have been unrealistically capable but simply luckier than others. And it may be shocking to realize that one has twice the chance of being killed in a car accident going to buy a lottery ticket than winning the lottery.

Mlodinow vividly demonstrates why surveys, school grades, and many other quantitative evaluations of daily life are less reliable than we think. By revealing the psychological illusions that lead us to misjudge the world around us, he illuminates with immediacy and humor the true causes of things. At the same time, he recounts the fictional chronicle of randomness, written by eminent gamblers and intelligent mathematicians.

From doctors' diagnoses to court decisions, Mlodinow's investigation fascinates, surprises, and inspires. Offering us a tour of randomness, but also a new way of perceiving the world, this original and unexpected journey reminds us that many things in life are as predictable as the steps of someone stumbling home after a night at the bar.