Chance

Chance shapes so much of what happens to us, from whether we land a job or a partner to how our finances turn out. Amir Aczel's brief book offers ways to either limit or harness that influence. It follows the style of his earlier work, Fermat's Last Theorem, in a compact format.

Aczel returns here to his main interest, presenting mathematics to general readers. He explains probability theory and how it applies in everyday situations. Along the way he profiles compulsive gamblers who were also brilliant mathematicians. Drawing on his own years as a statistician, he looks closely at what people casually call luck.

The chapters address the surprising birthday problem, coincidences, and how to make sound decisions. Alongside these, the book traces the history of probability theory and gives examples of where it turns up in daily life.