Are We Controlled?

Coincidence and the Forces That Shape History

De: Vitali Milman

Narrado por: Virtual Voice

History is filled with moments when the outcome seemed certain—until an unexpected storm, a sudden fog, or a twist of chance changed everything.

In this exploration, renowned mathematician Vitali Milman turns the lens of probability onto history itself. From the Mongol invasions of Japan halted twice by typhoons, to the three defeats of the Spanish Armadas, from the Battle of Salamis to Napoleon’s retreat from Moscow, Milman reveals how “random” events shaped the destinies of nations.

Are these coincidences truly accidents—or evidence of hidden forces at work? Blending rigorous logic with gripping storytelling, the book uncovers how weather, chance, and the unexplainable altered the course of empires, revolutions, and even entire civilizations.

Drawing on examples across centuries—from ancient legends to World War II—Milman challenges us to ask: do we really control history, or does history control us?

Engaging, thought-provoking, and accessible, Are We Controlled? invites readers to see the past in a startling new light—and to reflect on the invisible patterns that may still guide our future.