Can You Learn to Be Lucky?

Why Some People Seem to Win More Often than Others

By: Karla Starr

Narrated by: Arielle Siegel

Length: 6 hrs and 57 mins

Publisher's summary

“I don't know when I've been so wowed by a new author.” (Chip Health, co-author of The Power of Moments and Switch)

A talented journalist reveals the hidden patterns behind what we call "luck" - and reveals how we can all improve outcomes despite life’s inevitable randomness.

"Do you believe in luck?" is a polarizing question, one you might ask on a first date. Some of us believe that we make our own luck. Others see inequality everywhere and think that everyone’s fate is at the whim of the cosmos. Karla Starr has a third answer: unlucky, "random" outcomes have predictable effects on our behavior that often make us act in self-defeating ways without even realizing it.

In this groundbreaking book, Starr traces wealth, health, and happiness back to subconscious neurological processes, blind cultural assumptions, and tiny details you're in the habit of overlooking. Each chapter reveals how we can cultivate personal strengths to overcome life’s unlucky patterns. For instance:

• Everyone has free access to that magic productivity app - motivation. The problem? It isn’t evenly distributed. What lucky accidents of history explain patterns behind why certain groups of people are more motivated in some situations than others?
• If you look like an underperforming employee, your resume can't override the gut-level assumptions that a potential boss will make from your LinkedIn photo. How can we make sure that someone’s first impression is favorable?
• Just as people use irrelevant traits to make assumptions about your intelligence, kindness, and trustworthiness, we also make inaccurate snap judgments. How do these judgments affect our interactions, and what should we assume about others to maximize our odds of having lucky encounters?

We don’t always realize when the world's invisible biases work to our advantage or recognize how much of a role we play in our own lack of luck. By ending the guessing game about how luck works, Starr allows you to improve your fortunes while expending minimal effort.

©2018 Karla Starr (P)2018 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"Luck seems elusive, a force well out of our control. But in this fun and persuasive book, Karla Starr explains how the choices we make that shape our fate - and offers smart, science-based advice for making luck break our way." (Daniel H. Pink, author of When and Drive)

"Karla's charming wisdom offers lessons for improving nearly every aspect of life. If you can’t find a leprechaun, buy this book!" (Chris Guillebeau, author of Side Hustle)

“Getting lucky is not about luck. It’s about being prepared and having the right attitude. Based on years of research and decades of hard-won experience, Karla Starr reveals how to navigate social judgment, find your own hidden talents, and 'kick ass' at life - all with wisdom and humor.” (Matthew Hutson, author of The 7 Laws of Magical Thinking)

Very inspiring!

When I started listening to this book, I was curious but not overall thrilled by it, there were some points that and some examples of the research that would sounds quite pessimistic to me. I couldn’t figure out how this book can inspire and/or motivate me. But since I was very curious about the subject, I couldn’t really stop listening to it. And I am glad I did not stop listening since it turned out to be super inspiring at the end. So I would recommend it to anyone who is curious and would like to learn more about luck and life overall. Great read! Thank you