Lucky Breaks Explained

James Carter

Translator A Ai

Summary

Lucky Breaks Explained explores the profound impact of chance encounters and circumstance on shaping historical events and individual biographies.It argues that while skill and planning are crucial, seemingly random moments of luck often determine pivotal outcomes. The book uniquely dissects these "lucky breaks," revealing how factors like timing, perception, and preparedness can transform unpredictable events into opportunities.

 
One intriguing fact is that cultivating a mindset of openness can statistically increase your susceptibility to positive chance encounters. The book progresses methodically across chapters, from establishing a theoretical foundation defining luck, to presenting detailed case studies drawn from science, business, and politics.These historical and biographical accounts showcase the pervasive influence of luck across different sectors, revealing how individuals capitalized on unexpected opportunities.

 
The psychology of recognizing and seizing lucky opportunities is examined, highlighting how cognitive biases and personality traits play a significant role. The book analyzes how luck isn't merely random, but that certain conditions and attitudes can create a fertile ground for it to flourish. The approach combines rigorous analysis with compelling narratives, supported by historical documents, biographical accounts, and psychological studies.

 
It emphasizes the practical implications of understanding luck, offering strategies for cultivating awareness and adaptability in decision-making and career planning. By understanding the interplay between preparation, perception, and unpredictable forces, readers can navigate uncertainty with greater intention and become more proactive in creating their own luck.

Available since: 03/31/2025.

Print length: 68 pages.

Other books that might interest you

A Taste of Opportunity - An...

Renee Guilbault

The most important ingredient for success in the food industry? You. 
The food world has long kept a big secret: that everything is possible in this industry. Big dreams? You can achieve them here. No degree or connections? No problem. The scale of opportunity to earn a fantastic income, live a life of creativity and freedom, and even change the world is staggering. And all you need to get started is yourself. 
This book is designed to help anyone who wants a rewarding career in food, whether you're in your first hourly-wage job, ready to move into management, or looking ahead to executive leadership. Drawing on her own raw and sometimes shocking experiences of working her way from the very bottom to the astonishing top, food-industry executive and consultant Renee Guilbault will teach you how to run your professional life in Mise Mode: her own unique career-development version of mise en place, the famous chef's process for making sure ingredients are prepped and ready to go. You'll learn how to keep moving forward in your career, navigate inevitable challenges, and embrace growth and resilience-all in service to achieving your career dreams. Truly special bonus materials include 15 industry experts sharing their career stories and leadership insights along with some amazing recipes. 
A Taste of Opportunity shows you the enormity of what's possible in this industry and gives you the tools to make the industry work its magic for you.

Show book

Utilitarianism

Johnn Stuart Mill

Dive into the cornerstone of ethical philosophy with "Utilitarianism" by John Stuart Mill, now available as an enlightening audiobook. In this seminal work, Mill expounds upon the principles of utilitarianism, advocating for the greatest happiness of the greatest number as the foundation of morality. 
Listeners will be guided through Mill's compelling arguments and nuanced analysis, as he explores the complexities of ethical decision-making and the implications of utilitarian theory on individual and societal welfare. From the nature of pleasure and pain to the role of justice and utility, "Utilitarianism" offers profound insights into the moral fabric of human society. 
Perfect for students of philosophy and anyone interested in moral theory, this audiobook provides a stimulating exploration of one of the most influential ethical frameworks in history. Whether you're seeking clarity on ethical dilemmas or simply curious about the foundations of moral philosophy, "Utilitarianism" offers a thought-provoking journey into the depths of human morality. 
So, if you're ready to engage with one of the most important works in ethical philosophy, start listening to "Utilitarianism" today and discover the timeless wisdom of John Stuart Mill's groundbreaking ideas.

Show book

The Nightingale and the Rose -...

Oscar Wilde

Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde was born on the 16th October 1854 in Dublin, Ireland.  The son of Dublin intellectuals Oscar proved himself an outstanding classicist at Trinity College and then at Oxford. 
Wilde then moved to London and its fashionable cultural and social circles.  With his biting wit, flamboyant dress, and glittering conversation, Wilde became one of the most well-known personalities of his day. 
His only novel, ‘The Picture of Dorian Gray’ was published in 1890 and he then moved on to writing for the stage with ‘Salome’ in 1891.  His society comedies were enormous hits and turned him into one of the most successful writers of late Victorian London. 
Whilst his masterpiece, ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’, was on stage in London, Wilde had the Marquess of Queensberry, the father of his lover, Lord Alfred Douglas, prosecuted for libel.  The trial unearthed evidence that caused Wilde to drop his charges and led to his own arrest and trial for gross indecency. He was convicted and imprisoned for two years hard labour. It was to break him. 
On release he left for France. There he wrote his last work, ‘The Ballad of Reading Gaol’ in 1898.  He died destitute in Paris at the age of forty-six sipping champagne a friend had brought with the line ‘Alas I am dying beyond my means’.

Show book

What It Takes: My Playbook on...

Sarina Wiegman, Jeroen Visscher

Winning strategies of one of football’s most successful coaches
As FIFA's most decorated female football manager and a former player, Sarina Wiegman has led both the Netherlands and England women's national teams to historic victories. She stands out as a true pioneer in the game, and her coaching philosophy has earned her a reputation as one of the most successful coaches in football history.
This personal account of Sarina's life journey begins with her early passion for football, and covers her key moments on the pitch as well as her ascension to the top of the coaching world. Join Sarina as she talks us through her rollercoaster ride of victories and challenges, the tough decisions she had to make both on and off the pitch, and the relentless pursuit of excellence that saw her rise to become an indomitable figure in the world of sports.
And, it’s not just about the game. In a world where football has become more competitive than ever, Sarina's revolutionary approach to leadership, mentorship, and performance management has garnered global attention. In What It Takes we gain invaluable insight into Sarina’s unique philosophy, as she shares how she fostered an environment that values determination, teamwork, and mutual respect. A strong advocate for women in the sport, she outlines a transformative and inclusive future for football where everyone has an equal chance to shine, irrespective of gender.
In her Sunday Times bestselling autobiography, What It Takes, Sarina Wiegman explores the economics of soccer and the business strategies that have made her a bestseller in the world of sports non-fiction. Her biography is a testament to her relentless pursuit of excellence and her revolutionary approach to leadership.
For fans of Sam Kerr (My Journey to the World Cup), Alex Scott (How), Beth Mead (Lioness), Kelly Holmes (Kelly Holmes), and Louise Minchin (Fearless).
HarperCollins 2023

Show book

The Way They Were - How Epic...

Robert Hofler

It's one of the greatest movie romances of all time. Yet the friction and controversy surrounding The Way We Were was so enormous, the movie was nearly never made at all. 
 
 
 
Screenwriter Arthur Laurents wrote the role of Katie with Barbra Streisand in mind. Casting Hubbell was another matter. Robert Redford, already a superstar, was reluctant to play what he perceived as the "Ken doll" to Streisand's lead, and demanded his role be changed and expanded. Laurents resisted, telling director Sydney Pollack, "You'll ruin the movie if it ends up being about two people. It's Katie's story, not Hubbell's." Despite his protests, ten writers were brought on to rework the script. 
 
 
 
Laurents's fears were well founded, and the first preview was disastrous. Producer Ray Stark and Pollack cut several scenes, upsetting Streisand and Laurents. Yet the edits worked. Such was the movie's success that Redford was open to making a sequel, though the script was never greenlit. 
 
 
 
Drawing on Laurents's and Pollack's unpublished writings, as well as interviews with Streisand, Redford, and other key players, this is the definitive account of a film that changed the rules of moviemaking and defined romance ever since.

Show book

The White Maiden - From their...

Hanns Heinz Ewers

Hanns Heinz Ewers was born on 3rd November 1871 in Düsseldorf, Germany.
His first published poem was at 17 on the death, after a reign of only 99 days, of the German Emperor Frederick III.
A stint in the German military was cut short after only 44 days because of his myopia. Writing was to be the way forward for him with a book of satiric verse published in 1901. At the same time he co-founded a literary vaudeville troupe that toured central and eastern Europe before censors and expenses forced its closure. An inveterate traveller he was in South America when the Great War enveloped Europe and he relocated to New York.
From here his story darkens. Although by now a successful and admired author he was arrested in the U S in 1918 as a German Agent on the pretext of his travels and a falsified Swiss passport. Interned, he was released in 1921 and returned to Germany. He claimed only to be raising money for the German Red Cross.
His literary fame is decidedly easier to clarify. His novels beginning with ‘The Sorcerer’s Apprentice’ in 1910 are dark, they bristle with evil intent and are littered with characters who have a dubious moral compass and yet, along with his short stories, are brazen, brilliant feats of literary narrative.
He also wrote and published plays, fairy tales, opera librettos, critical essays and lectured for many years on ‘The Religion of Satan’ and was one of the first to write scripts for the cinema, which he considered a legitimate art form.
As the Weimar republic began its chaotic death throes Ewers became attracted to the rising Nazi Party. At first he was warmly received despite disagreeing with its anti-semitism (his most famed literary character had a Jewish mistress) and he was even commissioned by Hitler to write a biography of the Nazi martyr Horst Wessel. This together with his own homosexuality culminated with his works being banned in 1934 and his assets and property seized. It took him many years to have the ban lifted. This association rightfully clouds his personal reputation but has meant his literary contributions are also overlooked and neglected.
Hanns Heinz Ewers died of tuberculosis on 12th June 1943 in his Berlin apartment.

Show book