The Book of Chance: Risks, Odds, and Likelihood in Everyday Life

A collection of little-known odds covers such likelihoods as getting struck by lightning (1 in 600,000), having a supernatural experience (1 in 17), and having an airline lose one's luggage (12 pieces per thousand). Reprint.

YA-- A statistical look at life which YAs will love. The wide variety of topics includes sports, travel safety, health, and natural disasters.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Encompassing a dozen areas, including health, weather, mind/emotion, crime and punishment, and sports/gambling, this book is an entertaining collection of "what ifs." Some are popularly known, as "seat belts are 40%-50% effective in preventing fatal injuries." Some are--until now--probably obscure, such as "17.7% of all VA doctors who claim to be board certified are not." This book makes for good conversation openers as well as good trivia. Siskin claims that attitudes (and hence behaviors) may be changed after reading this book, but it is difficult to believe that someone would move to Japan rather than Spain because driving is less hazardous there. A fun, but not necessary, purchase.
- Patty Miller, New Hampshire Vocational-Technical Coll. Lib., Laconia
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.