Life: The Odds

by Gregory Baer

Book Overview

Most of us have wondered about the likelihood of striking it rich, being audited by the IRS, or living to be a hundred years old. But how many of us have actually sat down and calculated the chances that we could marry a millionaire? Or that the earth could be destroyed by an asteroid? Now, with Gregory Baers Life: The Odds, you can find out the answers to these questions and more in a fun, freewheeling, and compulsively readable book. Baer not only...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0452285941
• ISBN13: 9780452285941
• Release Date: October 2004
• Publisher: Plume Books
• Length: 272 Pages
• Weight: 0.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.3" x 7.5"

Customer Reviews

A humdinger of a little book!

This is one of those 'little odd books' that most people tend to pass up; unless they are looking for a small gift to bring to someone who is laid up for a spell,or something to leave behind at a visit to a cottage. I once heard someone jokingly say that ,"He was going to give his friend a book for his Birthday;'till he realized he already had one". Even a one-book type of person would enjoy this one. Nobody can get through life without facing "the odds"; and is continually asking; "What are the chances of....if I ....? Here we find the odds on all kinds of things such as; Dying in a plane crash Marrying a millionaire Catching a ball in the stands Being sussessful in life Getting away with murder Marrying royalty Dating a supermodel Getting a hole-in-one Surviving cancer Being poorly endowed (male or female) Getting hit by lightning Being murdered or robbed Finding a 4-leaf clover Avoiding an IRS Audit And many more of life's circumstances. And on top of it all ,you'll learn how to improve your odds and once you see how to go about calculating the odds on things; you'll be able to calculate odds on just about anything.Though your calculations may not be scientifically accurate; you'll at least have a feel of what you're in for. There are two chapters in the book that really stand out; "The Color of Money. Here we get the lowdown on Blackjack and how to maximixe your chances of stretching your money out as long as possible--you don't really believe you can beat the house,do you? In this chapter you will also get the real scoop on the likelihood of success if you start a small business.It will not surprise you of the high success rate for a Dentist,Optometrist or Funeral Director;or to any Bibliofile of the poor odds of opening a Book Store; but some of the others will surprise you. And ; "Your Whole World Waiting Behind Door Number Three".What you learn here will surprise you too. A great little book to leave around,with something in it for everyone;even a person who seldom picks up or reads a book. However;even with all this ;there is one "odds" the author failed to resolve; "What are the odds of a big success if I write a book about...?" Even when you you learn all there is to know about "the odds";just remember these old adages; "It's better to be born lucky than rich" "Every flow has its ebb" "God sends good luck and God send bad" "A blind man sometimes hits the mark" and finally; "Thieves and knaves have the best luck,if they do but scape hanging."

Hilarious and informative

If you're curious about whether you are more likely to date a supermodel, win an academy Award, catch a ball at a major league baseball game, bowl a perfect game or get struck by lightning, this is the book for you. (Answer: catch a ball at a major league baseball game.) The author Gregory Baer walks through the odds of these and other life events (43 in all). His writing style is perfect for a book like this: lively, clear, and hilarious. Here's a good example of his brand of humor: "Many a paperback labeled 'The Best Selling Book from Today's #1 Fitness Guru!' was never a New York Times best-seller or even a national best-seller. You see, there's really no law against labeling your book a best-seller, even if it was a best-seller only in your own home. It's what they call "puffery" in the advertising business and it won't get you locked up. Of course, you have to live with yourself." For each of the categories, Mr. Baer also offers tips for improving the odds -- thus, you will learn where to go to school (and church) if you want to president, where to sit on a train if you want to maximize your chances of surviving a train wreck, what you should do for a living if you want to date a supermodel, and which state to move to if you don't want to get struck by lightning. In all, this book is a fun, light, and surprisingly informative read.

Really wonderful

I was given this book as a present and I love it -- it's been a joy to read! I found it to be not only fun and VERY funny, but very interesting as well. It's the perfect holiday gift for smart friends and family, and for people who need a break from the more stressful side of life.

Interesting stuff, and funny too

I got this for birthday, after my sister read a review in the Chicago Tribune. I got a kick out of learning a bunch of cool facts, and telling people at work. Some chapters were really funny (dating a supermodel) but others were really interesting (the ones on space, like the odds of finding intelligent life in the universe, or the earth being destroyed by an asteroid). I thought the chaper on penis size was going to be silly, but the research was actually scientific. (Hint: the average is smaller than most people think.) The whole thing was pretty funny.

Witty and entertaining

Life, the Odds is the perfect book to while away a few minutes or an hour contemplating whether you will ever date a supermodel or win the Medal of Honor. The book is very funny and yet, against the odds, seems to reflect actual research and analysis. If you liked daydreaming over the the Guiness Book of World Records when you were young, this is a great read for you now.