"Luck, chance, and randomness are topics that virtually everyone can relate to and that each of us have been affected by. The Random Factor explores these subjects using a vast array of evidence, fresh insights, and compelling stories based upon the author's long standing research. The range of subjects and scholarship is far reaching and compelling. From history, to the natural world, to our everyday lives, chance is shown to play an important role in shaping various outcomes. Just as important, The Random Factor details the dynamics that determine the ways that luck and chance play themselves out, and it reveals the lessons to be learned in terms of guiding our personal lives and social policies. Mark Robert Rank leads his readers on a fascinating journey across the shifting sands of chance and luck. It is a journey that will change the way we fundamentally understand the world we live in and the manner in which our lives unfold"-- Provided by publisher.