WHAT ARE THE CHANCES? Why We Believe in Luck

Psychology professor and statistics expert Barbara Blatchley bridges the gap between the reality of random events and our human need to control or at least understand what happens around us. With examples from many realms, she explains how fear of the unknown can lead us to invent order, to believe in causal myths or luck, just to keep life from feeling too chaotic. Wendy Tremont King narrates with a serviceable array of phrasing options and a pitch range that is pleasing but not overly personal. Though she's well connected to the author's ideas, some listeners will wish for tighter enunciation, especially with multisyllable words that often seem unnaturally drawn out. This feature makes her sound older than she is, but she's consistent and makes this academic work sound accessible. T.W. © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine [Published: SEPTEMBER 2021]