Book SummaryThe Luck Factor, by Richard Wiseman

1-Page Summary1-Page Book Summary of The Luck Factor

What is luck? Does it even exist? We all have moments in our lives that we think of as lucky or unlucky, but are they all the result of random chance, or is luck an actual force that shapes our lives? The scientific answer may surprise you—psychologist Richard Wiseman conducted extensive research on individuals who consciously think of themselves as having good or bad luck, and he discovered that luck isn't purely random. Instead, without knowing it, lucky people behave in specific ways that create good fortune, while people who think of themselves as unlucky subconsciously do the reverse.

In The Luck Factor, published in 2003, Wiseman explores the science behind luck and how to improve your fortune, whether in your work or your personal life. He explains how his research uncovered the...

The Luck Factor Summary In Search of Luck

The first step in performing a scientific study is to define the question being asked. In his research, Wiseman’s underlying question was “Is luck purely random, and if not, what causes it?” Wiseman details the myriad ways luck shows up in our individual lives and in the wider world, as well as why he considers it a subject worthy of study.

Many of us credit luck—good or bad—for the random occurrences that shape our lives. An accidental swerve of your steering wheel can mean the difference between being in a tragic accident or, by chance, avoiding one. A spur-of-the-moment decision as to where you eat dinner could lead to an encounter with your future spouse, whose path you might otherwise never have crossed. A random selection of lottery numbers can mean the difference between unexpected wealth and another night of poring over gloomy finances. Wiseman asks whether these events are truly random or if some people live blessed—or cursed—lives.

(Shortform note: Wiseman describes luck as a universal factor that people either believe in or don’t, but further research has shown that [people attribute different types of circumstances to different kinds of luck in their...

The Luck Factor Summary How Luck Works

The first thing that Wiseman makes clear is that too many people have had repeated good or bad luck in their lives for all their experiences to be random or imagined. Therefore, as a psychologist, he approaches the problem in terms of belief and behavior. What he’s found in his research is that people who identify as having good or bad luck tend to act in ways that produce results that confirm their expectations.

(Shortform note: In health care, the power of positive expectations that Wiseman talks about is called the placebo effect, when your body reacts positively to a neutral substance that you think is medication. One reason why placebos might work is taking a placebo you believe will make you healthier may spur you to adopt other healthy behaviors, such as exercise and making better food choices. The opposite of a placebo—when someone is told a drug will cause harm, whether or not that’s the case—is called the nocebo effect, which can produce a measurable reduction in health and negate medication’s...

The Luck Factor Summary How to Be Lucky

Now that we’ve established the life strategies and personal traits that make lucky people lucky, the question becomes, “Can they be replicated?” Wiseman says they can if you incorporate strategies to improve your luck into your daily attitudes and routines. Throughout his recommendations, Wiseman emphasizes the power of your expectations to shape your reality. He says to experiment with different techniques, since different methods may work better for different people. The overall goal is to cultivate a more positive and expectant outlook on life, which—fingers crossed—might bring you good luck.

(Shortform note: For any of Wiseman’s strategies to be effective you have to ingrain them as regular habits, which is a process in itself. In Atomic Habits, James Clear lays out the steps of habit formation, which involve 1) a cue to trigger your brain to notice a chance for reward, 2) a craving attached to that cue, 3) the response you take to satisfy your craving, and 4) a reward for performing the response. If the...

Shortform Exercise: Do You Feel Lucky?

Wiseman writes that people who seem especially lucky are those who believe in their good luck and unconsciously act in self-beneficial ways. They trust their instincts, take advantage of opportunities, and find ways to turn their bad luck into good. Think about how these traits show up in your life.

Do you think of yourself as lucky or unlucky? Why or why not?