We live in a world often influenced by accident rather than design. As detailed in my latest book, The Random Factor: How Chance and Luck Profoundly Shape Our Lives and the World Around Us (April 2024), the ways in which our lives unfold are frequently shaped by chance events. A happenstance encounter, a missed subway connection, a last-minute cancellation, a serendipitous discovery — all of these and more can profoundly affect how our lives turn out. So, too, with the world around us. From the random mutations that drive natural selection to the vagaries of the weather, randomness is a key element underlying process and change.
As another year comes to a close, what lessons might be learned through a greater appreciation of chance and luck? Although there are many, three in particular stand out.