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How To Make Luck: Seven Secrets Lucky People Use To Succeed
The editor-in-chief of Moneysworth reveals the effective and successful strategies of the rich and famous, including Dick Clark, Donald Trump, Tom Cruise, Matt Lauer, and others, and offers seven time-tested steps that promote luck, success, and a prosperous lifestyle. Original.
208 pages, Paperback
First published December 15, 1998
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About the author
Marc Myers
26 books36 followersMarc Myers is a regular contributor to The Wall Street Journal, where he writes about rock, soul and jazz, as well as the arts.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
November 20, 2014
Ahh, I love being the first one to review a book here. It's like being the first to climb Mount Everest. The first into outer space. The first to be able to hold his breath for seventeen minutes.
I don't know if that last is possible—I made it up.
But you know, when no one has reviewed a book here, it's either like, wow am I a keen reader to have found this baby when no one else has, or, God, am I the biggest loser in the world to be the only one reading this piece of junk?
Hopefully it's the former.
I liked it! Why not! Who wouldn't want to make luck! Luck is American! It's good. We need it. So when I saw this book I was like, 'Yeah, this book is going to show me how to make some luck!'
Luck exists. I've known lucky and unlucky people. I figure I was somewhere in between those two extremes, probably shading toward the unlucky. But enough about me already.
Back in my rowdy days (I know I said 'enough about me.' What can I say this book has made me feel lucky. And come to think of it, what is up with Google's 'feel lucky'? Who thought up that gem? I still don't know what that means.) Anyway, back in my rowdy days and we'd be at the bar after a softball game and as we were having a good time we'd also inevitably be running out of money—and wanting to keep the good times going. Yeah, so we'd all be running out of money—except for this one guy. Nicky. Nobody really knew Nicky that good or what he did for work, but when you asked Nicky if he had a few bucks you could borrow, he'd casually open his wallet and hand you a fifty.
It was like, "Holy crap! Where did this guy get fifty bucks!" Nobody had fifty bucks on them back in those days. But this guy always had money. And he drove the nicest cars, unbelievable cars. And chicks. The whole deal.
The guy was lucky.
Okay, the book, the book.
It says when people can give away really good stuff (think Nicky and the fifty bucks) and not think twice about it, people think, 'Wow, this guy must really be something special to give that away so easily.' In other words, it's a start toward being perceived as lucky.
Chapter 16 is titled "Bad Luck is Good Luck." I've got a paperweight I'm looking at right now with a quote from Albert Einstein:
In the middle of every difficulty lies opportunity.
Well, in How to Make Luck the author talks about finding the "secret passage" in every seemingly bad situation.
I'm telling you the book is cool. Sample this:
If you demonstrate that you're a fighter and that misfortune doesn't bother you too much, people will want to assist you. That's because others will realize that you probably won't need too much help and you aren't likely to bring misfortune on them. But if you appear to be a clinger—someone who lunges at other people and desperately clings to them for aid—don't expect much assistance. You'll seem like someone about to drown, and others will be afraid you'll drag them down with you.
This puppy's running a little long so I'll let you go. But grab the book. Get lucky!
I don't know if that last is possible—I made it up.
But you know, when no one has reviewed a book here, it's either like, wow am I a keen reader to have found this baby when no one else has, or, God, am I the biggest loser in the world to be the only one reading this piece of junk?
Hopefully it's the former.
I liked it! Why not! Who wouldn't want to make luck! Luck is American! It's good. We need it. So when I saw this book I was like, 'Yeah, this book is going to show me how to make some luck!'
Luck exists. I've known lucky and unlucky people. I figure I was somewhere in between those two extremes, probably shading toward the unlucky. But enough about me already.
Back in my rowdy days (I know I said 'enough about me.' What can I say this book has made me feel lucky. And come to think of it, what is up with Google's 'feel lucky'? Who thought up that gem? I still don't know what that means.) Anyway, back in my rowdy days and we'd be at the bar after a softball game and as we were having a good time we'd also inevitably be running out of money—and wanting to keep the good times going. Yeah, so we'd all be running out of money—except for this one guy. Nicky. Nobody really knew Nicky that good or what he did for work, but when you asked Nicky if he had a few bucks you could borrow, he'd casually open his wallet and hand you a fifty.
It was like, "Holy crap! Where did this guy get fifty bucks!" Nobody had fifty bucks on them back in those days. But this guy always had money. And he drove the nicest cars, unbelievable cars. And chicks. The whole deal.
The guy was lucky.
Okay, the book, the book.
It says when people can give away really good stuff (think Nicky and the fifty bucks) and not think twice about it, people think, 'Wow, this guy must really be something special to give that away so easily.' In other words, it's a start toward being perceived as lucky.
Chapter 16 is titled "Bad Luck is Good Luck." I've got a paperweight I'm looking at right now with a quote from Albert Einstein:
In the middle of every difficulty lies opportunity.
Well, in How to Make Luck the author talks about finding the "secret passage" in every seemingly bad situation.
I'm telling you the book is cool. Sample this:
If you demonstrate that you're a fighter and that misfortune doesn't bother you too much, people will want to assist you. That's because others will realize that you probably won't need too much help and you aren't likely to bring misfortune on them. But if you appear to be a clinger—someone who lunges at other people and desperately clings to them for aid—don't expect much assistance. You'll seem like someone about to drown, and others will be afraid you'll drag them down with you.
This puppy's running a little long so I'll let you go. But grab the book. Get lucky!
October 28, 2019
I was a little disappointed in this book. Not that it was badly written or anything. The biggest problem, in this case, comes in a discrepancy between the author’s view of luck and my own.
Marc Myers's definition of being lucky is getting other people to give you what you want. This mostly plays out in work-related situations, whether it is getting your dream job or closer to it, or setting yourself up to accomplish some project you are working on in the most effective manner. Or, since Mr. Myers has spent much of his career in journalism and related areas, in making contact with people who can help you write the story or article you are trying to get done.
Because of this slant, much of this book winds up mirroring the job hunting manuals, talking about business contacts (networking), and how to make a good impression on other people.
However, there are a few good points brought up in the book, such as the idea that holding grudges and acting arrogant are things that can damage your luck. These are things that will hurt you, whether you are looking to change your work situation or not.
Marc Myers's definition of being lucky is getting other people to give you what you want. This mostly plays out in work-related situations, whether it is getting your dream job or closer to it, or setting yourself up to accomplish some project you are working on in the most effective manner. Or, since Mr. Myers has spent much of his career in journalism and related areas, in making contact with people who can help you write the story or article you are trying to get done.
Because of this slant, much of this book winds up mirroring the job hunting manuals, talking about business contacts (networking), and how to make a good impression on other people.
However, there are a few good points brought up in the book, such as the idea that holding grudges and acting arrogant are things that can damage your luck. These are things that will hurt you, whether you are looking to change your work situation or not.
January 18, 2019
Great book with good insights on how to make "luck".
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews