Luck: The Essential Guide – Advice and Information for a ier Life

by Deborah Aaronson, Kevin Kwan

Filled with everything you need to live a luckier life, The Essential Guide is here with information, advice, or if you just have to knock on wood.

Genres: Nonfiction

288 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2008

Reviews

[Craigers · Rating 1 out of 5]

Stay away from this book! Unless you like having OCD. I had to put it down because it tells you what is lucky, why it is lucky, and how to use it. Pretty soon you'll be clipping you toe nails on Tuesdays while wearing your underware inside out and pouring wine with your right had and passing it clockwise around the table. That doesn't sound like living to me and that is why the book has been donated to the Chicago River.

[Kara Kilgore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun & interesting!

The Magpie Rhyme:

One for sorrow. Two for mirth. Three for a wedding. Four for a birth. Five for silver. Six for gold. Seven for a story never to be told.

[Christina Mistretta · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a fun book to read! It’s filled with information about various symbols and traditions from different cultures that are considered “lucky” and where they originate from and why. Think “knock on wood,” “lucky penny,” “lucky elephant,” etc. Fun for anyone interested in superstitions or mythology, you will acquire many fun facts!

[MV · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars rounded up.
I have a decent number of books about superstitions, luck, etc. but missed this one until I read an article about author Kevin Kwan (author of "Crazy Rich Asians") in which this earlier book of his was mentioned.
This volume is very attractive and creative and delivers what it promises. (Love the "Knock here" wooden cover!) But it's also a LOT of information and it times it reads rather dry, especially when it veers into simple "This is lucky / this is not lucky" territory. I would've liked more detailed background on the history of some of the items.
I think this is good for a cute coffee table book for visitors to page through. My favorite parts were easily the travel and food chapters!

[Hana Cohen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't have goodreads in 2020.
I read this for the A-Z Reading Challenge.
DECEMBER – A book by a new-to-you author
I read the authors whole backlog, even though one book was required.

[Nina · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful little book! Aaronson and Kwan infuse each entry with humor. A great, light read to relax your mind.

[Jasmine Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good coffee table book.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book for its beauty inside and out. Every shelf needs this.

[Linda · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting enough, but unless you want to know details about lucky rabbit feet and Buddahs, skip it.

[Samantha · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF — It’s got a lot of interesting information, but I got bored.

[Kathi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book interesting but would have liked more of the back story about why some things are considered lucky.

[Ashlie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fun little coffee table book with tidbits about what brings luck. I picked it up last month while shopping at Anthropologie for gifts.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting and arranged in a very organized way, making it easy to examine the different aspects of "luck".

[SC]

I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/11578921