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Murphy's Law
For more than a quarter of a century, Murphy's Law has provided the last word on things going wrong. Positive thinking is all very fine when the world is treating you right, but when things go awry, it's Murphy's Law that comes up with the goods-the pithy revelations and undeniable truths that document our limitless potential for misplaced insight, hopeless wit, and pessimistic wisdom.
This special anniversary collection features the best of Murphy's Law--plus new 21st-century entries proving that with advances in technology, even more can go wrong.
For example:
No matter what goes wrong, there is always somebody who knew it would.
Anything is easier to take apart than to put together.
For every action, there is an equal and opposite criticism.
The less you do, the less can go wrong.
Everybody lies, but it doesn't matter since nobody listens.
This special anniversary collection features the best of Murphy's Law--plus new 21st-century entries proving that with advances in technology, even more can go wrong.
For example:
No matter what goes wrong, there is always somebody who knew it would.
Anything is easier to take apart than to put together.
For every action, there is an equal and opposite criticism.
The less you do, the less can go wrong.
Everybody lies, but it doesn't matter since nobody listens.
288 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1977
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861 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews
September 22, 2024
"If there is a possibility of several things going wrong, the one that will cause the most damage will be the FIRST to go wrong."
Murphology is the branch of knowledge relating to things going wrong. It is the science of error. And most importantly, there can be many interpretations of Murphy's law. Murphy's Law range of applicability is vast, and this book provides numerous interpretations of Murphy's Law; encompassing every human activity.
Murphy's Law was named after Capt. Edward A. Murphy, an engineer working on Air Force Project MX981, (a project) designed to see how much sudden deceleration a person can stand in a crash. One day, after finding that a transducer was wired wrong, he cursed the technician responsible and said, "If there is any way to do it wrong, he'll find it." The contractor's project manager kept a list of "laws" and added this one, which he called Murphy's Law. What he did was take an old law that had been around for years in a more basic form and give it a new name.
Murphy's Law is defined as: If anything can go wrong, it will.
Corollaries:
* Nothing is as easy as it looks.
* Left to themselves, things tend to go from bad to worse.
* Every Situation breeds new problems.
O'Toole's Commentary on Murphy's Law: Murphy was an Optimist.
Murphy's Law of Thermodynamics: Things get worse under pressure.
Murphy's Law of Uncertainty: You can know something has gone wrong only when you have made an odd number of mistakes.
Silverman's Paradox: If Murphy's Law can go wrong, it will.
Extreme version: If there is a possibility of several things going wrong, the one that will cause the most damage will be the FIRST to go wrong.
Quantization Revision of Murphy's Laws: Everything goes wrong all at once.
Murphy's Constant: Matter will be damaged in direct proportion to its value.
........................................................................................
Behind these hilariously funny lines lay hidden penetrating insights about human nature and its relationship with error. This book is highly entertaining and witty - a sheer delight to read. The humour of Murphy's Law leaves you laughing at the end of the day. If you make it through a Murphy Day...you win!
Highly Recommended!
Murphology is the branch of knowledge relating to things going wrong. It is the science of error. And most importantly, there can be many interpretations of Murphy's law. Murphy's Law range of applicability is vast, and this book provides numerous interpretations of Murphy's Law; encompassing every human activity.
Murphy's Law was named after Capt. Edward A. Murphy, an engineer working on Air Force Project MX981, (a project) designed to see how much sudden deceleration a person can stand in a crash. One day, after finding that a transducer was wired wrong, he cursed the technician responsible and said, "If there is any way to do it wrong, he'll find it." The contractor's project manager kept a list of "laws" and added this one, which he called Murphy's Law. What he did was take an old law that had been around for years in a more basic form and give it a new name.
Murphy's Law is defined as: If anything can go wrong, it will.
Corollaries:
* Nothing is as easy as it looks.
* Left to themselves, things tend to go from bad to worse.
* Every Situation breeds new problems.
O'Toole's Commentary on Murphy's Law: Murphy was an Optimist.
Murphy's Law of Thermodynamics: Things get worse under pressure.
Murphy's Law of Uncertainty: You can know something has gone wrong only when you have made an odd number of mistakes.
Silverman's Paradox: If Murphy's Law can go wrong, it will.
Extreme version: If there is a possibility of several things going wrong, the one that will cause the most damage will be the FIRST to go wrong.
Quantization Revision of Murphy's Laws: Everything goes wrong all at once.
Murphy's Constant: Matter will be damaged in direct proportion to its value.
........................................................................................
Behind these hilariously funny lines lay hidden penetrating insights about human nature and its relationship with error. This book is highly entertaining and witty - a sheer delight to read. The humour of Murphy's Law leaves you laughing at the end of the day. If you make it through a Murphy Day...you win!
Highly Recommended!
February 11, 2018
7/10
Ευχάριστο διάλειμμα από τα ''σοβαρά λογοτεχνικά βιβλία''. Νομίζω ότι είναι σχεδόν αδύνατον να μη γελάσει κάποιος βροντερά έστω και σε ένα σημείο. Όλο και κάποιος ''νόμος'' έχει συμβεί σε όλους μας!
Υπήρξαν βέβαια και κάποιες σελίδες σερί που απλά τις γυρνούσα. Είναι και πώς ''κάτσει'' στον καθένα.
Στο σύνολό του, όμως, διασκεδαστικό.
Η δική μου έκδοση διαβάζεται με τη μία. Το έφαγα σε ένα απόγευμα.
Ευχάριστο διάλειμμα από τα ''σοβαρά λογοτεχνικά βιβλία''. Νομίζω ότι είναι σχεδόν αδύνατον να μη γελάσει κάποιος βροντερά έστω και σε ένα σημείο. Όλο και κάποιος ''νόμος'' έχει συμβεί σε όλους μας!
Υπήρξαν βέβαια και κάποιες σελίδες σερί που απλά τις γυρνούσα. Είναι και πώς ''κάτσει'' στον καθένα.
Στο σύνολό του, όμως, διασκεδαστικό.
Η δική μου έκδοση διαβάζεται με τη μία. Το έφαγα σε ένα απόγευμα.
February 4, 2016
Μια ιδιαίτερη νότα μαύρου χιούμορ , με την προϋπόθεση να μη πάρει κάποιος τοις μετρητοίς τα αποφθεύγματα του βιβλιου και τον πιάσουν οι μαύρες του :Ρ
June 14, 2019
Kuo labiau pasitiki informacija, tuo ji netikslesne.
Tas, kas knarkia, uzmiega pirmas.
Jeigu jums vis tiek, kur esate, vadinasi nepasiklydote.
...ir t.t.
Tas, kas knarkia, uzmiega pirmas.
Jeigu jums vis tiek, kur esate, vadinasi nepasiklydote.
...ir t.t.
July 11, 2017
Ο ΤΕΛΕΥΤΑΙΟΣ ΝΟΜΟΣ ΤΗΣ ΡΟΜΠΟΤΙΚΗΣ :
Τα μόνα πραγματικά λάθη είναι τα ανθρώπινα λάθη.
Η ΠΑΡΑΤΗΡΗΣΗ ΤΗΣ MAY WEST :
Τα λάθη είναι ανθρώπινα, αλλά η απόλαυση που δίνουν θεϊκή.
Πλάκα είχε, θα μπορούσε να είναι μικρότερο γιατί και αρκετά επαναλαμβανόταν αλλά και αραιά ήταν γραμμένο.
Ευκολοδιάβαστο όμως και κάποια αρκετά σωστά που συνοδευόταν από το ανάλογο κούνημα κεφαλιου
θα μου επιτραπεί ποιητική άδεια το παρακάτω
Η ΒΑΣΙΚΗ ΑΡΧΗ ΤΟΥ GOODREADS :
Το ποσοστό των ηλιθίων παραμένει σταθερο
Η ΠΑΡΑΤΗΡΗΣΗ ΤΟΥ JIMMAKOS :
Αν γράφεις ηλιθιότητες στα review και κάνεις και ηλίθια comment μετά, είσαι ηλίθιος
; ) ; ) ; )
August 5, 2015
"Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong." - Murhpy's Law
One of the most hilarious and oh-I-so-relate-to-this books I've read till now. You won't find a single page that's not funny and while reading, you'd find your head nodding in agreement to almost all the laws and comments. Murphy's Law is ubiquitous, no doubt. Highly recommended, must read :-)
One of the most hilarious and oh-I-so-relate-to-this books I've read till now. You won't find a single page that's not funny and while reading, you'd find your head nodding in agreement to almost all the laws and comments. Murphy's Law is ubiquitous, no doubt. Highly recommended, must read :-)
October 31, 2009
Truest things have NEVER been written! LOL ;)
June 14, 2025
Законите на Мърфи описват със заковаваща точност една по-шеговита версия на добре познатата ни вселена. Както казва Атанас Далчев - някои неща могат да се кажат само на шега.
March 28, 2022
Este es uno de los libros que me marcó. A pesar de tener un humor muchas veces tonto y otras predecible, las leyes de Murphy han moldeado no solo mi humor sino mi filosofía de vida, el fatalismo con sonrisa, por así llamarlo. Como aquel chiste, entre el optimista y el pesimista:
En cualquier caso las Leyes de Murphy son la vida misma. Hay libros que intentan explicar la Ley de Murphy, pero siempre van a ser explicaciones parciales. La Ley de Murphy es porque es, y es la que es.
Reverte decía que él no se acordaba mucho de Murphy cuando estaba de corresponsal de guerra, pero sí se acordaba mucho de su puta madre. Siempre en mi equipo.
Hay mucha gente a la que no le gusta este tipo de humor mezclado (a nivel coloidal) con la realidad. Este libro y el principio de Peter son dos ejemplos de mi visión humorística de la realidad. Y los amo los dos.
Optimista: - Como esto siga así, ¡vamos a tener que comer mierda!
Pesimista (con tono de voz depresivo): - No va a haber mierda para todos...
En cualquier caso las Leyes de Murphy son la vida misma. Hay libros que intentan explicar la Ley de Murphy, pero siempre van a ser explicaciones parciales. La Ley de Murphy es porque es, y es la que es.
Reverte decía que él no se acordaba mucho de Murphy cuando estaba de corresponsal de guerra, pero sí se acordaba mucho de su puta madre. Siempre en mi equipo.
Hay mucha gente a la que no le gusta este tipo de humor mezclado (a nivel coloidal) con la realidad. Este libro y el principio de Peter son dos ejemplos de mi visión humorística de la realidad. Y los amo los dos.
March 3, 2018
Excelentes leyes, las tengo en una postal que coleccionaba en 5to grado.
March 9, 2013
This book is genius, it has helped me take life less seriously and consider founding a religion based on its premises!
I have it always near me, it's like the dictionary of life, it will never disappoint me even if I just read a random page, I feel Murphy understood life better than Buddha (I'm joking obviously)
I you are a pessimist, realist, stoic, or you simply enjoy black humour, this book is everything you were looking for.
I have it always near me, it's like the dictionary of life, it will never disappoint me even if I just read a random page, I feel Murphy understood life better than Buddha (I'm joking obviously)
I you are a pessimist, realist, stoic, or you simply enjoy black humour, this book is everything you were looking for.
August 14, 2019
"If anything can go wrong, it will" Murphy's law is one of the natural laws which binds the human thoughts to the nature around us. The book is a collection of laws which interprets what Edward Murphy said during an aircraft testing, which then came to be known as one of the most important laws. It is a very good read if you want to be more clear about the Law.
February 3, 2011
This books telling the truth of falling in life very funny. Each of quote seems like true and repeating in your life, so you can't ignore Murphy's Law. Love the book, very funny. One of my desk books.
November 9, 2015
Cuando algo puede salir mal, va a salir mal. Es un bug del universo y no hay forma de arreglarlo. En cambio, podemos reírnos de lo absurdo para no caer en la desesperación total
En esta compilación, Bloch reúne observaciones, leyes, corolarios y máximas acerca de la vida, las jerarquías, los comités y hasta las ciencias para explicar por qué la otra fila siempre se mueve más rápido. Muy bueno para reír y pensar un rato, siempre y cuando seas capaz de vivir tranquilo sabiendo que no es posible limpiar algo sin ensuciar algo más
En esta compilación, Bloch reúne observaciones, leyes, corolarios y máximas acerca de la vida, las jerarquías, los comités y hasta las ciencias para explicar por qué la otra fila siempre se mueve más rápido. Muy bueno para reír y pensar un rato, siempre y cuando seas capaz de vivir tranquilo sabiendo que no es posible limpiar algo sin ensuciar algo más
June 6, 2012
Murphy's law is a one liner, and this book is full of such one-liners. Though they are common sense and experience driven for those in the field, many are really insightful and make you think twice. As both a serious and a comic read, this book straddles two fields well.
March 21, 2016
If anything can go wrong, it will...
A hilarious read of all those who have ever been exasperated by things going wrong, offering a set of rules with a wise and witty view of human predicament in the cosmos.
Just read, relax, relate and laugh because basically that's the only thing you can do.
A hilarious read of all those who have ever been exasperated by things going wrong, offering a set of rules with a wise and witty view of human predicament in the cosmos.
Just read, relax, relate and laugh because basically that's the only thing you can do.
July 15, 2011
Simple funny quotes sometimes saves your day. The "laws" on this book are really joyful and simple. Thanks for my friend giving this on my bday.
September 26, 2014
funny and witty.
October 26, 2014
As much as this Law Book is humorous, it is a handy reference for life in reality. Fun, simple, and true.
August 2, 2015
Po przestudiowaniu tej książki zastanawiałem się czy wykonać wdech i jaką porażką ten czyn może się zakończyć. Almanach porażek.
January 22, 2016
"Fun!!!!"... read a law.. cherish the words.. relate... smile.. forget it. read another..
September 1, 2020
Sita's Law of Sitcom Shenanigans : A neat summarisation of every plotline in every sitcom from the beginning of time can be found in between the pages of this copy of Murphy's Law : Complete.
December 23, 2019
Way too funny, way to crazy. A real light read, and you can finish it while waiting at the airport. The assumptions and contents are crazy !
July 1, 2023
Fui roubado em Barcelona e passado 10 minutos estava este livro a 2€ numa livraria. Comprei porque tinham levado todos os outros livros que comprei na cidade.
QUAL É A PROBABILIDADE DESTE LIVRO SURGIR NESSE MOMENTO????
Fez todo o sentido para mim e adorei completamente a experiência cheia de sarcasmo e ironia. Bateu forte.
QUAL É A PROBABILIDADE DESTE LIVRO SURGIR NESSE MOMENTO????
Fez todo o sentido para mim e adorei completamente a experiência cheia de sarcasmo e ironia. Bateu forte.
July 19, 2025
labai šmaikšti knygutė, Merfio dėsniai labai atitinkantys gyvenimą.
July 27, 2021
Oijah, sen kontsentreeritud... Kolm lauset ehk saab jutti lugeda. Ogar, aga midagi nagu oleks.
August 24, 2017
Murphy’s Law is a hilarious take on why things go wrong; compiled by the American writer Arthur Bloch. I make a lot of statements and hold certain views which are often deemed highly pessimistic (even though I take cover under the word pragmatic) and yes, needless to say, a certain friend of mine relentlessly suggested this book. It was felt that I would definitely like it and as I could relate to the book a lot and I did get a killer of an offer for the Kindle edition at INR 31 (~0.41 EUR) and before too long, I started reading the book.
Have you ever wanted to fish something out of a bag, where there might be three possible things you might draw and what you want would come to you only the third time? This book is a collection of one liners (or maximum of four) as to why things go wrong, some of which are sensible and relatable, some of which are outright pessimistic and a few are just needless smart alec comments which could get you into trouble if you actually go about making those statements to the intended (such as your boss). It covers on most common subjects, as to why things go wrong, such as technology, office, hierarchy, economics, government, bureaucracy, etc.
I liked the way in which the book was presented, collecting some popular quotes (though I don’t know as to how much of it was the author’s imagination) and sometimes, for a purely positive quote, providing a negative corollary to explain why things go wrong. I also felt the author covered almost all topics where the reader could link to at least 15 out of the 20 chapters in the book. It was also a book where I highlighted a lot, at least around a hundred statements made in the book, and incidentally, some of them were things that I had said it myself in the past (such as my views on plagiarism).
The flipside of this book is also the fact that it wasn’t too detailed, just a collection of one liners, with absolutely no elaboration. Additionally, some of the situations he quoted are those which you find as a nuisance only when something goes wrong for you – for instance, to quote the argument of Richard Dawkins – ‘certain class of events may occur all the time, but are only noticed when they become a nuisance. He gives as an example aircraft noise interfering with filming. Aircraft are in the sky all the time, but are only taken note of when they cause a problem.’
This was a really enjoyable read, and also very quick to read, but a note of caution is that this is not something that is to be read with a serious frame of mind. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it, and I am sure that most readers would, too, because the situations are something that we have encountered ourselves. It is an occasion where I have really enjoyed a book that came as a suggestion and on the whole I would award the book a rating of four.
Have you ever wanted to fish something out of a bag, where there might be three possible things you might draw and what you want would come to you only the third time? This book is a collection of one liners (or maximum of four) as to why things go wrong, some of which are sensible and relatable, some of which are outright pessimistic and a few are just needless smart alec comments which could get you into trouble if you actually go about making those statements to the intended (such as your boss). It covers on most common subjects, as to why things go wrong, such as technology, office, hierarchy, economics, government, bureaucracy, etc.
I liked the way in which the book was presented, collecting some popular quotes (though I don’t know as to how much of it was the author’s imagination) and sometimes, for a purely positive quote, providing a negative corollary to explain why things go wrong. I also felt the author covered almost all topics where the reader could link to at least 15 out of the 20 chapters in the book. It was also a book where I highlighted a lot, at least around a hundred statements made in the book, and incidentally, some of them were things that I had said it myself in the past (such as my views on plagiarism).
The flipside of this book is also the fact that it wasn’t too detailed, just a collection of one liners, with absolutely no elaboration. Additionally, some of the situations he quoted are those which you find as a nuisance only when something goes wrong for you – for instance, to quote the argument of Richard Dawkins – ‘certain class of events may occur all the time, but are only noticed when they become a nuisance. He gives as an example aircraft noise interfering with filming. Aircraft are in the sky all the time, but are only taken note of when they cause a problem.’
This was a really enjoyable read, and also very quick to read, but a note of caution is that this is not something that is to be read with a serious frame of mind. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it, and I am sure that most readers would, too, because the situations are something that we have encountered ourselves. It is an occasion where I have really enjoyed a book that came as a suggestion and on the whole I would award the book a rating of four.
December 19, 2019
This book was a checklist for me as I am fascinated by Murphy's Law. The author has collated myriad corollaries and laws for all walks of life that can considered brother to Murphy's Law. The illustrations at some places were adult-oriented, and irrelevant at the others. However, it was an interesting and funny read. Some quotes were really think-worthy.
December 13, 2019
2.5; Fun time reading it, don't think I would do it again.
June 12, 2020
Un primo mio me habló de este libro hace años y después otro de mis primos me contó que lo había leído y ademas ¡Lo había aplicado! Y pues Y pues ya era tiempo de que yo lo leyera.
El libro esta estructurado de una manera un poco extraña, no es una descripción, propiamente dicha, sobre que es la ley de Murphy sino mas bien es un conjunto de leyes, axiomas y dichos de otras personas, junto a las de Murphy, sobre temas variados que van desde la dinámica de pareja, la oficina, el hogar hasta temas filosóficos como la vida misma o teoría de sistemas.
En lo personal creo que si alguien comenta algunas de la leyes contenidas en este libro sin tener el libro a mano dará una impresión de que el libro es negativo o que da una visión negativa de la vida, fuera de contexto sería fácil pensar así. Pero en realidad es un libro con el que yo me pasé un buen rato sonriendo en todo momento mientras lo leía pero lo disfrutaba mas y de hecho a sonoras carcajadas cuando lo leía con amigos del trabajo. El libro no es pesimista pero como el mismo libro lo dice: "Es imposible que un optimista se sorprenda agradablemente" teniendo eso en mente todo es cuestión de relajarse porque recuerden : "Si algo puede fallar fallará y si no falla es por que la ley de Murphy tuvo efecto sobre si misma".
El libro esta estructurado de una manera un poco extraña, no es una descripción, propiamente dicha, sobre que es la ley de Murphy sino mas bien es un conjunto de leyes, axiomas y dichos de otras personas, junto a las de Murphy, sobre temas variados que van desde la dinámica de pareja, la oficina, el hogar hasta temas filosóficos como la vida misma o teoría de sistemas.
En lo personal creo que si alguien comenta algunas de la leyes contenidas en este libro sin tener el libro a mano dará una impresión de que el libro es negativo o que da una visión negativa de la vida, fuera de contexto sería fácil pensar así. Pero en realidad es un libro con el que yo me pasé un buen rato sonriendo en todo momento mientras lo leía pero lo disfrutaba mas y de hecho a sonoras carcajadas cuando lo leía con amigos del trabajo. El libro no es pesimista pero como el mismo libro lo dice: "Es imposible que un optimista se sorprenda agradablemente" teniendo eso en mente todo es cuestión de relajarse porque recuerden : "Si algo puede fallar fallará y si no falla es por que la ley de Murphy tuvo efecto sobre si misma".
Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews