Connect the Dots: The Art and Science of Creating Good Luck

by Christian Busch

What if being lucky wasn't just chance but a skill you could master? Learn to identify and act on serendipity to lead a more joyful, purposeful, and successful life!

'A wise, exciting and life-changing book' Arianna Huffington, author of Thrive
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Modern life is full of chance encounters, changing plans, delayed journeys, human errors and other mishaps. This is the hidden force that rules our serendipity. But what if we could use such unpredictability to our advantage?

Dr Christian Busch has spent a decade exploring how, if acted upon, unexpected encounters can enhance our worldview, expand our social circles and create new professional opportunities. From couples who met during chance encounters to businesspeople who invented world-changing ideas after a misfire, Dr Busch has studied hundreds of subjects who improved their lives by learning to see opportunities in the unexpected.

Connect the Dots is a revolutionary, well-researched exploration of an essential life skill that we can all develop and master.
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'Busch shows convincingly that it's more than blind luck in Connect the Dots, which offers excellent practical guidance for all' Paul Polman, former CEO of Unilever and co-founder of Imagine

'Christian Busch reveals that luck isn't always dumb' Daniel H. Pink, bestselling author of When and Drive

'More than just a way to create exciting opportunities, it's the foundation for a more optimistic and meaningful life. An important book for a complicated world' Cal Newport, author of Digital Minimalism

*Previously published as The Serendipity Mindset*

Genres: Nonfiction

392 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 20, 2022

About the author

Dr. Christian Busch teaches at New York University (NYU) and the London School of Economics (LSE). At NYU, he directs the CGA Global Economy program. He co-directed the LSE's Innovation & Co-Creation Lab, and is a cofounder of Sandbox Network, a community of young innovators, as well as Leaders on Purpose. When he’s not contemplating about serendipity, purpose, or community, falling prey to his inner introvert Christian can be found hiding behind spy novels in deserted coffee shops and parks across the city.

Reviews

[Aniket Sharma · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author did a great job of explaining how we can control our own luck and why some people are always unlucky and some are always lucky. With the examples and strategies given in the book, luck no longer feels like something out of control.

[Nadiya Shaikh · Rating 2 out of 5]

Yawn!

[Nadia · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book remains practical to this day & I think Dr. Christian has captured serendipity at its best. If you're into Islamic teachings, then 'tawakkul' is a great concept to connect with it.

[Jessie Peters · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I think this book has a lot of good nuggets, it felt like it went on and on while essentially delivering the same information in a myriad of ways.

If I followed all the advice would have a better outlook on life? - probably

Some good reminders for a self proclaimed efficient realist. Not the best book I’ve read this year, not the worst either.

I’ll make an attempt to believe I’m lucky and chat to more strangers, ask better questions and look for opportunity. That’s basically the book in a nutshell

[Alexander W. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Because this book’s main arguments could have been a blog post, its narration must light and floaty as to carry the reader through 300 pages. Unfortunately this is not the case here. While the prose is good, the chapters and sections many times are incoherently presented. The editing could benefit from some TLC and honest reductions. Still, to me it was worth the read.

[Olivia Henderson]

There were a few interesting examples and stories, but it’s about 100 pages too long and mostly a book about networking.