Loading...
The Hot Hand: The Mystery and Science of Streaks

By Ben Cohen
Edition

Hardcover edition

Publisher HarperCollins Imprint Custom House (Adult) ISBN

9780062820723

The Hot Hand: The Mystery and Science of Streaks

load
Out of stock
SKU
9780062820723J
For decades, psychologists and economists have studied the science of streaks to determine whether the “hot hand” exists. Is there such a thing as being in the zone? Or it simply a case of seeing patterns in randomness? Genius scholars and Nobel Prize winners have dedicated years to answering this question. A substantial number of the decisions we make each day are rooted in two opposing beliefs: that if something happened before, it will happen again—or if it happened before, it probably won’t happen again.



The Hot Hand is an entertaining and provocative investigation into the seductive idea that streaks not only exist but can be created. Every day we look for patterns in coincidence, and coincidence in patterns. Is there a hidden logic that defies our basic understanding of probability? If we recognize someone has a hot hand, can we adjust to take advantage? If we mistakenly assume they have the hot hand, what are the costs? What happens when we’re wrong—and what happens when maybe we were right all along?



To answer these questions, Ben Cohen embarks on a kaleidoscopic investigation that ranges from the magical night that forever changed Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry’s life to a billionaire investor who made a fortune betting against streaks; a couple of young economists who realized everyone else had been doing the wrong math to how the bias of the human mind influenced a distinguished Iraqi sculptor’s attempts to seek asylum; the mystery of a missing World War II hero to the authentication of a lost Van Gogh painting; how Shakespeare’s success was abetted by a flea to how Spotify had to make its shuffle feature less random to feel more random. The Hot Hand takes us to the jungles of the Amazon, a sugar-beet farm in the upper Midwest, and strip mall arcades to show us how recognition of patterns can be both fruitful—and disastrous.

Author’s note on sources. Endnotes. Bibliography. Index.

More Information

Standard MARC Records

Download Standard MARC Records

Cover Art

Download Cover Art

Adult Crossover Nonfiction Plus (Grades 11 & Up)

Adult Crossover Nonfiction Plus

Adult Crossover Nonfiction Plus (Grades 11 & Up)

For Grades 11 & Up

For the more advanced high school reader who is ready for adult reading and enjoys nonfiction, our ACN Category is a great choice. With more sophisticated and challenging themes, these books open up new worlds for teen readers. Help them experience a new world monthly with the 14 books in ACN.

Take note: These selections often contain mature situations and language that could be considered controversial.

14 books per Year
$309.26 per Year
Interests

Diversity, Mature Readers, LGBTQ+, Nonfiction, Biographies, History

Like this book? Get more like this every month.
LEARN MORE