Book of Odds

March 1, 2014

Since the creation of the highly successful Book of Odds website in 2003, Shapiro and coauthors Louise Firth-Campbell and Rosalind Wright have meticulously compiled an impressive collection of facts through the site and social media. Their candid and captivating new title covers a diverse range of probabilities on everything from sex and marriage to health and illness, beliefs and fears, and accidents and death. The book offers intriguing pairs of statistical coincidences, for example, the odds that a child has seen Internet porn is the same odds that a person may be right-handed. Did you know that you are more likely to die in a given year from measles than in a car crash? What is the likelihood that a person visiting the Grand Canyon will fall to his or her death? How many adults believe there is a chance that Elvis Presley is still alive? Readers will find quirky, unconventional, insightful, and occasionally sobering (one in 44 has undiagnosed diabetes) odds. Some facts may surprise and amuse readers, and while others may shock, controversial subjects are handled without bias. While the title was not prepared according to the rigorous standards of scientific research, the authors have strived for authoritative and reliable sources, and the book is carefully assembled, offering more than 400,000 statements of probability. Entries are relevant and easy for a nonspecialist to comprehend; colorful charts and graphics add interest. This reference can be a useful tool for calculating risks or unexpected outcomes. While the work does tackle some adult content, it's suitable for public and college libraries and for all types of browsers. VERDICT An enticing read from cover to cover, the odds are great that you will enjoy this book.--Bobbie Wrinkle, McCracken Cty. P.L., Paducah, KY

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