It’s rare that I recommend non-fiction books here, but I’m going to today: FLUKE by BRIAN KLAAS is an absolutely fascinating read.
In FLUKE, myth-shattering social scientist Brian Klaas deep-dives into the phenomenon of randomness, unpicking our neat and tidy storybook version of events to reveal a reality far wilder and more fascinating than we have dared to consider. The bewildering truth is that but for a few incidental changes, our lives – and our societies – would be radically different.
Offering an entirely new perspective, FLUKE explores how our world really works, driven by strange interactions and random events. How much difference does our decision to hit the snooze button make? Did one couple’s vacation really change the course of the twentieth century? What are the smallest accidents that have tilted the course of history itself?
The mind-bending lessons of this phenomenon challenge our beliefs about the very workings of the world. From the evolution of human biology and natural disasters to the impact of global events on supply chain disruptions, every detail matters because of the web of connectivity that envelops us. So what if, by exploding our illusion of control, we can make better decisions and live happy, fulfilling lives?
My job involves continually thinking ‘what if?’ and trying to imagine the consequences. Whilst, for the most part, we all trundle along living our ordinary lives with a fair degree of certainty and expectation, there will inevitably be moments when things happen that change everything for us (or everyone). Similarly, our lives are constantly being affected by decisions, accidents, coincidences, and flukes that happen elsewhere. The chances of you being where you are when you read this, and the chances of me being sat at my desk at this time on this day to write this brief post, are staggering in the extreme. Our realities are the by-products of an incalculable number of events, and FLUKE considers this in eye-opening detail. Rarely have I had to stop reading so many times in a single book to try and absorb the scale and implications of something I’ve just read.
That’s not to say this is a perfect book. Some chapters resonated with me far more than others. What it does do, though, is open your eyes and makes you reconsider your position in the world and the control (or lack of control) and influence you have on your particular corner of it. I found it an absolutely fascinating read, and I recommend it without reservation. As a fiction writer, it’s made me look at storytelling in a different light. As a human being, it left me reassured and terrified in equal measure.
You can get a copy of FLUKE from all the usual places including (of course) AMAZON. I also recommend signing up for THE GARDEN OF FORKING PATHS – Klass’s regular Substack newsletter.
