Product Review

Every time you buy a stock, play poker, or make plans based on a weather forecast, you are consigning your fate to probability. These 12 fascinating half-hour lectures help you understand the random factors that lurk behind almost everything. Professor Michael Starbird of the University of Texas at Austin knows the secret of making numbers come alive to non-mathematicians: he picks intriguing, useful, and entertaining examples. Here are some that you will explore in your investigation of probability as a reasoning tool: When did the most recent common ancestor of all humans live? How much should you pay for a stock option? What do you do on third down with long yardage? After an introduction to the key concepts of probability, you will delve into the wealth of applications, from biology to physics to finance to war. Probability comes to the rescue to describe what we should expect from the randomness of life. Take hold of this powerful tool and you can dispel uncertainty and understand the true odds in the game of life.