The Hot Hand: The Mystery and Science of Winning Streaks

(Paperback)

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A feast for anyone interested in the secrets of excellence. Andre Agassi, winner of eight Grand Slam titles andbestselling author ofOpen

For fans of Charles Duhig, Malcolm Gladwell and Nate Silver, a brilliant and buoyant investigation into the existence (or not) of hot streaks.
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 wont happen again.

The Hot Hand is an incredibly 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 were 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 NBAs superstar Stephen Currys life to a billionaire investor who made a fortune betting against streaks; the mystery of a missing World War II hero to the authentication of a lost Van Gogh painting; how Shakespeares 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 northern United States, and strip mall arcades to show us how recognition of patterns can be both fruitful and disastrous.

Reviews

Ive been on both sides of the hot hand. Ive had it, and Ive faced opponents who had it. And Ive written extensively about the role it played in my life. But Ben Cohen offers up an original and riveting deep dive on this fascinating topic, which relates to so many other pursuits. A feast for anyone interested in the secrets of excellence. Andre Agassi, winner of eight Grand Slam titles andbestselling author ofOpen

Fascinating, eye-opening and consistently entertaining,The Hot Handasks a big question: how do we determine when one success will likely follow another The answer is not only surprising, but instructive. Charles Duhigg,bestselling author ofThe Power of Habit

Long before I reached the end of this provocative and uniquely brilliant book, I knew I would never be finished with it. Ben Cohens research shows how every day, from basketball to business to beet farming, human events are profoundly shaped by the power of streaks. I will never make another difficult decision without considering this. Sam Walker,bestsellingauthor ofThe Captain Class

A fascinating book on the elusive allure of being on a roll. For any fans of human psychology, or numbers geeks, wolves of wall street, basketball obsessives and anyone else who loves great stories that hint at the mysteries behind our decision-making, belief and occasional runaway success. Seth Stephens-Davidowitz,bestselling author ofEverybody Lies