How to Predict the Unpredictable: The Art of Outsmarting Almost Everyone by William Poundstone

Discover the patterns behind apparently random choices

Good Condition - Light cover wear and creasing, with a few bent page corners. Otherwise pages are clean and tidy.

People often believe they are making unpredictable choices, yet their behaviour repeatedly follows patterns. William Poundstone explores this gap between randomness and human expectation, drawing on psychology, probability and economics to explain why apparently sensible decisions can go astray. Examples range from games and multiple-choice tests to passwords and financial markets, showing how habits of thought can create opportunities as well as mistakes. The book introduces ideas associated with Daniel Kahneman and Amos Tversky through accessible explanations and everyday situations. Combining puzzles, research and practical illustrations, it encourages readers to question intuitive judgements, recognise recurring biases and think more carefully about uncertainty, rather than assuming that an attractive pattern must reveal what will happen next.