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  • Against the Gods

  • The Remarkable Story of Risk
  • Written by: Peter L. Bernstein
  • Narrated by: Mike Fraser
  • Length: 14 hrs and 27 mins
  • 3.9 out of 5 stars (13 ratings)

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Against the Gods

Written by: Peter L. Bernstein
Narrated by: Mike Fraser
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Publisher's Summary

A Business Week, New York Times Business, and USA Today Best Seller

In this unique exploration of the role of risk in our society, Peter Bernstein argues that the notion of bringing risk under control is one of the central ideas that distinguishes modern times from the distant past. Against the Gods chronicles the remarkable intellectual adventure that liberated humanity from oracles and soothsayers by means of the powerful tools of risk management that are available to us today. This brand new audio edition of Bernstein's classic work is masterfully narrated by Mike Fraser.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©1996 Peter L. Bernstein (P)2021 Echo Point Books & Media, LLC

What the critics say

"Ambitious and readable...an engaging introduction to the oddsmakers, whom Bernstein regards as true humanists helping to release mankind from the choke holds of superstition and fatalism." (The New York Times)

"An extraordinarily entertaining and informative book." (The Wall Street Journal)

"A lively panoramic book.... Against the Gods sets up an ambitious premise and then delivers on it." (Business Week)

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What listeners say about Against the Gods

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A Book that leads to little risk of disappointment

I found against the Gods to be a greatly enjoyable and educational experience. This exploration of the history of of risk and chance revealed much to me about myself and the nature of the world around me. Highly recommended.

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    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Stupid.

Risk is NOT a recent invention.
All living things embrace risk in order to survive. Herding animals share the common strategy of protecting their reproductive assets. The women and children are at the center of the herd. The adult males encircle and protect.
Children are sheltered until adulthood. There after the fertile females are kept and the males fight for dominance. If you win, you lead the herd. If you don't, you leave the herd. Some come back stronger and start their own herd. Some die.
This is true of all herding animals. It is an algorithm embraced by evolution.

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