The Drunkard's Walk: how randomness rules our lives by Leonard Mlodinow

[Jane B]

An extremely interesting look at the history of probability theory and how it can be used to explain things that happen in everyday life. Mlodinow demonstrates that everything in life is random from the grading of exams to the rating of wine to the drug testing of athletes in sport to a person being found guilty or not guilty of a crime. I think the book unintentionally gives weight to the Buddhist thought that nothing is constant and that reality is how we perceive it.

[Bern]

On this topic I'd also recommend Fooled by Randomness and The Black Swan by Nassim Nicholas Taleb. Very engaging books written in a conversational tone.