Freakonomics Radio 424. How to Make Your Own Luck
34 snips
Jul 2, 2020 
Maria Konnikova, a psychologist from Columbia University and author of The Biggest Bluff, shares her fascinating transition from novice to poker pro. She reveals how poker's unpredictability mirrors life's challenges, emphasizing decision-making and resilience. Listeners learn about the psychological nuances of navigating luck and skill while drawing parallels to real life. With anecdotes from her journey, Konnikova discusses the role of deception and confidence in both poker and personal interactions, offering profound insights into human behavior.
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From Psychology to Poker
- Maria Konnikova, a psychology PhD, didn't know how many cards were in a deck before playing poker.
- She saw poker as a metaphor for life, a game of incomplete information where skill and chance interact.
Defining Luck
- Konnikova considers her birth and her family's emigration from the Soviet Union the luckiest events in her life.
- These profoundly impacted her trajectory, enabling opportunities unavailable in her birthplace.
Psychology and Self-Control
- Konnikova chose psychology because Walter Mischel's work resonated with her interest in big questions.
- She also recognized the importance of self-control, a focus of Mischel's research.
