The targeting of Nagasaki for the dropping of the atomic bomb had a fluke aspect, as the originally chosen city, Kokura, was obscured by brief cloud cover, leading to the decision to drop the bomb on Nagasaki instead. This event highlights the theme of chance contingent events that divert lives or societies, often without awareness of the potential disaster that was narrowly avoided.
How did a husband-and-wife vacation end up saving a city from the atomic bomb while destroying another? And how did a century-old murder of one family bring another into existence? Easily, explains political scientist Brian Klaas of University College London, who points out that history is replete with chance events that profoundly shaped both society and individual lives. Listen as Klaas discusses his book Fluke with EconTalk's Russ Roberts. Klaas argues that recognizing the randomness of everyday life and history can lead to a newfound appreciation for the meaning of every decision, and to a focus on joyful experimentation instead of relentless optimization.