The Good Luck Book
Workman, 1997, with Laurence Roy Stains; ISBN 0-7611-0541-7. Foreign-language editions in Finnish, Bulgarian, Japanese, Korean, Portugese and Italian. 84,000 copies in print.
Larry and I pitched this amusing trifle of a book (with illustrations by New Yorker cartoonist R.O. Blechman) as “a lucky charm that you can read.” In truth, this whole project got started when I casually remarked to my son one day, “I’m so lucky I practically wrote the book of luck!” and he said, “Hmmm… maybe that’s your next project.”
Lucky me: I got to spend nine months digging around in libraries finding out about the history of luck, luckiness and lucky charms from cultures across the globe. Workman designed the result as a so-called “chunky book” – a cute little box-like object that fits pleasingly into one’s palm (touchable objects like bits of jade being among the most ancient of charms).
The book is filled with a crazy collection of quotes, stories, anecdotes, parables, tips, customs and rumors about good luck and how to get it. What to do to bring good luck to a new house. Why we “knock on wood.” And what’s the deal with wishbones, shamrocks, horseshoes and rabbit’s feet? Sharing some of the finest, funniest, and truest things ever said about luck, this book inspires even the unluckiest person to persevere. 84,000 copies in print.
Review on Amazon: “A lovely little book filled with occasionally funny, occasionally sweet, always fascinating tidbits of folklore. Each story or one-liner about various methods of finding good luck is insight into another time or culture. A light-hearted collection of good luck charms from around the world. Everyone can use a little luck, and this book gives you plenty of options for finding what works for you — or at least making you smile.”
Excerpt
Getting Off On The Right Foot
“There’s a very old idea that the right side of anything is associated with good luck and the left side, with bad. The Romans feared that someone who entered a palace with the left foot first would bring in bad luck. In public places, guards were stationed at the entrance to make sure every visitor got off on the right foot. And noble families employed ‘footmen’ for the same reason. A person who stands by the door of a fancy hotel is still called a footman because of this ancient luck custom.”
