Princeton Baccalaureate 2012: Michael Lewis

Michael Lewis, a member of Princeton's Class of 1982 and author of such books as "Liar's Poker" and "Moneyball," speaks at the 2012 Baccalaureate in a speech called "Don't Eat Fortune's Cookie."

• Category

  Education

[Thistoo Shantpass]

“I have been very lucky. I was born in the United States in 1930 and won the lottery the day that I was born. I had terrific parents, a good education, and I was wired in a way that paid off disproportionally in this particular society. If I had been born long ago or in some other country, my particular wiring would not have paid off the way that it has. But in a market system, where capital-allocation wiring is important, it pays off like no other place.” source: Warren Buffett

[jroymitchell]

This needs to go viral.

[brennanhm]

Good video. I agree that luck is a huge factor in determining someone's success, but it is not the only factor. There are those who choose to work hard, try their best, and act on opportunities (like the presenter here). On the other hand, there are those who choose to do the opposite. Obviously the first group is going to find more luck than the second group. I do believe that those who try their best and fail deserve support from the people who achieve success through luck

[Dmitry M]

Love it!

[10krunr]

I want that god damn extra cookie

[TheCareertalk]

Much like you've failed to write anything worth reading.

[JP23456]

This is not at all what successful people want to hear. Only a successful person can get away with saying something like this. I appreciate the discomfort he is creating among successful people.

[hardassteel]

lucky bastards

[IADaveMark]

The one thing missing here about the luck issue is that "opportunities" appear around us all the time. The main difference is in whether or not people recognize those opportunities and then do something with them. There's a saying along the lines of "luck is where opportunity meets preparedness." I would add, "... and is acted upon."

If you think you should sit on your ass waiting for the end of the rainbow to whack you in the head with a pot of gold, you WILL fail.

[Mardah]

Same here. The decision to eat the fourth cookie is so strange to me.

[Steven Samra]

Remember this the next time you see a homeless person....

[plsstopwhining]

Not according to Michael Lewis...the wealthy NEVER acknowledge the role luck has played because the EGO takes over the moment the $ starts pouring in...can't see clearly through those green goggles...nope.