The Art of Risk

January 1, 2016
A science journalist who once took risks but now plays it safe explores what scientists know about risk-taking and why some people are risk takers and others are not. Sukel (Dirty Minds: How Our Brains Influence Love, Sex, and Relationships, 2012, etc.) turns to research scientists for her investigations of risk-taking. Before reporting on some fascinating experiments being devised and carried out by neuroscientists and psychologists, the author takes readers on a tour of the human brain, naming and describing the parts of its decision-making system. For readers not familiar with this particular area of research, this portion may present a bit of a challenge. Sukel prefers abbreviations to technical terms, and readers may be forced to go flipping back through pages to discover what certain things stand for--e.g., DLPFC or 5-HTTLPR. Nonetheless, the author is a blithe and personable guide to risk-taking, sharing her own experiences and getting research scientists to open up about their findings. She also introduces some thoughtful and candid risk takers--e.g., a rock climber and outdoor adventurer, a Special Forces operator, a Wall Street trader-turned-professional poker player, and a neurosurgeon who calmly takes on extremely difficult cases in which patients' lives are at stake. We learn how risk-taking is influenced by one's genes, age, gender, and environment, how emotions, stress, and peer pressure play roles, and, perhaps most important, what one can do to become a better risk taker: preparing for contingencies, knowing oneself and what one wants from life, and recovering from failures. "Risk-taking is not about death-defying feats or million dollar investments," writes the author. "It's about exploring, adapting, focusing, and making predictions about future experiences...[it] is a critical part of learning and memory and being alive." Not an in-depth trip but an enjoyable tour.

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February 15, 2016
Risk is bad. It can lead to danger and death. Risk is good. It can lead to glory and happiness. According to the author, a lot depends on where you are in your life. Sukel, who claims to have been an extreme risk taker when young, frets that she's starting to hedge bets and play it safe. Wondering what happened to her adventurous outlook, she turns to scientists, psychologists, and diverse risk takers for help in determining what risks are worth taking and how to revitalize her life. Sukel begins with the anatomy of the brain and the role of genetics, and then shakes up some stereotypes on gender and age. She finds that the willingness to take risks can also be tempered by preparation, social connections, emotion, stress, and how easily you recover from mistakes. Finally Sukel talks about ways to become a better decision maker and risk taker. Interesting for both the science and the personal stories, this thoughtful book will prompt a range of readers to reexamine their lives and motives.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)