From terrorist attacks to big money jackpots, Struck by Lightning deconstructs the odds and oddities of chance, examining both the relevant and irreverent role of randomness in our everyday lives. Human beings have long been both fascinated and appalled by randomness. On the one hand, we love the thrill of a surprise party, the unpredictability of a budding romance, or the freedom of not knowing what tomorrow will bring. We are inexplicably delighted by strange coincidences and striking similarities. But we also hate uncertainty's dark side. From cancer to SARS, diseases strike with no apparent pattern. Terrorists attack, airplanes crash, bridges collapse, and we never know if we'll be that one in a million statistic. We are all constantly faced with situations and choices that involve randomness and uncertainty. A basic understanding of the rules of probability theory, applied to real-life circumstances, can help us to make sense of these situations, to avoid unnecessary fear, to seize the opportunities that randomness presents to us, and to actually enjoy the uncertainties we face. The reality is that when it comes to randomness, you can run, but you can't hide. So many aspects of our lives are governed by events that are simply not in our control. In this entertaining yet sophisticated look at the world of probabilities, author Jeffrey Rosenthal-an improbably talented math professor-explains the mechanics of randomness and teaches us how to develop an informed perspective on probability.

Struck By Lightning: The Carson Phillips Journal follows the story of outcast high school senior Carson Phillips who blackmails the most popular students in his school into contributing to his literary journal to bolster his college application; his goal in life is to get into Northwestern and eventually become the editor of The New Yorker. At once laugh-out-loud funny, deliciously dark, and remarkably smart, Struck By Lightning unearths the dirt that lies just below the surface of high school. The film Stuck By Lightning features Colfer's own original screenplay. Colfer also stars in the film alongside Allison Janney, Christina Hendricks, Dermot Mulroney, Sarah Hyland, and Polly Bergen.

Violet Raines is happy with things just the way they are in her sleepy Florida town, but when Melissa moves to town from big-city Detroit, all of a sudden things seem like they're changing whether Violet likes it or not. It'll take a few run-ins with lightning and a whole lot of courage for her to realize that growing up doesn't have to mean changing who you are.

Introduces lightning, discussing how it is formed and where it tends to strike, and describing some of the experiences of survivors who have been hit by lightning.

Before he became a Piston Cup superstar, Lightning McQueen was a car with a dream . . . and a different name! Where did Lightning learn to race? Who was his first sponsor? And where did "Ka-chow!" come from? Struck by Lightning is the story of the world's most famous race car—before the bolt!

A powerful chronicle of a wounded woman’s exploration of nature and self After nature writer Gretel Ehrlich was struck by lightning near her Wyoming ranch and almost died, she embarked on a painstaking and visionary journey back to the land of the living. With the help of an extraordinary cardiologist and the companionship of her beloved dog Sam, she avidly explores the natural and spiritual world to make sense of what happened to her. We follow as she combs every inch of her new home on the California coast, attends a convention of lightning-strike victims, and goes on a seal watch in Alaska. Ehrlich then turns her focus inward, exploring the tiny but equally fascinating ecosystem of the human heart, and culminated in a stunningly beautiful description of open-heart surgery.

Struck by Lightning is the life story of Garry Lynch, told in his own words. Garry Lynch is the father of Anita Cobby, the nurse who was brutally murdered in Sydney, Australia in 1986. Garry's story begins in 1918 and traces his life as a runaway child in the Great Depression to being an airframe fitter in the Second World War; then afterwards as a bohemian artist in Sydney, to a knock-about adventurer in the remote Kimberley region of north Western Australia. Two days after his daughter was murdered, Garry was catapulted into the public arena where he has stayed for the past ten years. As a victim of crime, he was asked to become a member of the Serious Offenders Review Council. Between 1990 and 1995 he was to meet some of Australia's most notorious murderers in the Council's work of recommending appropriate classifications for serious offenders within the Corrective Services. During this time Garry became a founding member of a Homicide Victims Support Group and continues to spend much of his life helping others who have had a loved one murdered. Struck By Lightning is a deeply moving story of personal change and spiritual growth, which shows how good can come from evil.

"The final, definitive match in the competition for the World Chess Championship is about to begin. Contenders Elias Tarsis and Marc Amary take their places at the board. The judges' implacable clock begins to tick, and a hush falls over the capacity crowd in Paris's Beaubourg Center Theater. But before the players can make their first moves, they are distracted by news of the kidnapping of a high-ranking Soviet diplomat. Tarsis--an artist and an intuitive genius--is convinced that his despised opponent--a world-renowned physicist--is behind the kidnapping. So begins the game, and so begins this darkly comic, metaphysical mystery novel ..."--Jckt.

Martin Luthers life was too exciting not to be written for teens and younger readers! In this fast-paced, action-packed novel of Martin Luthers life, teen readers (and more than a few adults!) will be introduced to a fascinating time when princes ruled Europe and knights roamed the countryside. Theyll learn about a time when powerful forces lined up against each other and believing the wrong thing could get you killed. When Lightning Struck! is far more than just an adventure story, of course. It also tells a theological story. Drawing carefully from Luthers own words, this book introduces readers to a kindred spirit who struggled with what knowing God through Scripture means for daily life. They will understand what was at stake and how powerfully liberating Luthers idea of grace through faith wasin his time and in ours! In crisp, enjoyable prose, author Danika Cooley conveys both the drama and the meaning of the Reformation for younger readers like no one before her!