Being good or accomplished is simply not enough. To be successful, you've got to be lucky, too.

All around us we see that some people really are luckier than others. Their being in the right place at the right time, knowing somebody who knew somebody, and so on . . . is no mere accident. The truth is that lucky people, instinctively or by design, configure their lives in characteristic patterns that bring them "luck". This is how:

• Lucky people tend to position themselves in the path of onrushing luck.

• Lucky people tend to go where events are moving fastest and where they can find their lucky break.

• Lucky people take risks – but not silly ones.

• Lucky people stick with a cause, a job, or a partner, but not when all hope is lost.

• In short, lucky people move with life, not against it.

In this book, global bestselling author Max Gunther reveals 13 luck-changing precepts and techniques that can transform your life. Using these techniques, you can turn your luck from bad to mostly good, from pretty good to much better. You will learn how to become a winner by taking advantage of life's good breaks.

Max Gunther (1926-1998), born in England, went to the United States when he was 11 years old, attended schools in New Jersey and received his BA from Princeton University in 1949. He served in the US Army in 1950 and 1951 and was a staff member of Business Week from 1951 to 1955. Mr Gunther then served as a contributing editor of Time for two years. From 1956 he published articles in several magazines, including Playboy. Among his other books are The Zurich Axioms, The Luck Factor, Instant Millionaires, Wall Street & Witchcraft and How to Get Lucky.

Mr Gunther lived in Ridgefield, Connecticut, where his wife was a real-estate broker. They had three children. The author said that his diversions included surfing and skating, carving chess sets and playing chess, and painting.