Synopses & Reviews
Surprise: Embrase the Unpredictable and Engineer the Unexpected is an in-depth look at the phenomenon of surprise, and how it can be managed and harnessed to great effect in our day-to-day lives.
When things go according to plan, they are essentially invisible to us. Worse still, when we overdose on predictability, we begin to feel that slow, soul-sucking torture of hypostress (the stress of not enough stimulation): blah meetings, boring weekends, and bland conversations.
Surprise is the antidote. When something unexpected happens, its as though someones turned up the vibrancy dial on our lives. And thats not just a poetic metaphor; on a neurological level, surprise intensifies our emotions by 400%.
In Surprise: Embrase the Unpredictable and Engineer the Unexpected, the authors will show readers how the unexpected isand can beused to great effect in our day-to-day lives: in our relationships, jobs, conversations with strangers, and even in our daily commutes. They will reveal the science of surprise via colorful anecdotes, interviews with notable people who have successfully harnessed the power of surprise, and fascinating scientific studies: what exactly goes on in your brain when someone at a cocktail party suddenly yells out fire!”, or when you walk into your office and discover a birthday cake on your desk.
As our world becomes more and more unpredictable, thriving in the face of uncertainty and tolerating surprise will become an essential skill. And as society dives deeper into the ocean of information that characterizes the modern world, the skillful application of surprise will become increasingly important. It is our brains mechanism for breaking through the noise, capturing attention, and engaging deeply with our environments. Companies will need it to earn loyalty. Teachers will need it to reach their students. Singles will need it to be alluring. Couples will need it to stay together. And all of us will need it to pluck ourselves out of our busyness and truly come alive.
Review
Advance praise for Surprise:
"This book isn't about what you think it is."
--Seth Godin, author of What To Do When It's Your Turn
“An important how-to on making surprise into a habit to spark the best possible kind of change and progress in our work, relationships and ideas.”
--Kelly Stoetzel, Content director at TED
“Ive always loved the element of surprise, but it wasnt until reading this charming book that I fully understood why—and how to bring more of it into my life and the world.”
--Adam Grant, Wharton professor, magician, and New York Times bestselling author of Give and Take
“Surprise! This delightful book will turn your understanding of predictability upside down. Take it from someone who loves routine and order: the unexpected lessons of this book can improve your life.”
--Chris Guillebeau, NYT bestselling author of The Happiness of Pursuit and The $100 Startup
"A vibrant, readable foray into the potential and the proper place for surprise in our lives....In a world that often seems keen on eliminating the unexpected with predictive technologies...this entertaining, smartly packaged book leaves readers with a full set of practical tools geared toward making everyone surprise-seekers in their own lives."
--Publishers Weekly
Synopsis
Surprise: Embrace the Unpredictable and Engineer the Unexpected is a fascinating look at how we can handle and harness surprise in our work, relationships, and everyday lives.
Pop Quiz!
Do you prefer when:
A) Things go according to plan?
B) When the unexpected happens?
Most of us pick control and predictability. Yet research reveals a counterintuitive truth: surprise is the key that unlocks growth, innovation, and connection. It is also the secret ingredient in our best memories.
Through colorful narratives and compelling scientific findings, authors Tania Luna and Dr. LeeAnn Renninger shine a light on the world's least understood and most intriguing emotion. They reveal how shifting our perception of surprise lets us thrive in the face of uncertainty. And they show us how surprise acts as a shortcut that turns a typical product into a meaningful experience, a good idea into a viral one, awkward small talk into engaging conversation, and daily life into an adventure.
About the Author
LeeAnn Renninger has a PhD in Social Psychology/Urban Ethology from the University of Vienna, Austria. She is one of the few scientists to have studied surprise, discovering that it is a central feature in our happiest memories. In 2010, she launched LifeLabs New York, an applied research and training center that offers classes in everything from conversation skills to Surprisology, a lab she co-teaches with Tania Luna. LeeAnn provides consulting services to schools and companies including Whole Foods, Columbia, Zappos, Unilever, Tough Mudder, Google, and Victorias Secret. She also works closely with Columbia University professors to help them become even more engaging and effective educators.
Tania Luna is currently a psychology instructor and research psychologist at Hunter College and CEO of Surprise Industries, the worlds only company specializing in surprise. Surprise Industries has crafted over 2,000 private and corporate surprises for companies including LOreal, Juilliard, Etsy, National Geographic, Cornell Medical, Rutgers, and JFK Airport. Tania speaks regularly at conferences such as Yahoo Ignite, YPO, INK (TED India), and TEDxTeen. She has been interviewed in the Wall Street Journal, Inside Edition, Inc Magazine, Thrillist.com, Entrepreneur Magazine and dozens of local publications, blogs, podcasts, radio, and television shows. She is currently conducting new research on the psychology of surprise at Hunter College.
Both authors live in New York City.