For my money, Breaking Bad is the greatest show of all time. The acting, writing, cinematography, music, and message of the show are simply astonishing.
Many people don't realize, however, that several high-profile networks passed on Vince Gilligan's story about a high school teacher with terminal lung cancer who starts manufacturing crystal meth. What's more, Gilligan had to fight to cast Bryan Cranston in lieu of more established names.
In subsequent interviews, both Gilligan and Cranston have exuded utter humility. They realize that, to be successful, you have to be both lucky and good. Of course, this flies in the face of much conventional thinking. Many people (wrongly) believe that they have succeeded by dint of their own toil—and nothing else.
Against this backdrop, I recently sat down with Cornell professor Robert H. Frank. We talked about his new book Success and Luck: Good Fortune and the Myth of Meritocracy (affiliate link). The following is an excerpt from our conversation. (Note that his publisher sent me a copy gratis without further obligation.)
PS: You’re lucky to even be here after what happened to you on a tennis court. Explain.
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