Recipes for Good Luck: The Superstitions, Rituals, and Practices of Extraordinary People

by Ellen Weinstein

What did Maya Angelou do to keep the words flowing? What is a NASA engineer's lucky charm? How does Thom Yorke prep for a concert? This book bottles the singular recipes for success of leading creatives, politicians, scientists, and athletes who made their own luck. Revealing an array of unique practices from quirky superstitions to preperformance rituals, this visual compendium celebrates in text and charming illustrated portraits the real personalities, creative processes, and curious habits of these influential people. Presented with a handsome silk-screened cloth spine, this treasure trove of inspiration is a smart and special choice for anyone who could use a little good fortune.

Genres: Nonfiction, Art

144 pages, Hardcover

Published April 3, 2018

About the author

Ellen Weinstein is a New York-based illustrator who has won multiple awards for her work, which appears in magazines, newspapers, books, and advertising including The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Atlantic.

Reviews

[Sara · Rating 1 out of 5]

I cannot figure out how this book got published. It feels like it was written by an algorithm, and not a very good one. I actually got angrier with every page turn. The book was a waste of time and money, but it WAS fun to bring to bookclub and discuss its shortcomings. So, there's that.

[Tiabtawan Limjittrakorn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very bland story

[Maddelline · Rating 1 out of 5]

First-page Google search information.

[Jackie · Rating 2 out of 5]

The descriptions of each person in this book were exceedingly short. I feel that there should have been more explanation for some of them because some of them felt like regular routines or habits rather than anything superstitious or something that was being done for good luck. Most of the illustrations were fine, although I think a few of them needed work. I did think that some people, such as Benjamin Franklin and Charles Dickens, were very interesting.

[Bobby Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars. My favorite anecdote in this little book is that poet Maya Angelou had a writing ritual of leaving her home in the morning and checking into a specific hotel where she would have the wall art, television and phone removed. With her, she would bring a legal pad, a pen, a Bible and a bottle of sherry. She would write.

[Kara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pablo Picasso would not throw away his old clothes, hair trimmings or fingernail clippings for fear it would mean losing part of his essence.. At the time of his death, he owned around fifty thousand works of his own, which ranged from prints and drawings to ceramics and theatre sets.

[Ria Celine]

Have I mentioned we have to vacate our place in 20 days? I bought this book specifically for light boudoir entertainment at our friendly neighbourhood book grocer. I only just finished it. NEED TO TAKE MORE FIBER.

2025 it's been good, alright, alienating, crass. But we're done.

[Alicia Yuet · Rating 4 out of 5]

An amusing collection of rituals by famous people...makes a really good conversational piece.

[Deborah · Rating 2 out of 5]

I loved the idea but was deeply disappointed with it. I wanted more details and stories. Very superficial. I was more interested in the articles listed in the bibliography.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I only paid a pound for the book. If I’d paid full price I would have felt ripped off. Short paragraphs about famous people’s superstitions and routines. Quite abroad definition of these, it included fears for example. Then a weird picture to accompany each paragraph.

[Greta Hermes · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a great book for having a nice short time of odd lucky rituals. Beautifully crafted and designed.