Why fear of risk is holding us back, and how we can reclaim the confidence to thrive in unpredictable times

Something is out of sync in today’s economy. People feel insecure and unable to reach their potential. We worry that the world has become too risky, that investing is only for the rich, that our nest egg might not last, that it’s all or nothing. We retreat into lives of minimal uncertainty. Economist Allison Schrager argues that there has never been a better time to take risks, and yet we as a society have never been more risk-averse. She explains how the fears surrounding risk are unfounded—and that these myths are exactly why so many are falling behind. In the meantime, the very wealthy are still taking risks that generate outsized rewards and widen economic divides.

Blending economic history and behavioral science, Schrager traces how our understanding and tolerance of risk have changed—how we have become less willing to open a business, start a family, or even drive a car. Along the way, she reveals the secrets of unconventional risk-takers, from a mob hit man to America’s last frontiersman to a high-wire walker.

In this reassuring book, Schrager explains how to assess uncertainty, make better choices, and reclaim the upside of risk, allowing each of us to contribute to a more dynamic economy—and to live a more fulfilling life.