I remember my initial reaction when I heard that there was going to be an actuary on Survivor.
"She'll probably win." I said, without hesitating.
And I remember the stunned look of my coworker, who was struggling to imagine the cube dwelling nerds she knew trying to endure the rigor of a survival based game.
I had no idea who Christine was. And perhaps I was a bit overconfident and biased about the skills of my fellow actuaries. Although, I think my gut reaction was well founded.
- Many actuaries make a career out of working with life and death statistics, and all of us studied survival curves along the way, so the subject is in our blood.
- I had played poker (and another elaborate card game that was different each time you play) against other actuaries, and had witnessed the shrewdness with which they play.
- The fact that the TV show thought she'd be worth being on camera signaled to me that she probably had some moxie.
- I knew she'd be the underdog, which would give her an competitive edge. She'd be out to prove something and the other competitors would underestimate her.
Winning Conditions will give you a closer look at this puzzle loving, adventure seeking and charismatic actuary, but it is so much more than that. This book could save humanity.
