NAMING
BLOOPER

Topics: Attitudes; Challenges; Courage; Destiny; Determination; Discouragement; Family; Overcoming; Perspective; Reputation; Respect; Strength; Trials

References: Job 23:10; Romans 5:3–5; James 1:2–4; 1 Peter 5:10

In 1958, a baby boy was born into the Lane family. Robert, the father, chose to name the boy Winner. How could the young man fail to succeed with a name like Winner Lane?

The Lanes had another son several years later. Robert named this baby Loser. Contrary to all expectations, Loser Lane succeeded. He graduated from college and later became a sergeant with the New York Police Department. No one feels comfortable calling him Loser. His police colleagues refer to him as Lou.

The most noteworthy achievement of Winner Lane, now in his midforties, is the sheer length of his criminal record—nearly three dozen arrests for burglary, domestic violence, trespassing, resisting arrest, and other mayhem.

Go figure.

—Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner, Freakonomics (HarperCollins, 2005)