"An amusing expose." -- THE TIMES (LONDON)

"Fast-moving and entertaining." --KIRKUS REVIEWS

"Lachenmeyer's impressive historical research and quirky survey of present-day triskaidekaphobic practices provides a glimpse into irrationality and superstition through history." -- PUBLISHERS WEEKL Y

If thirteen people sit down at a table, will one die within a year？ What is the only major New York hotel that has a thirteenth floor？ What does it mean if a clock strikes thirteen？

In 13, a fascinating cultural history cure detective story, Nathaniel Lachenmeyer gets to the root of how one superstition--the fear of the number 13--developed among wildly divergent societies. A book about mythmaking, 13 explores why people believe what they believe, and the real reason Friday the 13th is the most unlucky day in the world.

Perhaps 13 is unlucky because the thirteenth letter of the Hebrew alphabet is the letter M, which is the first letter in the word mavet, meaning death. Or because there were thirteen attendees at the Last Supper when Jesus was betrayed. Or maybe it's just bad luck to be superstitious. In this one-of-a-kind book, Lachenmeyer probes the history of the world's scariest number.

Preface

CHAPTER 1  The Thirteen Club

CHAPTER 2  The Origins of Unlucky 13

CHAPTER 3  The Rise of I3

CHAPTER 4  The Sin of I3

CHAPTER 5  Friday the I3th

CHAPTER 6  The Missing 13

CHAPTER 7  The Psychology of 13

CHAPTER 8  Triskaidekaphobia Today

CHAPTER 9  Triskaidekaphilia Today

CHAPTER 10  Conspiratorial 13

CHAPTER 11  13 Phobes & Philes

CHAPTER 12  Triskaidekaphobe's Travel Guide

CHAPTER 13  The Future of 13

Selected Bibliography

Acknowledgments

Index