Now I'm tempted to write that book, maybe it could work. Find examples of things people desire and write the simple 'common knowledge' rules to achieve it, acknowledging the role of bad/good luck.
Want to be healthy, in good shape? Get lots of sleep, eat well, exercise. Unless you suddenly get cancer.
Want to be rich? Work a steady, boring job that pays well and live below your means. Unless a financial disaster occurs and you lose all that money you saved up.
Honestly I think that would be a really interesting book! It could be case studies of people who were 100% invested in a "system," but found that they got just as good (or better) results from following common sense guidelines and not sticking to them too rigidly.
