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8 Best Books About Gambling
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A Man for All Markets
- ⭐ Amazon rating: 4.5/5
- ⭐ Goodreads rating: 4.24/5
- 📅 Year of Publication: 2017
- ✍️ Author: Edward O. Thorp
Edward O. Thorp’s masterpiece, “A Man for All Markets: From Las Vegas to Wall Street, How I Beat the Dealer and the Market,” is often hailed as the pinnacle of gambling literature.
Thorp asserts that personal financial victories aren't about luck alone. Through various historical anecdotes, he illustrates his point, having earned approximately $800 million via diverse gambling ventures and stock market exploits.
For Thorp, the foundation is education. He spent years meticulously studying mathematical fundamentals and patterns. By gathering extensive general knowledge, he crafted a solid base for astute long-term choices, including mastering card counting and predicting stock market changes.
If you're eager to elevate your casino game techniques, “A Man of All Markets” serves as both a motivational guide and a strategic handbook.
Why read this book?
Why read this book?
“A Man for All Markets” opens the door to one of our era's most ingenious investors. Thorp’s logical and mathematical strategies provide practical guidance on market navigation with risk management in mind, offering inspiration through the story of a man whose triumph came through dedication, persistence, and a touch of serendipity.
Bringing Down the House
- ⭐Amazon rating: 4.5/5
- ⭐Goodreads rating: 3.91/5
- 📅 Year of Publication: 2002
- ✍️ Author: Ben Mezrich
- 🎬 The narrative that kicked off the movie “21” featuring Kevin Spacey and Jim Sturgess.
This is the true recounting of an MIT professor and his students, who endeavored to turn the tables in Las Vegas using an advanced card-counting technique to outwit the casino system.
The MIT Blackjack Team amassed over $10 million thanks to their clever 'spotting' tactics, figuring out the opportune moments to engage in card counting. Blending factual research with engaging stories, this stands as a top-tier gambling book choice.
Author Ben Mezrich maintains fidelity to actual events, occasionally livened by humorous commentary. It offers a comprehensive account of how a band of mathematical misfits overtook the casino and dealt a substantial blow for years.
Why read this book?
“Bringing Down the House” offers an insider’s perspective on professional casino card counting. It deciphers the winning strategies and techniques employed by gamblers to turn the odds in their favor during blackjack games. The book is a must-read for gambling enthusiasts, especially those with a keen interest in blackjack.
Beat the Dealer – Edward O. Thorp
- ⭐Amazon rating: 4.5/5
- ⭐Goodreads rating: 4.17/5
- 📅 Year of Publication: 1966
- ✍️ Author: Edward O. Thorp
- 📚 Widely viewed as a cornerstone in gambling literature
“Beat the Dealer,” by mathematics professor Edward Thorp, remains a hands-on guide to card counting. Despite dating back to 1962, its insights retain many 21st-century blackjack players’ attention. While some casino staff may scorn the strategies, they remain within the bounds of legality, merging scientific insight with gaming.
Why read this book?
“Beat the Dealer” laid the groundwork for card counting principles. This gambling classic meticulously explains the method, offering readers actionable steps for success. It’s an essential read for interested in blackjack, providing profound understanding and winning strategies.
Roll the Bones: The History of Gambling by David Schwartz
- ⭐Amazon rating: 4.4/5
- ⭐Goodreads rating: 3.87/5
- 📅 Year of Publication: 2006
- ✍️ Author: David Schwartz
- 🏆 2006 Editor’s Choice Trippies Prizewinner
David Schwartz's comprehensive examination of gambling traces its journey from ancient practices like knucklebone rolling to modern-day Las Vegas. Citing instances from scripture, ancient civilizations, card development in medieval China, the first Venice casino, and the British Empire's gaming expansion. This is ideal for anyone curious about the roulette origin and more.
Why read this book?
'Roll the Bones' provides a thorough exploration of gaming's evolution and its influence on society. Delving into risk psychology and gaming’s cultural impact, it appeals to anyone intrigued by games' histories and the intricacies of risk-taking.
Fortune’s Formula
- ⭐Amazon rating: 4.5/5
- ⭐Goodreads rating: 4.19/5
- 📅 Year of Publication: 2006
- ✍️ Author: William Poundstone
In this captivating book, William Poundstone explores Claude Shannon's influence—an information theory pioneer—within banking and investment worlds. Winning the blackjack and roulette challenges of Las Vegas leads the book's protaganists towards stock market ventures. 'Fortune’s Formula' stands among the finest gambling titles, especially for sports enthusiasts.
Why read this book?
'Fortune’s Formula' delves into the Kelly criterion, equipping investors to enhance returns while reducing risks. Although centered on mathematics, it unlocks insights into stock investment, sports betting, and more. An indispensable read for those interested in risk management and high-stakes strategies.
Molly’s Game
- ⭐Amazon rating: 4.4/5
- ⭐Goodreads rating: 3.82/5
- 📅 Year of Publication: 2014
- ✍️ Author: Molly Bloom
- 🎬 The inspiration behind the 2017 film with Jessica Chastain.
This memoir by Molly Bloom recounts her compelling story. She narrates her experiences running one of the most lucrative games in the shadowy world of illicit gambling.
Despite crossing paths with the Russian mob and other criminals, Molly emerged victorious without illicit tactics. Her narrative is compelling, showcasing how she masterfully ran a successful venture by exercising sound judgment rather than resorting to physical confrontation or coercion.
Molly’s approach, while gentle, was anything but frail. Avoiding direct conflict, she opted for wisdom to navigate and exit potentially unsavory situations unscathed.
Why read this book?
'Molly's Game' offers an eye-opening look into the high-stakes poker universe. It highlights professional player's psychology, emphasizing risk-taking peculiarities and strategies for triumph. Suitable for poker aficionados, it delivers practical guidance for mastering this intricately competitive sphere.
The Biggest Bluff
- ⭐Amazon rating: 4.5/5
- ⭐Goodreads rating: 4.08/5
- 📅 Year of Publication: 2020
- ✍️ Author: Maria Konnikova
- 🏆 Fun fact: The author clinched a $300,000 tournament during the book’s composition.
Maria Konnikova's book 'The Greatest Bluff: How I Learned to Pay Attention, Master Myself, and Win' offers readers a glimpse into the psychology of poker players, exploring how this field predicts and interprets human behavior.
Konnikova doesn't just describe the poker experience; she elucidates a deeper grasp of gaming stratagems. With earnings exceeding $311,000, her winnings accumulate further with each live poker matchup. Her pursuits in psychology, research, and writing continue unabated.
We wholeheartedly endorse 'The Greatest Bluff' to anyone curious about a woman's incredible journey from novice to one of poker’s formidable contenders.
Why read this book?
'The Biggest Bluff' delivers intimate insights into poker's professional domain, offering strategic knowledge for dealing and thriving in high-stakes games. It underscores emotional regulation's critical role, imparting practical advice for those aiming to conquer this demanding field.
Conclusion
To wrap it up, the realm of gaming is intricate and entrancing, brimming with risks, rewards, and the unexpected. The eight books we've shared here uniquely illuminate these casinos, imparting indispensable lessons for honing skills, strategizing better, or diving into the psychology of risk in digital gaming. From poker memoirs to comprehensive guides on blackjack mathematics, these books cover a spectrum of subjects, each presenting a distinct narrative and insight.
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