(with the subtitle: The Inside Story of Six M.I.T. Students Who Took Vegas for Millions)

Anyone read this book? No, it's not a poker book, so it doesn't go in the poker book section. I found it to be fascinating and exceptionally well written...I read the whole thing in one sitting.

Anyone else read it? Care to discuss?

I read it when I was playing blackjack. I agree that it was fascinating, but I couldn't stand the writing.

Really? What about it didn't you like?

Yah, i read the book when I was big into blackjack a few years ago. I thought it was a pretty interesting book except that the chapters didn't really mesh well together. It would go from the story of the main character and then jump totally into a different topic in the next chapter without much of a connection. Overall, I thought the book was very interesting. It was pretty amazing how gifted and talented some people are.

I don't remember. I'll pull it off my shelf when I'm back home. I know there were some similes that I found really grating.

I believe you're referring to the way the chapters alternated between Kevin's story narrated by the author and the author's own story, narrated by himself.

I wasn't real keen on it at first, but I gradually began to appreciate the way it helped build up suspense (you'll note the end of all of the chapters on Kevin end with something suspenseful). I'm not sure there were too many other approaches he could have taken--his own encounters while researching (lap dance at the paradise, gun range, casino security, etc.) were interesting and relevant enough to warrant being covered. I don't know how else he could have done it. Maybe I should ask Smash?

I agree and disagree with hating the writing style.

I think when he writes about the story through Kevin's eyes, it's well written (like how a professional author should write).

When he writes from Ben Mezrich's perspective, researching and interviewing people, he COMPLETELY has an academic understanding of Vegas, Blackjack, Poker, and everything else I love about Vegas. He over-researched it and has no gambling moxy in him whatsoever to make me familiarize with him.

"Andrew Tay [playing frat poker] was contesting a big pot with a mountain of chips in the middle, and looked to be drawing to a full house, queen high."

Irritates the hell out of me.

But still a great read.