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367 reviews for:
The Biggest Bluff: How I Learned to Pay Attention, Master Myself, and Win
Maria Konnikova
4.0 AVERAGE
367 reviews for:
The Biggest Bluff: How I Learned to Pay Attention, Master Myself, and Win
Maria Konnikova
4.0 AVERAGE
hopeful
informative
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
medium-paced
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
I really enjoyed this book. It made me want to learn poker. Tomorrow. The writing reminded me of Michael Lewis - making non-fiction read like a thriller.
Ms. Konnikova has written a wonderful first-person account of her journey from newbie to tournament champion and professional in the world of poker. Her background in journalism and psychology are a perfect foundation for capturing the internal and external journey in a year of her life. It's amazing to follow her from random New Jersey coffee shops (online gambling is illegal in NY so she commuted to NJ and found places where she could park, grab internet and play) to Foxwoods, to Las Vegas, Montecarlo and Macau. She studied the technical elements of the game and also learned to understand risk, chance and the human components that go into understanding the game and the human condition. The elements on the psychology of deception are among the most interesting part, as are what it is like being a women playing in a sport largely of men. It was a lot of fun and a surprising introspection taking a dive into the world of poker through Konnikova.
"Read" the audiobook. Surprisingly philosophical and relevant to someone who's never played poker. Though also infectious as to the challenges of the game. It made me wonder if playing poker would be fun or a worthwhile use of time. And, unlike most nonfiction, I was sad to finish it. I find myself wanting more. To hear about the author's next tournament or next game or, more importantly, next insight.
funny
informative
medium-paced
4.5 stars. Really enjoyed this journey into the poker scene and Konnikova's application of poker related skills to life skills. I don't play so I had no idea what any of the hands meant, but it didn't really matter.
Interesting premise of a complete novice with a strong background in psychology who learns to play poker and becomes a national champion in 12 months. She's definitely a driven person, which helps her a lot, but she's not the best writer. It was a slog to read through the book and while at an intellectual level you understand how she got this far this quickly, you don't feel it viscerally and you're not rooting for her to get there.
Still, it offers good nuggets of psychological advice here and there which are valuable to all readers, though the discussion of the poker hands is likely more interesting if you know the game.
Still, it offers good nuggets of psychological advice here and there which are valuable to all readers, though the discussion of the poker hands is likely more interesting if you know the game.