Inside the Gambler's Mind

Out of all the writers who discuss gambling--and, more specifically, poker, which is the only form of gambling I'm really interested in--I would have to say that David Spanier is the finest. Certainly, he was no Al Alvarez in terms of poetry, but his clarity and excellent narration make him a pleasure to read. His death at age 67 was a tragedy as his opinions are greatly missed. The best compliment I can give Spanier is that, due to his exceptional ability, he establishes reader enthusiasm for subjects normally outside the scope of our interest. Nowhere is this more true than here as, unlike in Total Poker, he brings up topics like the founding of Monte Carlo, and the numerous ways in which players have attempted to decrease the house advantage in games like roulette. This is not riveting material on the surface, but Spanier's attention to detail and masterful knowledge base make them relevant. . His essay on gambling addiction was definitely the high point of the work as he proves within it that this is no run of the mill book. It's a work of psychology examining the motivation behind the act of wagering and the statistics which make or break the lives of the millions of individuals for whom gambling is, at least, a monthly activity. I highly recommend this one. It's "used" only, and cheap.