Bringing Down the House: The Inside Story of Six M.I.T. Students Who Took Vegas for Millions |...

Bringing Down the House: The Inside Story of Six M.I.T. Students Who Took Vegas for Millions | Ben Mezrich | "House" brings it home a review by Riley Simpson

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Bringing Down the ...

	Bringing Down the House: The Inside Story of Six M.I.T. Students Who Took Vegas for Millions Ben Mezrich Free Press, 2003 - 272 pages average customer review:based on 421 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Great book, pretty decent movie!

The book was fantastic, read it in two sittings. It was hard to put down. Got an added treat when the movie came out this weekend and I went to see it. Both are very good and highly recommended.

This inside look at casino security and card-counting was very exciting. Seeing how a group of regular kids ( well, genius regular kids ) could learn to exploit an edge and take the big casinos for money, makes for a great story.

I am not a gambler. Well not a gambler in the sense of giving my money away to the casinos, because I know the odds are rigged to the benefit of the house. I did like reading details about how these MIT students found a very slight probabilistic edge and then built a team to exploit that edge. Pretty much the same way traders and hedge funds make money every single day. But the house, like the market, figures these things out and changes the game. The only difference is the market will not "take you for a one way ride into the desert"

I highly recommend the book or the movie.

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"House" brings it home a review by Riley Simpson

Based on a true story, "Bringing Down the House" offers comedy, suspense, drama, and the feeling that you too have won millions and that you're ready to take on the house, just by reading it. Kevin Lee, an MIT student with amazing skills in math, was recruited by two friends to join them in a Blackjack club at school in the mid 90's. From here, the book takes us on a neon-filled and highflying spree as Kevin and his team travel to and from Las Vegas, winning millions by taking advantage of the house rules. The book slows down when the action suddenly stops as the author, Ben Mezrich, takes us from the 90's to present time (2002, when the book was published) where the he tracks down main players to interview them. These parts lack the spark the other scenes offer. When Kevin is on his first gambling escapade, he learns all new casino terminology. These jargon has actually helped me understand a lot more of the dialogue from the Ocean's Eleven movies. All in all, "Bringing Down the House" is a fun and fresh experience that lets you walk away with more than a read and hopefully a stack of chips. I'll bet you'll like this book!This MIT student should get a Ph.D. in 21.

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Imagine yourself having this experience!

I was totally immersed; imagine yourself part of the scenario - VERY ENTERTAINING. Recommended!

Made me want to head right to the casino...

Great book... I'm not sure about the movie though it will probably pale in comparison. It was exciting and fun and the fact that's a true story just makes it that much more thrilling. I would recommend this to anyone, especially anyone with basic blackjack skills, who will find this bood educational as well as fun...

good story... fun read

This book was interesting and fun to read. See the movie -- but read the book, it is much better. Also, check out E.O. Thorp's BEAT THE DEALER -- the book that started it all [there is a cameo of the book in the movie too]. Thorp has a new book coming out in 2009.

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