Bringing Down the House Book

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by: Ben Mezrich

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Customer Reviews
Average Rating: Rating: - Entertaining book I'm not one who has the slightest interest in gambling or the casino life-style, but I found this book to be quite interesting. It's a story of a group of MIT students who have figured out a (legal) way to beat the casinos at blackjack--and they do so to the tune of millions of dollars! They manage to keep this going for 5 years or so before they're finally banned from the major casinos. Had this book been fiction, I probably wouldn't have been interested. But the story kept my attention throughout. I probably would have given this book 5-stars were it not for the author's R-rated language. Rating: - If you like gambling stories, this book is fantastic! Like other reviewers, it only took me a several hours to read. I like gambling stories (I'm a poker player) and I've read both of Michael Konik's books, which are also great. I would consider this a one of the top gamblers' story out there, not quite up-there as Alvarez' "The Biggest Game in Town" or Konik's "More Gambling Stories", but close. I thought his writing was very smooth and really put you in the "action". I entirely believe the details of Kevin Lewis' life as a counter as I worked for a software company based in Lincoln, MA and was told many times that the co-founders - all of Asian decent and MIT grads! - were part of the MIT blackjack team. (I don't know which one but their stories are similar to what Lewis tells.) So, I just had to read this book since I knew some of the MIT team personally. As I read the stories, it was not hard to imagine that they could've been on the very team he was on! So, if you like gambling stories, add this book to your collection . . . . Rating: - File this under "BOOKS THAT MAKE YOU STAY UP TOO LATE." BRINGING DOWN THE HOUSE is one of those stories that runs on its own energy -- six college kids take on Gambling Incorporated and win. The premise is so perfectly Good vs. Evil that Mezrich can't go too far wrong. Although his prose is not NEW YORKER calibre, it's not bad either. He paints vivid characters with enough flaws to stoke your enthusiasm (who likes their Good Guys perfect?) and make them believable. And he keeps things moving. That there aren't long ruminative, "literary" stretches didn't bother this reader. But Mezrich could stand to read some Mark Bowden, to see how a master constructs a more nuanced story. All in all, though, a great romp of a book, well worth your time and money (if you have even a vague interest in the subject matter).

Bringing Down the House Book

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