general

I read an excerpt of this book in Wired Magazine and could not wait for it to come out in paperback. I was not disappointed. By now all readers know its about 6 brilliant MIT students coached by a former mathematics professor (Mickey Rosa) into a cool, cunning, and colorful cabal of casino raiders. For anyone who has been to Vegas it will conjur up memories of the flight to the desert, the gaming, the girls, the "high-rollers" and the over the top events that are all part of the magic of Sin City. But the twist here is that the player actually beats the house.

Be prepared to be entertained. Though other reviewers were disappointed at the authors style or technical errors, the author develops his story through the narrative voice of one main MIT student(Kevin Lewis). Mezrich's pace, character development, transitions and story-telling ability are evident in just about every page and truly qualify this book as a page turner. Readers who like the "can't put it down suspense" of a Ludlum, will love this book.

In an almost surreal aside, as I was 200+ pages into this enthralling book, I looked up to my TV to see none other than the "real" Mickey Rosa winning a Blackjack tournament at none other than the Mohegan Sun Casino. Is truth stranger than Fiction? Read the book and decide for yourself!! Enjoy!

You won't be disappointed by this book. It delivers on telling a very interesting story of how a group of nerds (and I use the term affectionately) figured out how to profit from a systematic method of counting cards in blackjack. I enjoyed the main character and his story, and several of the scenes are really gripping. No doubt about it--you will keep reading right through the exciting conclusion of the book.

However, the book has a few flaws. One major premise of the book is never really proven, which is that the nerds were ever in any real danger. As a result, the drama is not as taut for me as the writer probably would have liked. Also, as a Boston native, a few editing gaffes really stood out for me. As an example, at one point in the book, Sudbury, MA is lumped together with several blue collar and urban towns. Anyone who knows Boston knows that Sudbury is leafy and wealthy. Such small errors may not bother some, but they drive me crazy.

Aside from that, though, the book is worth a read if you are interested in the subject matter or nerds, or both.

This is a fun and interesting book. Nothing too heavy. Just a light, easy to read book - which is sometimes the very best thing. In the same easy to read level of entertainment as "Moneyball" (Michael Lewis), "Stranger Than Fiction" (Chuck Palahniuk), or "My Fractured Life" (Rikki Lee Travolta).