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jcoker10's review against another edition
5.0
Absolutely awesome—the lessons about poker transcend the game into practical decision making. Great writing, felt like an applied Thinking Fast and Slow. Best book in the last year.
debbyeee's review against another edition
5.0
Looking at life and luck through the lens of poker? I’m in! Konnikova exudes intelligence and shares unique insights throughout the book, while sprinkling in some of the highlights along her road from novice to poker pro. As an avid poker fan, I found myself wishing for deeper dives into theory and play. But instead she chose to craft a very balanced narrative intertwining her psychological studies with her poker experiences. It’s inspiring and thoughtful— I highly recommend it.
cornmaven's review against another edition
5.0
Konnikova takes her Psych PhD and focus on decision making to the poker table, as she learns a game that promises to help her minimize chance in life and develop better ways to make decisions in the moment.
This was fascinating endeavor, and I enjoyed both her reading and all of the ideas she presented. The world of poker of course has this mystique that proves true. It was interesting to hear of the approaches that champions who mentored her took - as varied in philosophy as they were. Her two year odyssey proved helpful to her when she experienced the part of life one cannot control: a sudden medical event/emergency.
While I could not keep the jargon straight, and followed game rules and hands with the weakest understanding, the overall effect on me was positive, and I realized I could never understand it the way she did because I had never lived it. But many of her philosophical quotes (especially Epictetus near the end) and actual professional research results on decision making and the folly of human nature were so interesting to consider and rang very true to me.
Well worth the listen/read.
This was fascinating endeavor, and I enjoyed both her reading and all of the ideas she presented. The world of poker of course has this mystique that proves true. It was interesting to hear of the approaches that champions who mentored her took - as varied in philosophy as they were. Her two year odyssey proved helpful to her when she experienced the part of life one cannot control: a sudden medical event/emergency.
While I could not keep the jargon straight, and followed game rules and hands with the weakest understanding, the overall effect on me was positive, and I realized I could never understand it the way she did because I had never lived it. But many of her philosophical quotes (especially Epictetus near the end) and actual professional research results on decision making and the folly of human nature were so interesting to consider and rang very true to me.
Well worth the listen/read.
eelcotimmerman's review against another edition
5.0
I was in doubt between 4 or 5 stars. I think
the story as a whole is quite extraordinary.
A psychologist who suddenly starts to play poker fulltime, asking one of the best poker players in the world as her mentor. There were funny descriptions about the world of poker, such as the game Lodden Thinks, which was invented during a televised game. It's quite hilarious.
But most of all I liked the psychological analysis she did of the game, and the parallels she made with life. These also strongly reminded me of courses I took in university about game theory, probability theory and behavioral economics. But the poker frame is definitely more fun. She writes how poker trains you to not trap in the sunk cost fallacy and to pull yourself together after a loss. In that sense it's also a game about psychological strength.
the story as a whole is quite extraordinary.
A psychologist who suddenly starts to play poker fulltime, asking one of the best poker players in the world as her mentor. There were funny descriptions about the world of poker, such as the game Lodden Thinks, which was invented during a televised game. It's quite hilarious.
But most of all I liked the psychological analysis she did of the game, and the parallels she made with life. These also strongly reminded me of courses I took in university about game theory, probability theory and behavioral economics. But the poker frame is definitely more fun. She writes how poker trains you to not trap in the sunk cost fallacy and to pull yourself together after a loss. In that sense it's also a game about psychological strength.
cinemazombie's review against another edition
5.0
Konnikova uses the stunning tale of going from total poker newbie to World-Series competitor in just shy of a year to explore the much deeper and existential question of what can you do to control your life in a world of uncaring statistics and random chance. Not quite a partial autobiography, not quite a self-help book, not really even a guide to being better at poker, but the underlying mantra is solid. Pay attention to things around you, learn and grow from your mistakes, never take the outcome of the whims of fate personally, and try to enjoy life for what it is.
rodrigopramos's review against another edition
4.0
Probability has amnesia.
Got me into dragonflies.
Really good book
Got me into dragonflies.
Really good book
scottwalkeratu's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
4.0