The Eudaemonic Pie
The best stories about casinos are always the ones about the people that beat the casinos somehow. It just feels good to read about people embracing the spirit of human ingenuity to topple these gigantic corporate casinos whose sole purpose is to take the money of honest, hard working people. Granted, this may not be the case in every scenario, but it is a romanticized take on the casino scene, with the people trying to outsmart the casinos playing the part of the modern-day Robin Hood.
This story is one that has been told before elsewhere. This is the story of a group that made computers from home that could beat the roulette wheel. They would place the computer in their shoes and use them to beat the roulette wheel. Unfortunately, a law was passed in the early 80's that made such devices illegal, so anyone wishing to emulate this book today would be facing serious jail time if caught.
The book is a great story, but poorly told. Thomas Bass has the proper elements to tell a great story: interesting characters and a great story filled with excitement and adventure. What he doesn't have is an interesting way of telling said story. The pace is too rhythmical. For a story that should feel like a runaway rollercoaster, Eudaemonic Pie feels more like a ride in a golf cart.
The book can be bought for around $20 dollars whether new or used, and may be a good read for someone who is very interested in gambling computers. For the average reader, the book fails to deliver on one to many levels to be worth the cost.
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