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Bringing Down the House
by Ben Mezrich
The Inside Story of Six MIT Students Who Took Vegas for Millions
Everyone wants to figure out how to beat the system. In Ben Mezrich’s Bringing Down the House a group of MIT students discovered a method to turn mathematical skill into cash. The most intriguing facet of the book is the perspective in which it was created. The third person narrative chronicles “Kevin Lewis” and his experience with high stakes card counting in Las Vegas. Although names were changed, the stories shared with Mezrich are all real. The novelist even learns and actively engages in a similar scheme to gain deeper insight into the double life they led, which results in a very interesting secondary story. The book starts somewhat slowly, while detailing the principles of card counting and gambling in Vegas. I must commend Mezrich, as his explanation of the craft was so in-depth that I contemplated attempting it. Then I considered how awkward and unrefined I would be and dismissed the idea. As the novel develops, the gambling stakes rise and the group begins to flourish. Tension due to greed and power, combined with casino's push to ban counters, gives the novel a very dramatic effect. After the slow start, the book quickly becomes very engaging. I suggest to anyone looking for a casual read.
Title: Bringing Down the House
Author: Ben Mezrich
Publisher: Free Press
ISBN: 0743249992
Review written by: Trevor Dye
Reviewer's Rating:8
Reader's Rating: 0
Reader's Votes: 0
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