Casinos Books

Carl Hiaasen has done it again! After writing "HOOT," Hiaasen has managed to think up another great book about kids saving the environment.
Kids will be interested to read this book because it is narrated from a child's point-of-view. Unlike reality, it is the adults who get in trouble and the kids have to get them out of it. Each chapter ends with a cliffhanger, so don't think reading this book sporadically. Adults will like "Flush" because it deals with the corruption of society. PLEASE READ CARL HIAASEN'S MASTERPIECE OF SUSPENSE.

Carl Hiaasen did a great job including every thing a good book should have; mystery, tense moments, and tons more!!! When Noahs dad sinks a boat because he supects the owner of illegal dumping and then gets put in jail he leaves Noah to find out if the owner of the Coral Queen (the boat his dad sunk) is really illegally dumping. It's a dangerous job, one of the owners "body gaurds/goons" is supected to have murdered someone.

Noah Underwood isn't all that happy that he has to visit his dad in the local jail. His mom is even more angry about it. But when Paine Underwood gets in his head that something isn't right, he can't be stopped. So when the operator of a local casino boat pumps in all of his toilet waste into the ocean, Paine thought the only logical thing to do was sink the boat. Unfortunately for him, the local authorities disagreed. So while he sits in jail, Noah and his sister, Abbie, set out to find a way to prove that their dad was correct about the toxic dumping and see if they can find a way to protect the local waterways.

Hiaasen's story is clever and has great easy to love characters. This book for younger readers has the same tone and humor as do his adult books. And it is so well written that adults will enjoy the story as well. It is a shorter, less involved book than his others, but Hiaasen doesn't "dumb down" anything for his younger readers. The plot is still rich and exciting and full of savory personalities. A real winner!

Your life is a roller coaster. Your dad's in jail for trying to sink the Coral Queen, a casino boat whose owner he alleges is flushing raw sewage into the ocean. Your mom's about ready to divorce your dad and move away. What are you going to do?

Well, main character Noah decides to avenge his father's imprisonment by proving the owner of the casino boat, Dusty Muleman, is guilty of pollution. Noah and his sister, Abbey, with help from drunken Lice Peeking and Dusty's ex-girlfriend Shelley begin gathering evidence to prove Muleman's guilt. Along the way, Noah gets beaten up by Jasper Muleman, Lice disappears and the kids meet their long lost grandfather. Finally, Shelley helps the kids pour dye into the Coral Queen's holding tanks, proving to the Coast Guard that Dusty Muleman is polluting.

If you like a funny, fast-paced book with quirky but lovable characters--you'll love this one! I highly recommend it.

My brother-in-law turned me on to Carl's books. He writes about South Florida and character's that fit in with the myriad personalities in our wonderful Florida.

If you want to read some non-fiction books that make you laugh, then this is one you will like. They're hard to put down!

I've bought 3 from this seller, they sent notifications and shipped very quickly.

The narrative's sanctimonious pomposity, the plot's absurdly thin veneer, the author's inability to get even simple facts (he thinks Lujan is not a Hispanic/Latino surname) correct is just the start. The main problem with this 100 i.q. book is there are no human characters in it. Just out of stubbornness i finished all 500 pages and all he could deliver were flat caricatures at best. I got the book from the library, and still felt ripped off. Yech.Pegasus Descending: A Dave Robicheaux Novel (Dave Robicheaux)Pegasus Descending : A Dave Robicheaux NovelPegasus DescendingPegasus DescendingThe Tin Roof Blowdown: A Dave Robicheaux Novel

I have been a fan of Burke for a very long time, however I have cooled to his last few novels. They have become repetitive, and more importantly he has endeavored to interject politics into the fabric of his work. This has disappointed me in a huge way.

Mr. Burke's use of language, the descriptions of his characters and settings are remarkable. And, most importantly, a joy to read.

James Burke can write beautifully, but his story telling abilities have deteriorated in this series and the books all run together in both theme and violent action. 1. Really bad people blow into town where they encounter
Dave and Clete who simply must find a way to kill them lest they injure more innocent people. 2. Dave manages to act like a gentleman concerned about proprieties and southern manners while giving reign to violent tendencies that typically cause people to be put in prison. 3. Clete, his soul mate is less concerned about being a gentleman, but matches Dave's violent behavior in all ways except that he is generally in an alcoholic fog, whereas Dave is now an ex-alcoholic. 4. Most of the bad guys get killed rather than arrested.

I heard James Lee Burke talk once and say his inspiration is often the old testament. His writing in this series is about the reality of evil and the idea that it must be opposed and contained at any cost by civilized vigilantes willing to step outside the norms of human behavior.

It had been years since I had read one of these books. I had gotten bored. I won't read another unless one day I get a yen for this kind of comic book writing. More than bored I now feel repelled.

Twenty-five years ago, deep in his cups with a keg's worth of beer and accompanying chasers under his belt, an alcoholic Dave Robicheaux witnessed the gangland execution of his friend, Dallas Klein. Swearing off the sauce and finding a good woman who accepts and loves him for what he is, Robicheaux has spent the remainder of his life in recovery attempting to live down that unforgivable inability to stand and help his friend so long ago. What most rankles Robicheaux is that he is certain of the assassin's identity - Whitey Bruxal, a mobster with a lengthy well-documented gangland jacket - but, with no proof, he is unable to act on the knowledge!

Now, out of nowhere, Dallas Klein's daughter, Trish Klein appears in town. In a set-up remarkably similar to Baldacci's Camel Club story of Annabelle Conroy's vendetta against mobster Jerry Bagger (both were published in 2006 so it's hard to say who beat whom to that plot-line punch), it looks like she's gunning for revenge against her father's murderer. Of course, as with any police procedural or psychological thriller worth its salt, James Lee Burke has expertly upped the ante with multiple plot lines that weave in and out of one another throughout the novel - a young girl's suicide after a drunken fraternity debauch and a brutal gang rape; the hit-and-run death of an aging drifter that, on the evidence of the post-mortem, has much more sinister overtones; and the complex life of the local black dope dealer.

Although this is the apparently the 14th novel in which Burke has placed Robicheaux on center stage, this is the first time I've had the pleasure of sampling Burke's craftsmanship. And what an experience that was - his depiction of both the psychological mindscape and the physical landscape of a storm torn, poverty stricken Louisiana is outstanding. Any page opened at random will reveal Burke's masterful command of the language and his ability to create the most jarring and colourful metaphors and similes:

"The recycled air was like cigarette smoke that had been trapped for days in a refrigerator full of spoiled cheese."

On dealing with his own inner demons, for example:

"But the succubus I had tried to exorcise by marrying a woman of peace still held title to my soul. I saw the room distort and the faces of the people around me turn into Grecian masks, and I heard a sound in my ears like the steel tracks of armored vehicles wending their way across an unforgiving land."

The dialogue was creative, realistic, down to earth with a full, rich vocabulary of appropriate street lingo. The depth of characterization was wonderful (even though I was stepping into Robicheaux's world 13 novels after he was first created). The only "but" for me was the tortuous, almost Byzantine complexity of the plot. Don't let your attention drift or you may not find your way back.

I'll be hunting the second hand book stores for the Robicheaux canon starting from the beginning tomorrow.

Highly recommended.

Paul Weiss

I read this book after I read the Scoblete / Dominator Golden Touch Craps Dice Control Revolution! and it is a great companion book to go with that one. The first shows you exactly how these great dice controllers develop the skill to beat the casinos at their own games and this book is the great stories of the great dice controllers such as the Arm, the Captain who has the world record of 147 throws in a row before sevening out, and the Lee Brothers who head a band of professional players.

Scoblete is a great writer and these two books are great together.

Chalon Jackson has written a phoney review. I know ten people from this book as I took a Golden Touch Dice control course.

Frank Scoblete, Dominator, Dave the barnacle, Mr. Finesse, Howard the Rock 'n Roller, Stickman, Street Dog, Bill Burton, Jerry Patterson, No Field Five.

Two of the above have played with the Captain and one student from the class I was in also played with the Captain - so the Captain is real and not a fiction. You can read about his great roll of 147 at golden touch craps.com if you want.

The book was not advertised as the manual for dice control but as the story of the great dice controllers and that it sure is. You will meet the Captain, the Arm, Jimmy P., the Lee Brothers, the great Golden Touch shooters such as Dominator.

The last chapter of the book is supremely interesting - a 16 day diary of Frank's adventures (and they were some adventures for sure) in Las Vegas.

Don't let shills for other authors guide you away from this masterpiece. Check out all the reviews of the Craps Underground and you'll see that almost all are five stars. This book deserves that many for sure.

This book is the great stories of the greatest dice controllers in the casinos, including the Captain, who just rolled 147 numbers!!!! You can read about this great roll at golden touch craps web site under the world records. This book takes you on an adventure into the world of the greatest advantage-players of all time - the Captain, Dominator, Sharpshooter, the Lee Brothers, and the great shooter who ever lived, THE ARM.

This is a must for all dice players and those interested in a great book!!!!

Frank Scoblete has been involved with dice control since the late 1980s and this book is a culmination of his experiences with the greatest advantage craps players in the world. You will meet the Dominator, the Captain, the Arm, Sharpshooter, Howard "Rock 'n Roller," and many other great ones in this exciting and fascinating book.

Scoblete recounts his true adventures in the casinos since the late 1980s, practicing a way to beat the house at the game of craps, dice control. He wrote about dice control in 1991 and 1993 in his first two books and then wrote Forever Craps in 2000. These three books lay the groundwork for the Captain's method of dice control which is featured in The Craps Underground.

You will love Scoblete's true adventures on the A&E television show, in his diary of 16 days of play in Las Vegas, in his setting up with Dominator of the Golden Touch craps dice control seminars.

This is a book that is a must read for all craps players looking to see what the great ones have been able to accomplish.

This book is more of an advertisement for Scoblete's other books, his writing buddies other books, and his golden touch craps siminar. This book gives no mention of how the reader can acomplish dice control, which is the reason I bought this book. The book is rather a collection of stories. Scoblete tells of people he met playing craps but he forgets to tell how to play craps. It would not surprise me at all if the characters in the book are made up, especially the Captain, the authors ultimate craps hero. I couldn't even finish this book. It was boring and repeated the same type of uninteresting stories all the way through, and left the reader with no knowledge gained. If you are interested in a good casino book I recomend something by Avery Cardoza or a book published by his company.

Killer guide covering a couple dozen cities around the globe. It's 3 for 3 on designing great vacations for me. I'm a cut and dry guy in a hurry, so the Hedonist was perfect for me. The rules are different overseas. The book guides you to the best pay for play locations to meet the local girls. Saves you a ton of time and money, and gives you more time to enjoy the rest of the trip, which is also covered in the book. All the guy stuff you want to know. Since these are tropical cities, that means great oceanlined golf courses, sportfishing for marlins, casinos, all the stuff you want at your fingertips. Buy it, there's definitely a few cities in there you will want to see.

This book is 4 years old and way out of date. Many of the brothels and pick-up joints the author mentions do not exist anymore. Also, the author describes every establishment as full of beautiful women. They are NOT. You must know where to go. He makes obvious errors which makes me wonder if he visited all the cities he writes about (i.e. in the Rio De Janeiro chapter, he says the Christ Statute is on top of Sugarloaf, in reality it is on Corcovado). For a better book on Rio De Janeiro, get "Lusty Traveler" by Wiley Cooper found on Amazon. ISBN 978-0-615-20752-0

Bought on referral after searching Amazon forever for a singles vacation guide.

Great bachelor's travel guide. Take Conde Naste, Lonely Planet, and add women, sports, and testosterone and you've got the Hedonist. 20 party cities around the world, mostly tropic locations, each chosen for meeting local women or pay for play girls(club advice, directions, etc). Also advice for fishing, golf, casinos, hotels, etc.

Complete travel advice on each city; customs, visas, sports companies to use, taxis, hotels, and the underground clubs to visit. For daytime activity, you'll find all the tourist stuff as well. Short, sweet and to the point. I've taken two trips and the info was spot on, plus this book is witty and interesting; a hoot to read. This is the only book of it's kind. Highly recommended.

Though the book is a little dated, based on the author assessment of Rio de Janeiro, a place I frequent. I realize the author knew what he was talking about and not third party hear say, I would be inclined to go to some locales in his book that I never ventured to before, just on the strength of that book look for a good time with no one to show me around or hold my hand unlike when I when to Rio & Bahia Brazil for the first time. The most important thing for a single guy on vacation is someone to show him where the action at. Knowledge is power and access especially in a foreign country compounded with not speaking the language.

The Rain.

Wake up guys. Getting plastered and watching flabby drunk chicks flashing and screaming "WooHOOO" is a total waste of time and money. Lake Havasu, Daytona Beach; it's embarrassing looking back on the whole nonsense.

For the best bachelor vacations available around the world, The Hedonist is the answer. Killer places around the world with sexy girls looking to hook up; you will hook up...and with women like you've never seen before.

Tells you exactly what to expect, where to go, eliminates wasting time on vacation. Where the girls and clubs are, great fishing and golf if you have the time. What local stuff to see or avoid, etc.

All for ten bucks; are you kidding me? It's worth $100.

Take a few trips; the experiences will last a lifetime.
Blows away the US.

Buy it.

I bought this product a while ago. I get to LV once a year and Atlantic City 4 times a year. Most of the LV coupons are for the downtown casinos which I rarely have time to visit. I did use a few of the Atlantic City coupons, which about paid for the book. I did find some of the articles in the book interesting and informative.

used a bunch of these coupons already, it's a must have for a vegas vacation, probably saved over 100 bucks over the week using the 2 for 1 buffet coupons at places like The Silverton Casino (great place) The Sahara, New Orleans Casino, The Rio, Texas Station and several others. If you buy this book and use just 2 coupons it will have paid for itself in savings! Highly recommended.

Do NOT buy this book used. I did and when it arrived a good portion of the pages had been torn out. I sent it back and NEVER received my refund.
BUYER BEWARE!!!

LOTS OF FOOD COUPONS FOR VEGAS,,, PAYS FOR ITSELF WITH JUST ONE VISIT. LOTS OF 2 FOR 1 HOTEL NITES...

The American Casino Guide is well worth the money to use in Las Vegas. There are a few other out of state casino coupons but this is mainly for Las Vegas. Great buy one get one free buffet, shows and hotel offers. The only problem with this book is the binding. It's coming unglued in the middle, not a big deal though. A lot of info for new table gamers. Highly recommend this book!

If you don't love the sound of solt machines and the rush you get from doubling-down, than you may want to skip this read. Super Casino is an account of how the sleepy, small town of Las Vegas, NV transformed into one of the most powerful cities in the world. There were a lot of an interesting facts and some great history that you might already know if you watch any of those Vegas specials on The Travel Channel. But the writer does a good job of making it fun to read, including an account of a closed-door meeting of one of the biggest casino corporations on the planet. Fun read for anyone who likes to gamble at a casino.

[...]

This is the best book written about Las Vegas. it includes the early history, all the major players in the development of the city and a real inside look into the mystery and wonderment of the casino business. You will never see Las Vegas the same after reading this book

....surprise ! I could only find the paperback edition (while stealing a deal !). It is the best book (of too many written) about what's really happening behind-the-scenes in the casino life -- L.V. style. Not only that I strongly recommend it to those who go and play, and waste, while "dreaming" of an instant win, but now I will read more from Pete Earley : his style is terrific. I think he can lead - successfully - a cultural, social or psychological revolution. In case Americans would want one, naturally !

Las Vegas and the gaming industry have caused more trees to be needlessly sacrificed than any topic in popular culture with the possible exception of professional wrestling. This is not to say that there is nothing of interest to say about either subject; on the contrary, both are thriving industries whose practices and appeal tell the sensitive observer a great deal about American culture. But most authors seem content to ply their readers with commonplace facts ("there are three shifts in the casino-day, swing and grave"), "inside" vocabulary ("a 'whale' is casino jargon for a heavy better"), and recycled publicity hype ("more Americans visit the Strip than Walt Disney World"). While all of these "facts" may be true, they don't really explain anything about why Las Vegas is so popular. Pete Earley's Super Casino: Inside the "New" Las Vegas is an "inside" history of Mandalay Resorts merged with a first-hand account of a "super casino," mostly gotten from the author's hanging out in Luxor. Earley would seem to be overly impressed with the "new" Strip megaresorts of the 1990s as he reports that these were the first casinos marketed as complete destination resorts. In fact, that is how Strip casinos have sold themselves since Thomas Hull's El Rancho Vegas opened in 1941. This "new" paradigm isn't so new; it just grafts huge hotel towers and shopping malls onto the tested casino resort concept: casino, entertainment, restaurants, and rooms. The more intense theming of the casinos of the 1990s actually has more to do with trends in American commercial culture than Vegas innovations, and the larger hotels are a result of Las Vegas's successful promotion as a vacation and convention destination. Earley implies these explanations, but does little more to explain why the "new" Las Vegas is new.

The book's structure is somewhat conflicted; a reasonably straight telling of the development of Circus Circus resorts from Jay Sarno to Mandalay Bay is followed by a seemingly random series of chapters detailing the jobs of selected casino personnel. Thrown into the mix are small vignettes from casino patrons and employees that are often complete non-sequiturs. For comparison, think of When Harry Met Sally. In the place of couples reminiscing about how they fell in love, substitute lurid tales of the pleasures of sunbathing topless in Las Vegas, interminable contrasts to the "good old days" of goodfella imperium, and random tales of personal bliss and woe at the hand of the cruel goddess Fortuna. Some of the stories are interesting, but they really have nothing to do with anything else. If they are meant to capture the pulse of the "real" Las Vegas, they seem a rather poor representative sample; much more interesting stories are in the air even on slow nights. If they are meant to flesh out the goings on in the Luxor, they simply don't.

Earley is on his strongest ground when describing the inner politics of the Circus Circus/Mandalay Resorts company. He translated his astute observations of the corporate boardroom into genuinely interesting prose. The story of how William Bennett and William Pennington rescued the Sarno's ailing Circus Circus by transforming it into the K Mart of the Strip contrasts nicely with Clyde Turner, Glenn Schaeffer, and others' baccaratization of Luxor, Circus's first foray into an upscale market. With the opening of Mandalay Bay and Circus Circus's rebirth as the Mandalay Resort Group, briefly covered at the book's end, the company had come full circle. As early relates, this was just as much a function of the clashing personalities of the men at the helm of Circus/Mandalay as it was the result of a deliberately studied marketing approach. In this regard, Earley provides a truly interesting look at how a large casino company actually runs.

But Earley fails to look past the hype. His consideration of actual casino operations is hopelessly uncritical. For example, he writes with admiration about the Luxor's "sophisticated" security systems without really looking at them; because the Director and a few chosen shift managers told Earley the Luxor was the state of the art in surveillance and security, the author dutifully accepted this as fact. The illusion of omnipresent, devouring surveillance and ubiquitous control is precisely that, an illusion. Earley doesn't question the logistics of how a security "force" of fifteen men and women, five of whom have assigned sitting posts, can maintain order in a crowded casino and hotel (p.236). He catches echoes of line employee's despair at Luxor boss Tony Alamo's insistence on improved service in the face of slashed costs, but doesn't really consider whether these are valid criticisms or sour grapes.

Earley disappoints most strenuously, though, in his glimpses of the "real" Las Vegas. There are the myriad high rollers, casual gamblers, and compulsive addicts, and of course the de rigueur look at the two most fetishized females in Las Vegas past and present, the showgirl and the prostitute. Even though Earley carefully apprises the reader of the hard work needed to become a successful showgirl, his parallel consideration of the two "career paths" tends to degrade the dancer's life. Besides a new security shift manager who is given a brief treatment, these are the two most consistently prominent women in the book. Is that a commentary on the glass ceiling in the casino industry or an author's lazy contentment to recycle stereotypical considerations of women in the casino? Given the success of women in rising to top management positions in several casino companies, the latter is the more obvious choice.

"Inside" books on Las Vegas by journalists (Earley is a former Washington Poster with several acclaimed books to his credit) generally follow the same pattern: the author is a Dante whose glimpse of the Inferno is only as good as his Virgil. For example, when a former law enforcement agent is the guide the author usually wanders onto avenues of speculation about who "really" rules Las Vegas and where all the bodies are buried. In this case, Earley apparently had Glenn Schaeffer and Tony Alamo as his primary handlers. The result is excellent material on the culture of Mandalay Resort Group's boardroom and the Luxor's management team. But the specious quality of Earley's less structured research, e.g., his discussions of the lowlifes and high rollers that call Las Vegas home or haven unfortunately slides this book precipitously close to the pile of bad books about Las Vegas. In addition, there are a few factual errors, such as the inexplicable statement that "Bally's no longer exists," at the corner of Flamingo and the Strip (p.126) or the reportage of Asian high rollers' predilection for a novel dice game called "pia gow," that might have been caught by a seasoned industry observer, or at least someone who has spent a day on the Strip and leafed through a promotional guide to playing pai gow tiles and other games.

I was not able to put this book down. It is broken into two parts. Part one is the history of Vegas, part two focuses on a handfull of its residents over a year. While I was looking for a book on Vegas, I wanted to know more about personal experiences there, like what was in the second part of the book. I figured I wouldn't care for the history part, and would maybe skip it if it got boring. I was totally wrong. The history part was every bit as engaging. It's really a study in business more than history. It was thoroughly enjoyable, and part two was also. I like the way the author spends a year with these people (prostitiute, security guard, showgirl, etc.) and tells their story thoughout the book, instead of all in one chapter. Very well written. Also, very balanced in my opinion. At no point did I feel the author was judging anything, merely reporting it.

I could go on and on. It's books like this that make fiction look so dull.

Brian Freeman--just "found" him a few months ago. REALLY enjoy his writing and was afraid #2 wouldn't be as good as #1. No worries--I enjoyed this as much as his first book and have since read his 3rd which continues to not disappoint.

In this follow up to Immoral, Detective Jonathan Stride has left Minnesota for Las Vegas. He's now living with Serena Dial, a detective from Las Vegas that was introduced in Immoral. His new partner is a pre-op transexual named Amanda. Add in a murder from Reno and 2 murders in Las Vegas that merge into one case, which in turn connect to the muirder of a Vegas showgirl from the 1960's. Given all of that this is a very slow read, and I ddin't care about any of the chareters involved. Skip this one.

Can't go wrong with this author!! A quick read, as it is a book you won't want to put down!!!

I picked "Stripped" up from a super market when I was desparate for something to read. WOW! I couldn't put it down and I think he is better than the established "masters of suspense": Patterson, Sandford, Patricia Cornwell. Forget them...here is a new, wonderful writer. I was so impressed that I emailed him and he emailed me back telling me that he was very thankful and for me to spread the word to my friends. Condider this spreading the word. I am ordering his other books.

I finally got around to reading "Stripped" after having read Freeman's initial novel, "Immoral" some time earlier and all I could think was, what took me so long. I enjoy Freeman for his believable characters, his sense of place, and his ability to turn a plot in unexpected directions...all while keeping me breathlessly turning page after page. He can handle violence and sex as plot devices in such a smooth manner that you never feel outraged or imposed upon.

In "Stripped", Jonathan Stride and Serena Dial have relocated from Minnesota (his home) to Las Vegas (her home). While initially assigned to different partners, their cases eventually intertwine and pick up a head of steam. A series of seemingly unrelated murders eventually reveal possible connections to a 40 year old murder that may or may not have been solved.

Before the novel runs its course, we are treated to a hodgepodge of bigger than life mobsters, strippers, prostitutes, hit men, retirees hiding secrets, and a transsexual cop, among others, who all have a part to play in this investigation of a crime in the past to solve a crime in the present. The plot is complex, winding, and fast paced. There are more than a few unexpected twists and turns as the story unfolds. Even after the apparent climactic confrontation, there are surprises in the denouement that will add to the reader's enjoyment.

As is typical of Freeman's efforts, there are numerous psychological aspects to this novel, both in character development and plotline implementation. There are multilayered issues regarding loyalty, familial love, power, corruption, and different ways to love different people. What his characters feel and why they feel that way is always a background element of Freeman's novels. I like this complexity and feel it contributes greatly to why I am attracted to his psychological thrillers.

Overall I liked this book quite a bit. Very interesting stories, all bite sized and well written. The last half dozen stories are about poker--I'm not a player so these didn't hold much interest.

I had heard about this guy a long time ago and finally found this book. After reading the first chapter, I was a bit dissapointed that the story of the man with the $100,000 breasts was over, but to my suprise, the stories just got better. Each chapter tells a different gambling story, which I must say, were all great stories.

I think a lot of people won't read this book because of the title, but it is a shame because the book is that good. I showed it to some coworkers and they thought I was nuts for reading a book about what the title depicts. I tried to explain to one of them how good it was but many turned there nose up without trying it. The one who did try it out read the first 3 chapters and said-- I want it when your done!!!

Very entertaining and unlike the previous review, I think anybody would enjoy this book. You don't have to be a hard core gambler.

One last note- I am not a book reader. I have read very few books, but i have to tell you, I could not put this one down and finished it within a week, reading a couple of chapters before bed each night. I only wish there were more stories!!!

A great collection of gambling related stories, with strange but likeable characters. Each story is different, but fun to read. Even if you have no knowledge of some of the activities or games covered, the stories are enjoyable.

This is one of the many "gambling milieu" books that have hit the scene over the course of the past few years; although, unlike many of the others, Konik's effort features strong writing and a furious pace. Upon finishing it, I took a look at the page numbers because I couldn't believe it was over. It wasn't that it was too short, the real problem was that it was too good. In small chip size pieces, Konik addresses the infamous world of gambling. His coverage is far better than that of the average commentator as he includes horse racing, greyhounds, blackjack, sports betting, and golf hustling within his narrative. To say this one is fascinating is an understatement. A better description is that it will even, dare I say, appeal to the general public--and, indeed, it has. The title essay concerns crazy proposition man Brian Zembic, and it may well be the best of the compilation. After all, how many people become quasi-transvestites for 100 grand? Well, that's the terrain you're in once you open these pages, and you'll be grateful that Konik did such a magnificent job of immersing himself in it.

Konik is the same guy on all the poker televsion shows. He obviously has a lot of connections in the gambling world which gives him great stories to tell. There's all sorts of entertaining stuff to amuse you in this collection. I like the stories about greyhound racing (laugh out loud funny) and the ones about playing the World Series of Poker. This is a must for anyone who likes gambling stories.

Overall, an excellent cd packed with good solid advice--motivational and concrete practical. BUT the David Hedison intro was a complete waste of time, and had me yelling "Hellllp Meeeee..."
The marketing technique of taking much of the standard golden guru wisdom and spray painting James Bond's image over it, is quite clever. There's not a lot of new stuff here, but all the classic self-help advice is convenient to have in one package.
However, if you are going to call this a James Bond Lifestyle, and give advice of don't drink, don't smoke, don't speed--maybe you are talking the James Bond at his real present age--somewhere in his 90s.
There was a lot more that could have been put in the cds--more specific websites for the kind of stuff that the author recommends you get. Also, there are intelligence related organizations that wannabes can join to rub up their spy image. (I could tell you which ones, but then I'd have to kill you).
Bond, would have been in reality, an intelligence disaster, if he were a case officer. Much too showy, too noticeable. He would be more of the paramilitary type dressed in a tux.
As far as the secret to getting women--watch the films--Bond was charming, but exuded a polite indifference to many of the women--and women HATE indifference--until they are intrigued by it.(Check out Daniel Craig in the train to Montenegro dining car scene in Casino Royale with "the money.")
Spend all your cash on some lady, providing fun travel and entertainment? Sure--AFTER you've gotten to know her, and after you've gotten the sex out of the way, as one of my pals in Denmark used to say. There's plenty of cool stuff to do with the nubile newbies that doesn't cost all that much. (Fashion shows, gallery receptions, trade shows, wine tastings,etc.)
The tips on dressing--YES. Once on a cruise in the Bahamas, I was thinking I couldn't score with a fistful of pardons in a woman's penitentiary, when one night I slipped into a Tux and strutted around the casino, like I belonged there. Scored a home run in less than an hour, and discovered that not all women from Arkansas look like Hillary Clinton. "Fashion helps," as Peter Weller said in "Shadow Hours." (And I look a lot more like Telly Savalas as Blofeld, than I do James Bond). Wanna make your foreign travel even more interesting--contact the trade mission or commercial attache' of the country you want to visit, and get some business leads relevant to your gig before you travel. Not only will you likely get VIP treatment when in country visiting your contacts, you can possibly write off part of the trip on your tax return. Did that when I went to Singapore, and had a grand old time. Anyway, you will enjoy this tape, follow its directions (but caveat credit card spender) and you will benefit. Within 24 hours of listening to the CD, I'm getting results already. Take your gold sovreign and get this program, so Goldfinger won't point a laser beam at your "gun."

so i was already in the mode of a Double 0....buying this CD was all i needed to simply push myself forward into being a Double 0 ( no kills please )...in a way the CD purchase was like M promoting me into double 0 status..listening to it was like i am shifting gears upwards...

Every since i bought the CD set and listened to it, i have already noticed changes in myself. I hit the gym more than usual having lost 10 pounds so far, i have a new 007 watch, no not Omega but a Graham by British masters ( i think each agent should choose their own kind of watch ), i have a gold coin just for that good feeling....etc.

This review might seem juvenile to some readers but you must understand that success is not meant for everyone. You must be a person wanting to want it. badly enough i might add. This CD allowed me to see that and push myself forward into what i knew i always wanted.

I think we all need a little imagination in our lives, makes our days a little more adventurous...

Next year i will vacation at Paradise Island at the Ocean Club ( i already hv their number )...go do some diving, i am tryig to work harder and smarter at work to increase my salary base so i can "maybe" afford an aston martin...its a far fetch goal but not impossible, if anything its so worth the try .. plus other things.

So i hope you will too do something that will improve your life. Remember a lot of people will say you are silly or think you are silly but what YOU think of yourself is more important. i used to always listen to my friends and familly i might add....got me nowhere...so i woke up one day and said i am going to listen to ME....in a year i become the owner of some real estate ( on two continents ), swam with stingrays, started organizing my life together, turned everything into missions, got what i needed from Q branch and already found myself improving etc...

so please dont give up on yourself. You are the best thing that ever happened. And if you have the money to spare, then buy this CD set...its a great motivational tool and maybe the kickstart you need to get up from that couch and do something.

Welcome to double 0. See you in the field. Next year you will find me at the Ocean Club playing cards or drinking a martini, or on the beach..trust me you wont miss that double 0 look...if you do see me, say hello....i would love to meet another double 0.

best...F

This audiobook is not what you might expect. Of course I'm a Bond fan which brought my attention to this in the first place but, Mr. Kyriazi is not telling you to "be" James Bond it's about you, upgrading your lifestyle be it money, dress, girls, overall prosperity using several Bond movie references.
I've listened to it twice in a row on my way to and from work and have actually taken some suggestions I've learned in the "book" and applied to my everyday life.
If you are stuck in a rut and looking for some motivation to "get out" I would suggest getting a copy of this audio book.

I had the book, so I knew about the seriousness of the subject, by a guy that's obviously applied what he is preaching. However, this eight hour marathon of one good idea after another, really took me by surprise. The author's authoritative voice, with support of other actors, made going from one disc to the other a real trip, that seemed to cover every possible way to get ahead imaginable. From now on, I probably won't be satisfied with other self-help audio-books, if they only have one speaker, no effects, or music. This audio-book got me spoiled.

I was already using the ideas from the book, but seems like there's double the info, in the 8 CDs. Anyway, double the energy for sure. I like the way each disc is marked for each topic, and unlike the author figured, I didn't skip to the disc on Bond girls first. I listened from the beginning. I'm not a gambler, but his 'always win in the casino' made sense to me, anyway, fun to hear it. And I'll certainly use valet parking if I go to Vegas, after hearing the funny example of parking yourself with your Bond girl.

David Hedison's introduction surrounded by Bond music really kicks it off. I'm thinking he could do his own motivational book, especially for wannabe actors. But for wannabe Bond's, I guess, this would be the course needed. I give it two thumbs up.

I'd been fortunate enough to find the book and original cassette version of this program on amazon years ago. I listened to the tape so many times while driving that I wore it out. This 8 CD set has a lot more information than the original. You can tell Mr. Kyriazi has continued to learn and practice his techniques.

From the introduction by David Hedison (Felix Leiter in two of the James Bond movies) through the "Clearing the Subconscious Mind" session on the last CD, this set places a powerful set of tools in your hands. Tools you can use to improve your lifestyle.

Since I first listened to Mr. Kyriazi's program, I've upgraded my life signifcantly. I found my "Bond girl," got my first novel published, and drive a new Mustang GT. I don't know if any of these things would have happened if I hadn't discovered (and implemented) these well-thought out and explained techniques. Thanks, Paul!

I can't recommend this strongly enough to anyone who is interested in improving his lifestyle.

I like mystery series with quirky heroes and a few surreal characters. The first couple of Tony Valentine novels didn't quite fit that description, but there was still something not quite mainstream that drew me. In this novel, Swain has really started to come into his own as a writer. Though his hero, Tony Valentine, lives in Florida, this is the first novel that actually takes place there, and the locale is a plus. Though not as zany as Dorsey or Hiaasen, some of that off-kilter Floridaness that makes their books so good shines through here. Valentine is his usual surly self, but this time he's doing it amid a cast of highly entertaining, colorful characters.

He responds to a request from the Micanopy Indian casino to help catch blackjack cheaters when his romance with a professional wrestler goes south. A dealer has disappeared after dealing 84 winning hands to aging rock star Nigel Moon, and the Micanopys want to know how the scam was pulled off. What makes Valentine suspicious is that they don't seem so curious about what happened to the missing dealer, which makes him think some of the bad guys might be in casino management. When they try to feed him to the gators, he gets mad. Moon's winning streak is only part of a bigger scam involving a hooker, a college basketball game, a game show, and a carnival owner with a trained chimpanzee named Mr. Beauregard. Valentine just wants to figure out the blackjack scam, and isn't even aware of most of the intrigue playing out around him until he stumbles into the thick of it. Using his wits, along with some help from his ne'er do well son Gerry, the Micanopy chief, and his indomitable neighbor Mabel, who's minding the store while he's out of town, Valentine slowly unravels the intricate scam a murdering lowlife has been weaving for months. He faces danger more than once, but manages to get through it and even figures out a few things in his personal life, as well, as he goes through the process of grieving for his dead wife Lois.

This is a quality series of well-woven mysteries with a strong lead character. Tony Valentine may be a little on the crotchety side, but he's a good guy with strong morals who inspires love and loyalty in those around him, and he's no prudish goody two-shoes. He faces tough decisions and he makes mistakes, but he always ferrets out the villain. This time out, he does so against a richer backdrop of minor characters that pushed this book a notch above his others. There are still several more books for me to read in this series, and I look forward to them. James Swain is a crime novelist to watch.

It seems that almost by default, the not-so-serious mafia tinged hi-jinx genre novel must... absolutely must be set in Florida. Probably starting around the mid-1970's Elmore Leonard wrote some great books that managed to pull slap-stick and tough crime together in an ingenious manner. Best known since Leonard has been Hiaasen, who wrote some good books also. Authors from the weaker Shamus to my all time favorite genre writer Willerford have set their books in Florida and they all feel that they are mining the same vein.

James Swain takes a lot from Leonard. His 'unique' take is that his main character in this series is an ex-cop who can solve just about any casino cheating problem. The character is named Valentine and despite being in his mid 60's attracts the attention of several voluptuous women, wrestles alligators, and manages to get into several scrapes. Swain is a fast learner and his prose is as amusing and enjoyable to read as all the writers I mentioned above. This is good because it saves an other-wise tired and uninspired plot.

I would read this book for the laughs. Its not the best genre book ever, and not the best in this series.

But as entertaining as ever. It's fun to learn while being held captive to the page.

Sucker Bet, a novel by James Swain featuring Tony Valentine, is not the kind of book that makes you say "this could have happened for real". It does make you laugh, get caught up in the plot, and it made me re-read several passages after finishing the book because several minor characters were interesting to me.
Tony Valentine is an ex-cop who catches gambling cheats for casinos and struggles with his own personal and family life at the same time. In this novel, he ends up caught in a crossfire between different gambling scams, involving the Micanopy Nation, a Sicilian mobster, alligators in Tony's car, a British former rock drummer, and a hooker with the unlikely name of Candy Hart. Swain's major talent consists of both building a plotline that involves all these characters and giving each one of them a certain depth, well-crafted backgrounds of their own.
Personally, the most interesting parts of the book for me involved the Micanopys, with a glimpse of their customs, problems, justice system, and relations with the society and government around them. Swain does an effective job of portraying a little-known world within the United States, managing to inspire curiosity about the lives of Native Americans.
Some reviewers point out the less believable aspects of the story, such as a chimpanzee who imagines people's favorite songs and plays them on the ukulele and a hoax involving a rock band - that's right, these parts are not believable, but they do their part to make the book more fun.
The only serious shortcomings I would note are two: one is the ending, which left me a bit in doubt as to how some things happened or were understood, and the other is that with the exception of Tony's daughter-in-law, all Latino characters are portrayed rather unsympathetically.
Overall, I enjoyed this book much more than Grift Sense, as Swain seems to have grown into his writing style, and became eager to read more novels with Tony Valentine and the other characters.

Good people of Amazon review board should consider giving 5 stars to books that are exceptionally well written. Although this is a good story with interesting characters, it is certainly not 5 stars.

This is a good book to read when you are on a plane and there is absolutely nothing to do. If you don't read it, your life didn't really miss anything important.

If you enjoy gambling or visits to casino, you will enjoy it but don't expect too much. You may want to consider "Bringing Down The House" as this one is based on true story.