Chi è cresciuto negli anni 90 ha vissuto un po' il fenomeno cinematografico di quell'epoca, dove i film ti davano l'idea che potessi diventare chiunque, che potessi diventare ricco, famoso e fare tutto. E diciamoci la verità, il nostro sogno americano è un po' questo, non quello di lavorare in un ufficio di Manhattan per 15 ore al giorno riducendosi a mangiare una barretta proteica davanti al computer (perché guess what, è cosi che succede).
Questo libro ci racconta, in forma ovviamente romanzata, il sogno un po' di tutti noi nerd smanettoni che eravamo bravi in matematica al liceo. E a parte un punto in particolare in cui il libro rallenta un po', per il resto si fa davvero apprezzare. Si percepisce la crescente dipendenza di Kevin più che verso i soldi, verso il gioco d'azzardo, che poi non è azzardo, è un meccanismo ben oliato che Kevin sa che funziona.

Fino a che qualcuno se ne accorgerà e dirà basta.

Ed ecco che Kevin è costretto a tornare alla realtà, e la sua storia si conclude con un finale un po' dolce e un po' amaro. E come per tutti prima o poi, la sua versione del sogno americano deve finire.

«Non ti ho mai detto perché ho abbandonato il MIT, vero?»
Kevin aprì gli occhi. Il soffitto scuro gli restituì l’occhiata. Aspettò che Martinez continuasse.
«Perché quello comunque non era il mio posto. Ero già stato reclutato da Micky. Sapevo che questa era la vita più adatta a me. Qualcuno potrebbe pensare che io stia sprecando i miei talenti. Io invece credo che questo sia il mio destino. Sono un contacarte, Kevin.»

As the subtitle to this book indicates, this is the story of a group of math wizzes, most associated with MIT, who use the science of probability to win millions at Black Jack. It was an easy read that kept my attention. 3.5 stars

Have you ever read a book that was written so beautifully with so much action built into it that you wonder, “Did this really happen?”

It was something that I had pondered for the past few days. I held off on marking this book finished because I wanted to do my own research when it comes to novels like this. I certainly learned my lesson after The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien.

And it was exactly as I expected. While the theory behind this book was fascinating—the card counting, the secrecy behind Vegas, the symbolism behind greed—I found it incredibly disappointing to know that some of the scenes in this books was faked. The only thing I can appreciate was the little essay on card counting that Kevin Lewis provided (or should I say Jeffrey Ma).

It’s a trap that all nonfiction books fall into. Tell the truth and nothing but the truth, you risk the audience’s attention. But tell a few “white lies” and you risk huge repercussions of fabricating what is supposed to be “nonfiction”.

I realize that there was a disclaimer saying that “some” events were fabricated to make the story flow better, but putting in extremes like robberies, private corporations with shady methods, and fake characters, it almost feels like lying. I would much rather read a story with more truth in it.

Excellent Book! Really enjoyed reading it! Fast moving action with chapters that really flowed, telling a great story and putting you right in the middle of the scenes.
From Boston and MIT to the Vegas strip numerous times with adventures to other casinos in Chicago, Louisiana, riverboats, the Bahamas.
a bit of dip into the underbelly of Vegas and gambling as things started to unwind as the team was being ID'd in numerous casinos. Obviously, there was communication between Casinos. The group then was risking more and more to try to continue- even bodily injury as it progressed, causing them to reevaluate where they were and how to keep going. Ultimately, leading to a divide and split in the team.
Again, I enjoyed it. Would recommend reading it! I don't think you need a background in or understanding of the gambling culture. That is kind of how Kevin Lewis got into it, too. Brings you a long as he is learning.

In my opinion Bringing down the house was an amazing action-packed book with very few dull moments. The book revolves around the main character, Kevin, and his adventures on the M.I.T blackjack team. One GoodReads user said "It couldn't keep me interested which is why it took me a month to read it off and on. The last 50 pages went a little faster. Just shows genius doesn't necessarily come with good judgement." attached to a two star review. I disagree with the statement that the book is boring and unable to keep a person interested. The book is full of intense and interesting scenes with at one point the card counting team making over $150,000 a night. Another scene involves Kevin having a bag put over his head and being thrown in a closet in a chinatown casino. Scenes like this make the book very interesting and leave the reader wanting more. Another GoodReads user said "In terms of the writing, this is a complete hack job. It contains some of the most pointless metaphors I have ever seen in print. However, the subject matter is interesting -- card counting at blackjack. Since I am perpetually impressed by people who are good at math, I drool over stories about card counting. The author did do a good job at conveying the basic card counting strategy used by the students." attached to a two star review. I disagree that the writing is a "complete hack job" as the author effectively conveys the intensity of the situations in the book leaving the reader on the edge of their seats. I think that this person missed the point of the book as the focus on the card counting strategy used by the students does not make up the entire book. Other important aspects of the book is the journey the team went through and the personal struggles of Kevin.
I would recommend this book if you are fascinated with card counting and/or love scenes with high intensity.

super interesting!

I really liked Reading Bringing Down the House. The book is a great thriller and has very interesting concepts and stories about old casinos. Towards the beginning the main character, Kevin, is a brilliant student from MIT. After showing off his math skills, his teacher asked him secretly to join his blackjack team or what he likes to say, “business.” Kevin wants to make enough money to go to med school and promises to stop playing once he gets three hundred thousand dollars. Kevin makes the money overtime, but goes overboard, and that’s where his troubles begin. The end of the story is a true thriller as Kevin tries to get everything he lost back. This book really taught me that taking risks in life are important, and you shouldn’t be afraid of the opportunities. Taking risks in life, just like playing blackjack, will have its ups and downs, but those ups and downs can teach you so many things. For example, Kevin was making thousands of dollars every weekend. He was way passed what he wanted for his money, but he kept going. He was doing great, but casino security caught on to him and he got busted. This negative part to his life taught him to walk away when your winning and not to go overboard. You need to know when to quit and this part of the story taught him just that. This book was a page-turner due to the fact that you never knew what would happen to Kevin and because there is a huge twist at the end that alters the story line. Kevin is a smart kid so it was fun to see what the author would make him due. While reading you can really feel the nervousness in the characters due to the authors descriptions. On that note, I thought that the author, Ben Mezrich, did an excellent job of describing events and scenes in Vegas, along with really telling the reader and making them feel the same emotions as the character. He would sometimes use sound effects to really show fear and excitement in the story. He made me feel like I was actually there playing blackjack. The writing style and language really increased my positive feelings for the book. It really made the book interesting. I would recommend this book to everyone because it can have a huge affect on people. You will learn how to live life when things get bad and how to know when enough is enough. In the end, this was a great read and anyone who is looking for some excitement should get started.

I guess the main thing I liked about this book was the Cinderella-like story of a bunch of college kids making beaucoup bucks off the casinos - more or less legally. The story doesn't really build to any kind of climatic ending, though, and the author's interludes - especially the one where he interviews a stripper while she gives him a lap dance - seem almost like "filler" material. Still, the story of how these groups organized and their tactics for winning are pretty amazing and worth the read. Expect a healthy dose of swearing whenever the college kids are directly quoted.

Super entertaining, really cool to see the lengths that casinos are willing to go to prevent losses, even if some of the scenarios might have been dramatized a bit.

I remember loving reading this a decade ago, and it still holds up. While I am sure the author still took liberties in his writing, the true story of this is far more interesting than the fictionalized whitewashed movie. If you have seen the movie and enjoy this, give this book a chance.

Genius characters but no genius story lines

Bringing down the house was one of my favorite books I have read. I really like how the author always keeps you on the edge of your seat the entire time. First of all, I chose to read this book because I am interested in cards. I love how the author explained in detail how the students from MIT card counted. He went so in depth to telling us that if a card was under seven then, add +one to the count and so on. I didn't know much about blackjack before I read this book and now I feel like I know a lot more about the game. Also, I didn't know a lot about Vegas because I have never been there. In the book, it really expressed how much fun someone has when he or she has money. People could go to the club, spend money on drinks, and best of all gamble. According to Petra eggs, she states that card counting is using your noodle. I one hundred percent agree with her. People who are smart and gifted enough should be allowed to card count at their own will. If casinos don't want people to card count, then just have a automatic shuffler or shuffle every few hands. It seems like the casinos are salty and shouldn't be. It is completely legal for people to card count and I don't believe they should be punished for doing so. On gregs review, he says that the book was incorrect sometimes. He says that most of the details in this book were very extreme and that they could have never happened. I somewhat agree with that because the story doesn't add up. If some college students this calm casually bet thousands of dollars in casinos, the casino would have caught them much sooner than they did. Also, it is a bit extreme that Kevin’s parents never found out that he counted cards until they did. Overall, I thought that this books was very good. I am personally interested and like to play cards. This book helped expand my knowledge on blackjack and vegas in general.