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  • The Biggest Bluff

  • How I Learned to Pay Attention, Master Myself, and Win
  • By: Maria Konnikova
  • Narrated by: Maria Konnikova
  • Length: 11 hrs and 13 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (390 ratings)
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The Biggest Bluff cover art

The Biggest Bluff

By: Maria Konnikova
Narrated by: Maria Konnikova
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Summary

How a New York Times best-selling author and New Yorker contributor parlayed a strong grasp of the science of human decision-making and a woeful ignorance of cards into a life-changing run as a professional poker player, under the wing of a legend of the game.  

Maria Konnikova had never actually played poker before and didn’t even know the rules when she approached Erik Seidel - Poker Hall of Fame inductee, winner of tens of millions of dollars in earnings - and asked him to be her mentor. She had faced a stretch of personal bad luck, and her reflections on the role of chance in her life had pointed her to poker as the ultimate master class in learning to distinguish what can be controlled and what can’t. Seidel was in, and soon Konnikova was down the rabbit hole with him, a journey that would lead her to the following year’s World Series of Poker. 

Then something extraordinary happened. Under Seidel’s guidance, Konnikova began to have many epiphanies about life that derived from her new pursuit, including how to better read not just her opponents but, far more importantly, herself. She found her way to making better decisions and to a place where she could accept luck for what it is and what it isn’t. But she also began to win. She even learned to like Las Vegas. 

In the end, Konnikova is a student of human behaviour and ultimately the point of her incredible adventure was to render it into a container for its invaluable lessons. The biggest bluff of all she learned is that skill is enough. This is an audiobook that will focus your mind and strengthen your hand.

©2020 Maria Konnikova (P)2020 HarperCollins Publishers Limited

Critic reviews

"The narrative is so gripping that you might get halfway through The Biggest Bluff before you even notice that you’re getting a master class in learning, focus, and decision-making. I tore through it in two sittings, and haven’t stopped thinking about it since." (David Epstein, author of Range)

"One of the most extraordinary outcomes of any experiment in participatory journalism. This is a book not just about poker, but about the meaning of luck, the science of skill, and the psychology of outsmarting your competitors." (Joshua Foer, author of Moonwalking with Einstein)

"A flat out classic. It’s a ripping good story - with an underdog heroine, a Yoda-like mentor, and a cast of wild characters. It’s a sophisticated meditation on the relative importance of deep skill and dumb luck.... [Listening to] this book is like drawing a straight flush." (Daniel H. Pink, author of When, Drive and To Sell Is Human)

What listeners say about The Biggest Bluff

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Wonderful book about poker and life, a broken rut

I've struggled to get into a new book for months one that I actually follow through to the end and have just been revisiting old favourites. The biggest bluff has happily broken that rut!


Finished in a few days and a huge eye opener to the poker world, trading, money management and other important life lessons and advice

I can remember Marias name being brought up while watching one of the matches on YouTube talking about her mentorship with Sidel and seeing her book I wanted to get a viewpoint of learning poker by one of the very best players in the world
Not afraid to point the finger right at herself when she has messed up she holds no punches and ensures the reader understands why. She shows her human side and the struggles that an individual goes through when betting money (something that lines up very well with trading the stock and forex markets)

Proformed very well by the author, she knows when emphasise and when to hold back, another one added to the favourites list

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3 people found this helpful

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    2 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

A book to read, not to listen to

The narration is annoying. She often squeeks and speaks with a vocal fry. Not pleasant to listen to.

The story itself is written like a novel. It is not particularly good, but when interested better read than listen.

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2 people found this helpful

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    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Too many quotes

The continuous quoting and referencing gets to become predictable and tiresome. The book needed editing.

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2 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Please read!

Honest and insightful look at the philosophy of life using poker as a medium. Superb writing and narration makes this an absolute gem.

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2 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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An insightful and thought provoking read

I've just finished listening to this fantastic audiobook (which says a lot as I struggle to finish most things these days!)

It's not going to give you a deep, technical step by step guide to making money through poker but there's a lot of important lessons in this book (for life and poker) ... IF you pay attention.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

An entertaining and captivating listen

This is an interesting book that kept me hooked, despite not knowing anything about poker to start with. It offers wider insights into the human mind and how to recognise your own shortfalls. Maria Konkova is a good narrator and tells her story well. She intersplices the narrative account of her journey into poker with insights into the Psychology and Mathematics of poker. My only wish is that she would have delved deeper into these topics and explained them more, but it would have taken the book off topic more, so I understand why she did not.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent story

Excellent story and insightful introspection on the understanding luck, skill and people through poker. Play 1.2x or 1.3x speed for best cadence.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Riveting

If you like the psychological side of Poker then this book is a gem of a read/listen

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

interesting

this is well written and provides insight into the world of poker as well as the thoughts behind decision making

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Please keep writing

Surpassed my expectations and what a great writer and speaker, I hope we can have more than 2 books on audible

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