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

Publisher's summary

A New York Times bestseller • A New York Times Notable Book

“The tale of how Konnikova followed a story about poker players and wound up becoming a story herself will have you riveted, first as you learn about her big winnings, and then as she conveys the lessons she learned both about human nature and herself.” (The Washington Post)

It's true that 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 and winner of tens of millions of dollars in earnings, and convinced him to be her mentor. But she knew her man: a famously thoughtful and broad-minded player, he was intrigued by her pitch that she wasn't interested in making money so much as learning about life. She had faced a stretch of personal bad luck, and her reflections on the role of chance had led her to a giant of game theory, who pointed her to poker as the ultimate master class in learning to distinguish between what can be controlled and what can't. And she certainly brought something to the table, including a PhD in psychology and an acclaimed and growing body of work on human behavior and how to hack it. So Seidel was in, and soon she was down the rabbit hole with him, into the wild, fiercely competitive, overwhelmingly masculine world of high-stakes Texas Hold'em, their initial end point the following year's World Series of Poker.

But then something extraordinary happened. Under Seidel's guidance, Konnikova did 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; how to identify what tilted her into an emotional state that got in the way of good decisions; and how to get to a place where she could accept luck for what it was, and what it wasn't. But she also began to win. And win. In a little over a year, she began making earnest money from tournaments, ultimately totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars. She won a major title, got a sponsor, and got used to being on television, and to headlines like "How one writer's book deal turned her into a professional poker player." She even learned to like Las Vegas.

But in the end, Maria Konnikova is a writer and student of human behavior, and ultimately the point was to render her incredible journey into a container for its invaluable lessons. The biggest bluff of all, she learned, is that skill is enough. Bad cards will come our way, but keeping our focus on how we play them and not on the outcome will keep us moving through many a dark patch, until the luck once again breaks our way.

©2020 Maria Konnikova (P)2020 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

“Fascinating. . . . Konnikova is like your smart friend who instantly contextualizes everything by sharing the latest data and sharpest insight, whom you come to quote too often. . . . Konnikova keeps the lines so clean and even, so steady and unshowy that she might be the Charlie Watts of prose: While the backbeat never ceases and the narrative propels along, it’s her curiosity that proliferates. In fact, one of the biggest bluffs of The Biggest Bluff may be that Konnikova hasn’t written a book about her success with cards and chips exactly, but bet the house on the power of her mind to synthesize big philosophical ideas and psychological insights at a time when we, too, find ourselves questioning our fortunes, hoping to master our fates and playing much bigger odds than ever before.”—New York Times Book Review

“There has never been a more pressing need for digestible and coherent literature on rational decision-making. Enter The Biggest Bluff, psychologist Maria Konnikova’s depiction of her journey into professional poker. What at first seems a light-hearted story about a curious academic dipping her toe into shark-infested waters delivers a crucial lesson in how to thrive in an increasingly misleading world. . . . As someone who has read almost every piece of literature on poker, I can say that The Biggest Bluff is the best depiction yet of the game I love, and the invaluable thinking skills it teaches. . . . Konnikova’s is an uplifting zero-to-hero journey that will raise a smile in these trying times.”—Nature

“The Biggest Bluff is a great read if you play poker. But it's also a great read for those, like me, who don't play poker. For us, the game provides the backdrop for a fascinating look at human nature, at attention and focus, at game theory (applied much more broadly than just to games), and at making better decisions. And how to better deal with the outcomes of those decisions—and not just learn, but keep moving forward. . . . [A] must-read for most entrepreneurs.”—Inc.

Amazing Book

Maria Konnikova takes you on a journey from novice to poker pro and along the way, she shows you the relation to real life challenges and the challenges experienced at the table. Well written.

Worth the buy

If you are a fan of the why behind decision-making type books, this is a must listen to. Her writing draws you into her world and her breakdowns of why we do the things we do are masterfully insightful. Plus, it’s a great story. Makes me want to learn poker!

Good story, useful lessons for life

I'm pretty amazing story was useful lessons and research woven in. The author as narrator works well as she takes you on her journey from novice to surprising success in the poker world. The lessons and research she shares along the way are applicable to everyone. Don't read if you're looking at this from a poker expert perspective and seeking tips on how to play better.

Loved it!

Well written, as we'll as entertaining and thought provoking the entirety of the journey.

Phenomenal!!!

I loved this book, which incidentally I purchased on a whim, or gamble if you will pardon the pun. I happen to stumble on an interview on a public radio station as I was making my way through Daytona, and I felt compelled to listen when the speaker was referring to how poker players assessed percentages. In this particular case specifically as it would relate to the predicted figures for the Spread of the CORONA Virus.

Obviously I had jumped in at an untimely point of the conversation. Are we really discussing Poker and the virus in the same breath here? I turned it up and as the interview unraveled I was compelled to learn more. I’m not a poker player, but in listening to what little of that interview I caught intrigued me. I still had two hours of a drive ahead, so I immediately downloaded the book.

The premise is that the author is a non poker player and wants to test a theory of skill vs luck. Seeking out the best to help her in this pursuit. Yes, this is very simplistic description, but hopefully you get the point.

This has the narrative of hero’s journey for sure, but it’s so much more than that. There are so many life lessons that the author unfolds during this process, that at times I found myself having to pause to reflect on what was to be gleaned from her experiences. Often finding myself acknowledging how applicable her lessons at the poker table were to everyday situations. How it related to my on circumstances.

There are so many take away concepts, covering topics of psychology and philosophy, to down right superstitions and luck. This was such a brave endeavor, ambitious; and she knocked it out of the park. A win for her, and anyone that decides to give it a read or a listen. It’s a real gem.

Great insights, too much poker jargon/specifics

I loved the academic tie-ins as life lessons, but as a non-poker player, I was constantly looking online to understand the terminology as she talked about various hands and her decisions. That aspect was both tedious and confusing. The promotion of the book and interviews imply it's not really a book about poker, that is the vehicle to which she speaks about decision making. That is only partly true. You need to have some familiarity with the game to understand some of the tension points.

Nevertheless, I am quoting some of her takeaways to others, and was glad to have listened to the book. My favorite chapter was "Tells".

Poker and the Love of Life

I was drawn to the book because I am fascinated by poker. I was in Hawaii vacationing with relatives. Feeling

Incredible!

Insightful and entertaining – I think this book will appeal to poker players and non-poker players alike. Highly recommend!

Great personal growth story

Lots of insights from a surprising source. Audible presentation very well done. Couldn’t put it down.

Unique story which reflects on the game of life

Maria's story is barely about Poker.

It is about luck, chance, skill, and the role they play in the story of each of our lives.
How to not feel helpless in the face of misfortune, and how important is a strong mentality.

The book doesn't go into too much details of Poker hands, strategy, or spots, and you don't have to like Poker to enjoy the book.