The Blackjack Life

A Journey Through the Inner World of Card Counting, the Lessons of Teamwork, and the Clandestine Pursuit of Beating the Odds

By: Nathaniel Tilton

Narrated by: Joseph Bevilacqua

Length: 8 hrs and 16 mins

Publisher's summary

Nathaniel Tilton was leading an ordinary existence in his early 30s as a financial advisor in Boston. Then, without a destination in mind, he set out to experience life in more meaningful ways. His path was forged when he met famed MIT blackjack team member Semyon Dukach, who inspired Nathaniel to become a world-class blackjack player.

Together with his friend D.A., he dove headfirst into the life of an elite blackjack card counter. But while studying the many books available on blackjack strategy, he discovered that the tactics described all applied to either big teams or solo practitioners. Accordingly, adjustments were made so that the techniques would work while playing with a single partner. The result was the creation of a virtually undetectable small-team system, something never before documented.

The details of this secret system are delivered within the pages of this exhilarating narrative, describing a glitzy gambler's life of high-roller suites, gourmet restaurants, and top-shelf entertainment, along with a dark side of deception and personal risk that would eventually take him to the casino backrooms he'd hoped he would never see.

The Blackjack Life provides an informed view of the opportunities that still exist for skilled players, a detailed explanation of what it takes to become one, and a thorough chronicling of what it's like to travel that road. It's also the story of the growth of a man who discovered who he was and who he wanted to be in the unlikeliest of places - the world of a professional blackjack player.

©2012 Huntington Press (P)2018 Paradise Audio

loved it

this is a great book on the lifestyle that advantage player. unlike other books that strictly tell you how to count cards

Great blackjack book

I really enjoyed the information and every aspiring counter should read it Enjoy the content and listen to learn.

A life Experience!

Great read, highly detailed and did not disappoint. I too live a similar life with the game but a slightly lower scale. Informative information on how powerful you can become when two people work together! Could not put this book down the entire time!!

Perfect Blackjack Book

I'm a big blackjack fan and I needed something to pump me up for my upcoming vegas trip. Blackjack Life is easily the best book on the subject I've read so far. Recommended!

awesome book

as an aspiring AP I loved this book. the stories are great and inspiring. he tells the ups and downs and in a way that is very interesting.

Good overview for those interested in Blackjack

If you have any interest in Blackjack and all of the nuances that are involved to be successful, this is a winner. The author does a nice job of taking us through the journey from a complete novice to a seasoned professional. Many years ago I spent the time to become pretty proficient at counting cards and had some fun with it. This book makes it clear how much more is involved to really turn 21 into a profitable "business". His story seems totally believable and does not come off at all as bravado. He also references some other quality pieces of literature for those that are truly serious.
This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.

Best book on blackjack I have read thus far.

Interesting in blackjack or card counting? Start here. It is wildly entertaining. In fact, I listened to it twice before writing this review.

Great Book!

Mixed in with the fantastic story are plenty of little nuggets of information that will help develop a strategy to (maybe) not lose as much at the table

Perfect

Love blackjack and love leveling-up my skills. This book is super legit. Recommend it for anyone wanting real, practical strategy. No joke.

Solid information with great book references

For an aspiring blackjack player with no prior knowledge, this is a great first read. The author is clearly well read and it's worth writing down the books he references as further reading if you still "have the itch" by the end.

My gripes are two-fold: This book had the opportunity of being to the game of Blackjack what "The Game" was to pickup artists and an instant cult classic. The author instead chose to gloss over potentially interesting and exciting details that would've given additional insight into "the blackjack life", such as the nights out on the strip or some of the more fun and ridiculous things to do with winnings (there's a single anecdote about purchasing a painting, that felt kinda misplaced and left no lasting impression other than: cool).

But i also would've appreciated a deeper dive into how they utilized and weaponized all their charts and data sheets on casinos and dealers and cut card penetrations. it was mentioned throughout, but without explanation it just came off like a result of OCD and not really anything they used to ACTUAL effect when planning trips.

With that said, it's worth a listen.