Bettie: A new book for you all to love

[Bettie]

Hey gang,

I received a copy of a book in the mail yesterday that we'll be carrying as soon as it is available on September 15th, and I have a feeling that a lot of you are going to be ordering a copy.

The book is a hardcover called Fortune's Formula: The Untold Story of the Scientific Betting System that Beat the Casinos and Wall Street. Yep, it's an entire book about the Kelly betting system! The author has written novels in the past, so the writing flows and the stories I've read so far are captivating, but he's obviously done quite a bit of research and Ed Thorp contributed heavily to the book.

Rather than type out the flap info or the piles of press info I got with the book, here's a link to the publisher's website, and from there is a link to an excerpt. I've already placed an order for the book, but it won't ship out until the 15th, so I'm going to wait a few days before I put it online. BTW, the book is $27 (hardcover, remember, and 386 pages), but you will of course get your 10% DD membership discount when you order.

I wish it was the weekend so I could dive right in!
Bettie

Fortune's Formula

[Hollywood]

> Hey gang,

> I received a copy of a book in the mail yesterday that
> we'll be carrying as soon as it is available on
> September 15th, and I have a feeling that a lot of you
> are going to be ordering a copy.

> The book is a hardcover called Fortune's Formula: The
> Untold Story of the Scientific Betting System that
> Beat the Casinos and Wall Street. Yep, it's an entire
> book about the Kelly betting system! The author has
> written novels in the past, so the writing flows and
> the stories I've read so far are captivating, but he's
> obviously done quite a bit of research and Ed Thorp
> contributed heavily to the book.

> Rather than type out the flap info or the piles of
> press info I got with the book, here's a link to the
> publisher's website, and from there is a link to an
> excerpt. I've already placed an order for the book,
> but it won't ship out until the 15th, so I'm going to
> wait a few days before I put it online. BTW, the book
> is $27 (hardcover, remember, and 386 pages), but you
> will of course get your 10% DD membership discount
> when you order.

> I wish it was the weekend so I could dive right in!
> Bettie

Hi Bettie:

As long as the Don gives it his stamp of approval. Then send me one.

Regards,

Hollywood

[Parker]

> As long as the Don gives it his stamp of approval.
> Then send me one.

Are you saying that Ed Thorp's "stamp of approval" isn't good enough for you? :-)

[Don Schlesinger]

> Hi Bettie:

> As long as the Don gives it his stamp of approval.
> Then send me one.

Let me put it this way to you, my dear friend: This is a book that I will enjoy, as I had discussed it with Thorp some time ago.

Frankly, you probably won't! :-) But, that doesn't mean you shouldn't own it anyway. I'm sure it's going to be very interesting.

Don

[Hollywood]

> Are you saying that Ed Thorp's "stamp of
> approval" isn't good enough for you? :-)

Ed who?

Just kidding lol.

But, here is the story. I will get a copy just for my blackjack book collection.

However, when I met Parker at the party, he told me that he was working on his book.

Now, when thats done. I need 10 copies, not to mention I will fly wherever necessary for the signing.

That's my stamp of approval

Hollywood

[Hollywood]

> Let me put it this way to you, my dear friend: This is
> a book that I will enjoy, as I had discussed it with
> Thorp some time ago.

> Frankly, you probably won't! :-) But, that doesn't
> mean you shouldn't own it anyway. I'm sure it's going
> to be very interesting.

> Don

Don, just curious.

What year did Thorp die?

Hollywood

[Don Schlesinger]

> Don, just curious.

> What year did Thorp die?

Sounds like the famous Mark Twain joke, when he read his own obituary in a newspaper. He wrote back, "Rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated!!"

Thorp is alive and well, living in retirement in Newport Beach, California. I exchange many e-mails with him over the course of the year. I'll tell him you send your condolences! :-)

Don

[Don Schlesinger]

By the way, just FYI, I believe Ed is 73 years old.

Don

[Hollywood]

> Don, just curious.

> What year did Thorp die?

> Hollywood

Oh boy, aint I the horses ass.

I thought the guy checked out years ago. Even before Ken died.

I think that's because everything I hear about him over the last 10 years has always been in the past tense.

It seems like he is not active with anything.

Sorry, my mistake.

If you speak to him, tell him it's another dinner I owe someone.

Hollywood

[Parker]

> Oh boy, aint I the horses ass.

> I thought the guy checked out years ago. Even before
> Ken died.

An easy mistake to make, since most of the luminaries of that era have indeed passed on. Revere, Uston, Griffin, etc., are all no longer with us.

> I think that's because everything I hear about him
> over the last 10 years has always been in the past
> tense.

> It seems like he is not active with anything.

From what I understand, he is active in many things - just not blackjack.

However, he did surface briefly on the Parker Pages last spring. Link below.

Ed Thorp thread