The Biggest Bluff

‘Beguiling … One part quest to one part behavioural science book, The Biggest Bluff is accessible even to non-poker-players … Konnikova is a good writer and hellishly bright’ The Times

‘Maria Konnikova asked if diligence, intelligence and training could conquer chance, bluff and mind games — and the answer was a triumphant yes. A welcome story for a generation questioning the ‘work hard and prosper’ promise of the American dream’ Spectator

‘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. This is not a book that will teach you how to play your Ace–Queen out of position against a laggy villain (although it will teach you what that means). But it will show you how to play the game of life more effectively. Konnikova’s is an uplifting zero-to-hero journey that will raise a smile in these trying times’ Nature.com

‘A brilliant book mostly because Konnikova is a brilliant writer, but also because she is a brilliant observer of the weird world she has immersed herself into … She is also an excellent chronicler of the gender dynamics around a poker table…enthralling…’ Telegraph

‘The narrative is so gripping that you might get halfway through 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

‘A page-turning adventure … What makes The Biggest Bluff so unique is its honesty and humility. It understands the importance of luck and uncertainty – and how different they look when we’re suddenly facing high-stakes, life-altering decisions.’Nate Silver, founder an editor-in-chief, FiveThirtyEight

Maria Konnikova is the author of Mastermind and The Confidence Game. She is a regular contributor for the New Yorker, and has written for the Atlantic, New York Times, Slate, New Republic, Paris Review, Wall Street Journal, Salon, WIRED, among many other publications. Her writing has won numerous awards, including the 2019 Excellence in Science Journalism Award from the Society of Personality and Social Psychology.