Rating: Summary: A GUT-BUSTING BOOK! Review: You've got to admire an author who has the nerve to quit his cushy job at The Wall Street Journal so that he can risk his entire $50,000 publisher's advance at the unforgiving gaming tables of Las Vegas. Martinez is a wonderful writer who never loses his sense of humor even when the chips are, literally, down. If you've never wagered a dime in your life or set foot in Vegas, this book will take you there, as you sweat right alongside Martinez in his noble quest for fabulous riches. Interspersed with reports about his exhilarating and frustrating month-long rollercoaster ride on the Strip, Martinez provides poignant and witty snapshots of the quirky cast of characters he meets along the way. I can't wait to hear from this talented author again.
Rating: Summary: After This I Read Scoblete and I'm Ready to Go! Review: I loved this book and after reading it I decided to learn something about casino games so I picked up a few books by Frank Scoblete, another great writer of gambling books. 24/7 is so much fun that you'll want to learn the games and go to Luxor and play yourself. Of course, you should probably only count cards at blackjack and avoid all the other games but 24/7 made Vegas come alive. You'll love it.
Rating: Summary: Kudos from New York Review: While I must admit that I'm not the gambling type, 24/7 had me completely addicted. It's a highly amusing chronicle of the author's adventures in Las Vegas and of the colorful characters he comes in contact with along the way. Martinez portrays the people he meets with respect, regardless of their position in life. You end up really liking him, with his humorous, down-to-earth style and his quirky references to his cat Trotsky and his practical wife Kathy back home. The book also has suspenseful moments when Martinez gets more and more into the gambling himself. After reading it, I'm actually thinking about going out to Vegas myself sometime to check out the mega hotels he describes so vividly and to experience all else the city has to offer.
Rating: Summary: A fascinating book! Review: This book is a page turner: couldn't put it down! It's as readable and full of suspense and motion as a novel. The pace, wit, and style of writing carries you along as the author describes one exciting experience after another, sharing insightful revelations about all aspects of the incredible city of Las Vegas and its vast array of interesting inhabitants. The gambling sessions, interwoven into the narrative, cause anyone who has ever gambled to relive the agony of the downs and the exhilaration of the ups when taking on Dame Fortune. An added bonus to having read the book: Christmas shopping is easy. I'm sending copies to my many friends and family.
Rating: Summary: unusual and fun Review: 24/7 was interesting, funny and a very fast read. I enjoyed following Andres's adventures in Las Vegas, and letting us know at the end of every chapter where he stood financially, was clever. The descriptions of the people he met were always curiously sympathetic even when they could be perceived as losers. I liked the book and will recommend it with enthusiasm.
Rating: Summary: I LOVED THIS BOOK! Review: I began reading 24/7 on a flight and upon arrival at my hotel, I cancelled my plans for the rest of the day, called up Room Service and had the sheer joy of reading the bulk of the book straight through to the end. Witty, well-written, highly entertaining, and informative about the phenomenon of today's Las Vegas....... this book is a must-read no matter what level of interest a person has in Vegas or in gambling: even if one thinks it is none at all! The author's daily forays into the casinos caused me to "suffer" when he was losing and cheer when he was ahead. Best of all was reading about his adventures outside the casino and feeling I was getting to know the fascinating people who crossed his path. I came away with a much better understanding of what the new Vegas is all about. The book is total enjoyment!
Rating: Summary: Couldn't put 24/7 down Review: I never thought I'd want to read a book about Las Vegas, but I was intrigued by the author's unusually daring narrative device of gambling away his advance! Martinez's eye for detail is sharp and refreshingly empathetic, and he brings a remarkable cast of characters - my favorite was the retired spy who drives a cab and plays blackjack at nights - to life. I couldn't put 24/7 down. The result is a hysterically funny yet insightful read, reminiscent of Bill Bryson at his best. It flows like an entertaining novel, but one that gives you a new appreciation for the uniquely American phenomenon that is Las Vegas.
Rating: Summary: An Instant Classic Review: Having read virtually every gambling book and every book on Las Vegas I would have to rate Martinez book at or near the top. Here's a guy with a $50,000 bankroll reading "The Idiots Guide to Gambling" on the plane to Vegas. Gotta love that.More than just a gambling book, this book delves into all aspects of Las Vegas from the exploding population to the rest room attendant at a strip club. Martinez has a great sense of humor and this book is very well written. It made me laugh out loud several times. Whether you're a gambler or not this book is entertaining. Highly recommended.
Rating: Summary: Very enjoyable. Review: Its a cliche but the phrase "A great read" is applicable. Book is entertaining throughout, one that I reread a few years later and enjoyed equally the second time around. Mr Martinez is one of the few writers that captures the adrenaline of Las Vegas, the feeling of non-stop action.
You won't be disappointed.
Rating: Summary: Great Premise, great Writing, but story drags on..... Review: I just read this book after it being recommended by a dealer. I play pretty high stakes baccarat and BJ and when in Vegas live those crazy hours. I was extremely excited when I first bought the book and read the plot outline and the first few pages. However it begins to drag on far too long when he spends time with people like conventioneers. It is pretty surprising that he had such wild swings in his bankroll, at times he'd be down 10-20 grand and come back with a couple thousand dollars left. There wasn't enough about a "wild time" in Vegas in my opinion, it seems his stay while nice because his free bankroll, was fairly dull in many ways.
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