Is there a decent autobiography by a recognized counter?

S

shadroch

Well-Known Member
I just finished Kevin Blackwoods "The Counter" and though it was complete drek. Is there a decent autobiography by someone with a good AP background who talks of his life in BJ?
 
Not really an autobiography, but Blackjack Autumn by Barry Meadow I enjoyed. He is kind of a low level counter that spent a few months traveling to every casino in NV.

Don't waste your time on Stuart Perry's Blackjack Diary.

Ken Uston's books have some good stories about playing along with the info on counting.

Gambling Wizards has a long interview with Tommy Hyland as well as interviews with a couple other blackjack players who went on to other forms of gambling.
 
worth reading

I think you will find Meadows book a decent read. Snyders site has some good interviews as well. How a bout 'Youve Got Heat'(I think that was title)written by Barfarkel.i read vol. 1. Some interesting stuff. Not sure of any others.
 
As an ironic aside, the google review of Blackjack Diary contains this quote.
"I've never met an advantage player who doesn't recommend this book".

As far as "The Counter" goes, I'm sure most APs get their cars blown up, are repeatedly cheated out of hundreds of thousands of dollars, go on vision quests, find God , abandon their dreams and marry their HS sweethearts.
 
shadroch said:
As an ironic aside, the google review of Blackjack Diary contains this quote.
"I've never met an advantage player who doesn't recommend this book".
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This is quite funny because I have never met anyone who liked this book. Can you imagine page after page of your notes on playing being of interest to anyone? My records aren't even interesting to me.
 
Pro21 said:
This is quite funny because I have never met anyone who liked this book. Can you imagine page after page of your notes on playing being of interest to anyone? My records aren't even interesting to me.
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I actually liked it - but then again, I am an accountant. :grin:
 
Actually, I thought the BJ Diary was a great book--sort of. As the text went on--page after page of repetitive, tedious, unimaginative, irrelevant details--I started to feel depressed, frustrated, disgusted. The thing was so revolting that I put the book down after not even making it halfway.

Then I took a deep breath and said, "This author captured PERFECTLY the life of the typical low-level counter." The prison grind in all its horrific glory.
 
J.G.

You captured it brilliantly. That was my initial experience (12 years ago) as well, but I had suppressed the memory of my reaction - until you posted as you did. :o
 
ExhibitCAA said:
Actually, I thought the BJ Diary was a great book--sort of. As the text went on--page after page of repetitive, tedious, unimaginative, irrelevant details--I started to feel depressed, frustrated, disgusted. The thing was so revolting that I put the book down after not even making it halfway.

Then I took a deep breath and said, "This author captured PERFECTLY the life of the typical low-level counter." The prison grind in all its horrific glory.
Click to expand...


I'm sure the diary of your average auto-mechanic, plumber, CPA or factory worker would make fantastic reading. The day to day diary of a Wall St floor person would make for a real page turner. Heck, I used to run one of the premiere adult nite-spots in NYC, but the day to day details would be fairly tedious.
 
ExhibitCAA said:
Actually, I thought the BJ Diary was a great book--sort of. As the text went on--page after page of repetitive, tedious, unimaginative, irrelevant details--I started to feel depressed, frustrated, disgusted. The thing was so revolting that I put the book down after not even making it halfway.

Then I took a deep breath and said, "This author captured PERFECTLY the life of the typical low-level counter." The prison grind in all its horrific glory.
Click to expand...

Have to agree with this to a large extent. I used the exact same word in my review shortly after publication stating that the book was a "tedious" read. In fact, this has been on my books page for years:
"I read a draft of this book before it was published. It is a bit of a tedious read. But then, card counting can also be tedious. Unlike other Blackjack books, it doesn't teach Blackjack. Read this if you want a peek into the day-to-day world of a Blackjack card counter."​
And I know the author very well. He has made his income from advantage play for decades. But this is why I have recommended the book. It is an honest view of a grinder. Although he is more than a grinder as he does regularly travel outside the country to find better opportunities.
 
That sounds pretty much like what I'm looking for. I found a copy from Goodwill, via Amazon, so I'll have my own review in a week or two.
Hopefully,there are no exploding BMWs or encounters with casino goons and or NFL cheerleaders.
 
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