Book review: Repeat until Rich, Josh Axelrad

kewljason

kewljason

Well-Known Member
I earlier posted my thoughts of this book on another site and at the risk of being redundant, I would like to do so here as well.

I purchased this book earlier today and did a complete read through while sitting in the park on a spectacular spring day. I had been looking forward to reading this book, since I first heard about it a while back as I so enjoy these types of 'diary' books relating experiences of other players. Most of the diary type books that I have come across are rather outdated, so it was refreshing to have one that took place fairly recently and describes places that I am familiar with and can relate to.

I was a little disappointed to find that most of Mr Axelrad's career involved team play, as I would love to find a few more books like this that describle solo play and the challenges that can bring. However, the book did provide a glimpse into the aspect of team play that a solo player such as myself is not familiar with.

There is a chapter on Casino Heat and the different levels of such that I found particularly useful. But mostly I enjoyed the many anecdotes, such as riding the greyhound bus to Atlantic City and a discription of clientele that do so regularly. Some of us are far too familiar with these characters

As I stated, this isn't a technical, numbers type book on card counting, (I am sure we all have enough of those in our blackjack library) but rather a fun easy reading diary type book filled with many stories and experiences. I highly enjoyed it and wholeheartedly recomment it.
 
Deathclutch

Deathclutch

Well-Known Member
Thanks for the review. I had forgot about this book until you had brought it up. I remember him posting here a while back and reading his blog. I'll check this out.
 
P

prankster

Well-Known Member
Thanks for the review. I ordered the book from Amazon and should receive it in a few days. Sounds good!:joker:
 
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OhioTR

Member
kewljason said:
I was a little disappointed to find that most of Mr Axelrad's career involved team play, as I would love to find a few more books like this that describle solo play and the challenges that can bring. However, the book did provide a glimpse into the aspect of team play that a solo player such as myself is not familiar with.
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Maybe time for you to write one?? Hummm???
 
kewljason

kewljason

Well-Known Member
OhioTR said:
Maybe time for you to write one?? Hummm???
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I don't think there would be many interested in my story... but who knows...maybe someday. Generally, it seems like people only write about their experiences once that have stopped playing. I am still playing! at least this week/month.
 
N

Nynefingers

Well-Known Member
kewljason said:
Generally, it seems like people only write about their experiences once that have stopped playing.
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What about Barfarkel? :eyepatch:

Seriously though, I always love reading your updates. Your current level of play (stakes, I mean) is what I aspire to at the moment. I've got a long ways to go, but it's very interesting to me to read about your experiences and about what it takes to be successful while preserving longevity. I gain a lot from your posts. If you wrote a book, I'd be one of the first to buy it.
 
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prankster

Well-Known Member
I'm about half way through Repeat Until Rich and am very much enjoying every page!:joker:
I've often thought how great would it be if Tommy Hyland were to write a book describing his decades of involvement in team play!
 
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kewljason

kewljason

Well-Known Member
Nynefingers said:
What about Barfarkel? :eyepatch:

Seriously though, I always love reading your updates. Your current level of play (stakes, I mean) is what I aspire to at the moment. I've got a long ways to go, but it's very interesting to me to read about your experiences and about what it takes to be successful while preserving longevity. I gain a lot from your posts. If you wrote a book, I'd be one of the first to buy it.
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Thank you greatly for the compliment. My experiences are only about heading towards being a success, (which of course is defined differently by different people) I have yet to make 6 figures a year (which is a personal, yet somewhat meaningless goal) and am a long way away from being what I consider a success or where I want to be, but I am heading in the right direction and proud of my achievements so far in the feild of blackjack, but again I thank you for your post and the compliment.
 
J

JohnGalt1

Active Member
Thanks, I'll check it out too.

I wish LVBear would issue "You've Got Heat II" in a hard copy because I'm old school, and like to hold books in my hand, and re-read them later.
 
creeping panther

creeping panther

Banned
rich

JohnGalt1 said:
Thanks, I'll check it out too.

I wish LVBear would issue "You've Got Heat II" in a hard copy because I'm old school, and like to hold books in my hand, and re-read them later.
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I will buy this book, sounds great.:):cool:

CP
 
creeping panther

creeping panther

Banned
Book

Read the book today, alright but nothing great.

The interesting part to me however was he was playing at the same Midwestern casinos I was, at the same time, and even staying at one of my fav. hotels.

CP
 
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assume_R

Well-Known Member
Just ordered it, hope it's good. Might be a nice change of pace being as it seems to be more experiences then many of the math-based books.
 
Lonesome Gambler

Lonesome Gambler

Well-Known Member
I just finished this book and thought I'd chime in. First off, I think the book does a very good job of describing team play in a way that hasn't already been done in other works, and I really enjoyed that. I think it's flawed in the way that the story somewhat abruptly changes course from blackjack team play to the author's online poker addiction, but it gives the book a level of honesty and actual human impact that's not found in other similar works. The writing, in my opinion, is excellent despite the author's insistence that he doesn't know how to write, and the story itself is very compelling.

From a player's perspective, you'll not learn much from the book, but you'll likely be able to take away more from it than the casual reader. A lot of us will really know what the author is talking about when he describes the sensation of being in Vegas as someone there with a purpose, and his descriptions of the environment from a player's perspective are spot on. Overall, it's nice to see a book like this that really doesn't fit in with the usual gambling literature. You can tell that the publisher insisted on a rough guide to card counting in the end of the book, but otherwise, this is a book of solid prose and great storytelling by someone who's experienced a lot of what many of us aspire to achieve.
 
M

Machinist

Well-Known Member
Deathclutch said:
Thanks for the review. I had forgot about this book until you had brought it up. I remember him posting here a while back and reading his blog. I'll check this out.
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HHmmmmmm nice "signature" DC :eek::laugh::laugh::laugh:
 
FLASH1296

FLASH1296

Well-Known Member
I too enjoyed the book. It rings so very true.

The one minuscule nit-picking thing that I was befuddled by was where Josh had ordered a huge amount of fine champagnes and food from room service while leaving only a trivial cash deposit upon check-in.

Whenever I have tried that I was always met with words to the effect of:
“No sir. You cannot sign for room service as you did not use a credit card upon checkin. That will be $224.50 please.”
 
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