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 A most interesting treatment on the overlap of poker and finance
My background being seated in financial mathematics, I have always had a dilettantish interest in poker. This book served as a perfect fit for a leisurely reading between my current studies. Aaron presents a fascinating view of how poker had its hand in shaping American history, one which is rarely shown. He also presents a critique of the over reliance on probability theory and game theory as they relate to poker, which most quantitatively oriented people tend to focus upon. I actually enjoyed reading his "flashbacks", which served as refreshing interjections between, some of the often times, theoretical aspects of the book. They also served as a purpose to drive certain points home, which Aaron executed nicely. Overall, I would suggest this book to anyone with an interest in skill-based games of chance, along with an interest in finance; Aaron will not do you wrong.
I have never read a book that portrayed markets in this way
This book is so good, I had a hard time putting it down and taking a break. We probably all heard that the stock market is nothing but a big casino. In this book, the author illustrates the financial markets from the perspective of a game of poker. Academia teaches people that price movements are random. Economics teaches people that fundamentals move prices. The author says that neither randomness nor fundamentals move prices in the short term. Prices are moved because market participants are playing a game trying to outsmart each other.
I don't have any interest in trading, gambling, or speculating, but I found this book fascinating. As a long-term investor, I want to know how prices of securities are moved by gambling because it affects my portfolio. But also it creates opportunities when the majority of players are concerned with prices while, I look at values.
- Mariusz Skonieczny, author of Why Are We So Clueless about the Stock Market? Learn how to invest your money, how to pick stocks, and how to make money in the stock market
 If you dont play poker, please give this book a pass
Being a Chinese trader who's ignorant about poker, I could only complete the first few chapters and put it down. The large amount of poker jargon and geographical name just stopped me from reading onwards. In fact, this review is written with the sole purpose to warn fellow trader reader that this book is for those with definite knowledge and interest in poker. If you dont play poker at all, I strongly suggest you to give this a pass.
 Something borrowed, something blue
There are some fine books on poker. There are some fine books on market history. This tries to be both and is neither. It won't help your poker game; it won't help you invest.
This book is filled with interesting stories in financial history, gambling lore, poker sociology!,game theory at the poker table, backroom poker shenanigans.
In the bibliography, you see why: Against the Gods, a history of financial risk; the beautiful classic The Biggest Game in Town; Big Deal; Positively Fifth Street, The Little Engine that Could for poker (and it's true); Fooled by Randomness, how chance affects us in the markets and in everyday life; Blink, how experts make "instant" correct decisions; The Wisom of Crowds, an opposite point of view on expert decisions. All wonderful books.
Read those, then come back to this.
I want to give this 3 stars, but it's not an average poker book.
 Game on----
As a professional in the ETF business I highly recommend this book. Let's face it....Game theory is here to stay and Aaron's book details this very well. If you're planning on entering into the business of investments from Algorithms to Zeta Models....do yourself a favor and read this book... Aaron Brown's "The Poker Face of Wall Street" takes a dry subject matter and makes it fun and enjoyable. I'd like to see Aaron take on the boys from Susquehanna in a lil' five card. Game on-----
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