Books (reading, not sports!)

Are there any Vegas books you guys would recommend?

For example books on the history of the city, the characters, gambling sharks, how it grew to what it is today etc. Something along those lines (fact, rather than fiction).

Going on vacation in a few weeks (not to Vegas) so want something to read.

Thanks!

 

Super Casino: Inside the "New" Las Vegas - I remember really enjoying this book. It's been out for a while - like late 90's probably but it was still an enjoyable read about the rise of Vegas and the bigger casinos.

Grandissimo: The First Emperor of Las Vegas - about Jay Sarno and his construction of Caesars and Circus Circus and his plans for the first mega-resort that never happened. I read this two years ago and really liked it.

 

I enjoyed Super Casino. It provides a good history of Vegas and gambling up through the very early nineties. If you want something different, read Casino by PIlleggi (book the movie was based on)

 

Thanks UKFanatic.
Do you know of anything published more recently?

I had a quick look on Amazon and saw a few books about guys betting during the football season and also the book about the card counting MIT students that the movie was based on (which I've yet to see!). Think book called Bringing Down the House. I might check those out.

 

I like Busting Vegas by Ben Mezrich.

He also wrote the book "Bringing Down the House" which the movie "21" is based on.

But breaking vegas is about a related team of players who went beyond counting with some rather amazing (and arguably cheating) techniques.

 

Whale Hunt in the Desert

 

I liked Brining Down the House more. I know both books are embellished, but in the later book the out of control member of the team was just too contrived IMO. Both are interesting reads, though

 

Roll The Bones by David Schwartz is a great history of gambling and has a large section devoted to Vegas. Running Scared about Steve Wynn has been out a few years but is a good read. And I'd be remiss not to mention Five Hundy podcaster Tim Dressen's The Outsiders Guide to Vegas. A fun read although not really a history.

 

The books Ted and Sidley recommend are all great. Also American Roulette. It's written by the greatest casino cheat ever. Very interesting.

 

Blood Aces is a solid read about Benny Binion.

 

Have any of you read Swimming with the Sharps: A Football Season Spent in Las Vegas or Sharks in the Desert: The Founding Fathers and Current Kings of Las Vegas?

 

I second this....amazing read and really opened my eyes to the REAL old Vegas.

 

If you are at all interested in blackjack, I highly recommend two recent (and similar) books:

The Blackjack Life by Nathaniel Tilton and
Wild Cards by Philip Reed

Both of them are well-written, thoughtful--dare I say philosophical?--memoirs about blackjack and what it can teach you about yourself. (Really!)

 

The Blackjack Life was excellent. Published by Huntington Press.

 

During my last visit a few weeks ago I went to The Gambler's General Store, about a $5 cab fare from the GN, and they have an absolutely astounding array of books about any facet of LV that one could be interested in. Definitely worth the time to visit for any LV aficionado.

http://www.gamblersgeneralstore.com



If you're interested in a little history of LV get a copy of "The Green Felt Jungle".

 

Positively Fifth Street by James McManus is a wonderful narrative about gambling and crime in which Las Vegas is one of many fascinating characters.

 

I'm just reading Oscar Goodman's autobiography, certainly an interesting read.

 

I really liked "24/7: Living it Up and Doubling Down" although some here did not, if I remember another book thread correctly.

I also still recommend "One of a Kind: The Rise and Fall of Stuey "The Kid" Unger, the World's Greatest Poker Player" and "Mike Matusow: Check-Raising the Devil" - I hope The Mouth writes another book!