Squares and Sharps, Suckers and Sharks: The Science, Psychology & Philosophy of Gambling - Paperback

by Joseph Buchdahl (Author)

People have been gambling, in one form or another, for as long as history itself. Why? Money, entertainment, escape and a desire to win are all traditional explanations. Arguably, however, these are secondary considerations to a higher order purpose: a craving for control. Gambling offers a means of gaining authority over the unknown, granting us a sense of control over uncertainty. Almost always that sense is illusory - gambling, including betting and investing, is essentially random - yet for many it is nonetheless profoundly rewarding. This book attempts to explore the reasons why. Along the way, it examines: the science of probability and uncertainty; why gambling is often condemned; the difference between expectation and utility; the irrationality of human beings; evolutionary perspectives on gambling; luck and skill; market efficiency and the wisdom of crowds; why winners take all; cheating; why the process matters more than the outcome.

Author Biography

Joseph Buchdahl runs the website Sports-Tipsters.co.uk, independently verifying online sports betting advisory services to provide a measure of quality control and a means of demonstrating transparency, validity and reliability for a sports tipping industry that is otherwise unregulated. He is the author of Squares & Sharps, Suckers & Sharks, How To Find a Black Cat in a Coal Cellar and the perennial bestseller Fixed Odds Sports Betting, all published by High Stakes Publishing.