The SQUEEZE: William Poundstone discusses the link between gambling, stock investing, and applied mathematics in Fortune’s Formula: The Untold Story of the Scientific Betting System That Beat the Casinos and Wall Street. In the book, Poundstone reveals much about the influence of men who engineered the science behind the Internet and digital media; and the investment strategy for controlling risk. These three men—Ed Thorpe, John Kelly, and Claude Shannon—all created highly successful innovations, values of which are currently debated today. Poundstone also references an extended cast of characters which include Warren Buffet, Rudolph Guiliani, and Bugsy Siegel. Poundstone’s book serves roughly as a how-to-guide for understanding the financial services and gambling systems.

Notable Endorsement: “Seldom have true crime and smart math been blended together so engagingly.” -- The Wall Street Journal

Common Q’s Answered by this Book:

• How is the concept of applied mathematics used within the practice of investment management?
• What is the link between gambling, stock investing, and applied mathematics?
• How did the development of the Internet influence the innovation of digital media?

About the Author: William Poundstone is an American author, columnist, and bona fide skeptic. Poundstone has written multiple books which include Big Secrets and Carl Sagan. Recent titles of his work include: Big Secrets: The Uncensored Truth About All Sorts of Stuff You Are Never Supposed to Know (1983); and Bigger Secrets: More Than 125 Things They Prayed You'd Never Find Out (1986). Poundstone completed studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Book Vitals:

Publisher: Hill and Wang (September 2006)