Aside from strategy books, The Biggest Game in Town by Al Alvarez is a fun read about the high stakes poker scene in the early 80s. The Odds by Chad Millman is an interesting character study of 3 guys trying to make it in high stakes sports betting. Bringing Down the House by Ben Mezrich is a quick page turner, but not as engrossing as the Alvarez book. I thought Lay the Favorite sucked; I'd avoid that one.