Best Authors Who Wrote About Gambling

Have you ever thought if there are any books on gambling? Yes, there are many. And only an avid player can be written on gambling. There are many like Ernest Hemingway, René Descartes, Ian Fleming, and Roald Dahl all enjoyed gaming.

Their love of luck and chance is also evident in some of their most famous works. These books include the best strategies for winning, the best games to play, and more.

Authors Who Wrote About Gambling

1. Fyodor Dostoevsky – Dostoevsky, a Russian novelist, wrote extensively about the psychology of gambling, drawing from his own experiences. His novella “The Gambler” (1867) is one of the most famous literary works centered around gambling.
2. Ian Fleming – Best known for creating the character James Bond, Fleming included elements of gambling in many of his novels, particularly in “Casino Royale” (1953), where Bond engages in a high-stakes game of baccarat against the villain Le Chiffre.
3. Hunter S. Thompson – An American journalist and author, Thompson’s book “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas” (1971) depicts a journalist’s drug-fueled journey through Las Vegas, which includes encounters with various forms of gambling.
4. Tennessee Williams – The renowned playwright explored themes of addiction and gambling in his play “The Night of the Iguana” (1961), where one of the characters, Shannon, is a former priest struggling with alcoholism and gambling.
5. George R.R. Martin – Although best known for his epic fantasy series “A Song of Ice and Fire,” Martin’s earlier works, such as “Dying of the Light” (1977), often feature characters engaging in games of chance and skill, reflecting his interest in gambling themes.
6. Bret Easton Ellis – In his novel “The Informers” (1994), Ellis portrays the hedonistic lifestyle of Los Angeles in the 1980s, including scenes involving gambling and risk-taking among the characters.
7. Walter Tevis – Tevis was an American novelist who often explored themes of alienation and addiction. His novel “The Hustler” (1959) follows the story of a pool hustler, Fast Eddie Felson, as he navigates the world of high-stakes pool gambling.
8. Mario Puzo – While Puzo is best known for his mafia-themed novel “The Godfather,” gambling features prominently in many of his works, reflecting the underworld connections between organized crime and the gambling industry.

Many authors were popular for living lavish and shocking lifestyles, and most of them were avid gamblers. Fyodor Dostoevsky, who wrote on human psychology, wrote one of the best known literary works about gambling, titled The Gambler.

Another popular work, The Flowers of Evil, was penned by French author, Charles Baudelaire. Both worked on themes of gambling, love, poverty, moral debasement, and of course luck and were written in the age of symbolism. The symbolist movement is about ideas and concepts based on imagination. 

Rene Descartes was also a famous author and well-known scientist, who was seen in the gambling parlors across Paris. Many says, he rarely went home with empty pockets, and being a mathematician, he often used his knowledge of numbers to calculate his odds of winning. In addition, he also used his human psychology expertise to study his fellow players and their cards. 

Ernest Hemingway was also a known gambler and popular for his unorthodox lifestyle, and his works often focused on his passions for games. He started betting on the horse races and boxing matches, then switched up to poker. He played against John Wayne, Robert Capa and John Huston, and many more. Much of his work reflects his passion for gaming.

The Practical Reads

Many books cover a range of subjects like strategy guides that can help budding players either just starting out, or looking to nurture their skills. 

If you’re looking for books on the adverse effects of gaming, then self-help guides and counseling content can help you overcome your addiction. 

Synopsis

Whether you are interested in books or playing the odds, there’s something out there for you.