#1943

Mentioned in 18 episodes

The Gambler

Book • 2008

Fyodor Dostoevsky

The novel, narrated by Alexei Ivanovich, revolves around his employment as a tutor for a Russian family in a German hotel and casino town.

Alexei is deeply in love with Polina, the General's stepdaughter, but his attempts to win her affection through gambling lead to a cycle of addiction and financial turmoil.

The story reflects Dostoevsky's own struggles with gambling and explores themes of love, debt, and the psychological effects of compulsive gambling.

The novel is known for its vivid descriptions of the casino environment and the psychological state of its characters.

Mentioned by

Brandon Pindulic

Rupert Mitchell

Mentioned in 18 episodes

Recommended by

Sam Parr

as one of the best biographies of all time.

How To Turn $100K into $4,000,000 with Distressed Investing

Mentioned by

Stephen West

as a lesser-known work by Dostoevsky that dramatizes the complex psychology behind self-destructive behavior.

Episode #233 ... A philosophy of self-destruction. (Dostoevsky, Bataille)

Mentioned by

David Senra

in the context of Ted Turner's business dealings.

#327 Ted Turner

Recommended by

Sam Parr

as a fascinating story of a rags-to-riches businessman.

The 3 Surprising Businesses That Make Kid Rock $30M+/yr

Mentioned by

David Senra

in the context of Kirk Kerkorian's life and his involvement in aviation.

#85 Walter and Olive Ann Beech (Aviation Legends)

Mentionné par Stan comme un bouquin sur Kirk Kerkorian.

La psychologie des plus grands fondateurs du monde (#54)

Recommended by

David Senra

as a fantastic and well-worth-reading book about Kirk Kerkorian's life story.

#65 Kirk Kerkorian: Penniless Dropout became the Greatest Deal Maker in Capitalist History

Mentioned by

J. Burden

as a book written by Dostoevsky about gambling.

The Sports Betting Epidemic | Guest J. Burden | 12/5/25

Mentioned by

Dax Shepard

when discussing a book that helped him understand the thought process of someone in an abusive relationship.

Recommended by

David Brown

as a source for researching the story.

The Birth of Vegas | Gambling on the Future | 6

Mentioned by

Bill Simmons

and

Chris Ryan

while discussing the movie and its themes.

‘The Gambler’ (2014) With Bill Simmons and Chris Ryan

Mentioned by

Barry Hearn

while explaining the importance of thinking poor to sustain long-term success.

Barry Hearn: How I Still Wake Up Every Day Hungry to Win

Mentioned by

David Harsanyi

as one of the Russian short stories he was reading.

’You're Wrong' With Mollie Hemingway And David Harsanyi, Ep. 177: Another Washington Post Hoax

Recommended as a source for researching the story.

The Birth of Vegas | Casino Combat | 4

Recommended as a source for researching the story.

The Birth of Vegas | Sharks In the Lobby | 5

Mentioned by

Brandon Pindulic

as one of his favorite biographies, which he enjoys rereading every few years.

The Next Andrew Wilkinson? Building a 6-Company HoldCo (Bootstrapped with a 7-Figure Exit)

Mentioned by

Rupert Mitchell

for its insights into trading psychology, particularly the concept of revenge trading.

#7 - Practice 6: Be Strategically Agnostic Like Rupert Mitchell

Mentioned by

Dax Shepard

when discussing

Roy Choi

's gambling addiction.

Rerelease: Roy Choi

Mentioned by

Jonathan Cohen

in relation to the plot of the book mirroring the experiences of gamblers.

Jonathan D. Cohen, "Losing Big: America's Dangerous Sports Gambling Boom" (Columbia Global Reports, 2025)

Mentioned by

Matt Mitchell

to illustrate the life of a Russian gambler and his struggles with addiction.

Great Moments In Gambling's History Part III

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