#2294

Mentioned in 12 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

Rupert Mitchell

Brandon Pindulic

Mentioned in 12 episodes

Mentioned by

David Senra

in the context of Ted Turner's business dealings.

#327 Ted Turner

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)

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)

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

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

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

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

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

Matt Mitchell

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

Great Moments In Gambling's History Part III

Mentioned by

Dax Shepard

when talking about addiction.

Recommended by

Noel Casler

as an incredible book of business and leadership.

Secrets with Noel Casler & Carol Loennig

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