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  • Fortune's Formula

  • The Untold Story of the Scientific Betting System That Beat the Casinos and Wall Street
  • Written by: William Poundstone
  • Narrated by: Jeremy Arthur
  • Length: 10 hrs and 2 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (16 ratings)

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Fortune's Formula

Written by: William Poundstone
Narrated by: Jeremy Arthur
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Publisher's Summary

In 1956 two Bell Labs scientists discovered the scientific formula for getting rich. One was mathematician Claude Shannon, neurotic father of our digital age, whose genius is ranked with Einstein's. The other was John L. Kelly Jr., a Texas-born gun-toting physicist. Together they applied the science of information theory - the basis of computers and the Internet - to the problem of making as much money as possible as fast as possible. 

Shannon and MIT mathematician Edward O. Thorp took the "Kelly formula" to Las Vegas. It worked. They realized that there was even more money to be made in the stock market. Thorp used the Kelly system with his phenomenally successful hedge fund, Princeton-Newport Partners. Shannon became a successful investor, too, topping even Warren Buffett's rate of return. Fortune's Formula traces how the Kelly formula sparked controversy even as it made fortunes at racetracks, casinos, and trading desks. It reveals the dark side of this alluring scheme, which is founded on exploiting an insider's edge. 

Shannon believed it was possible for a smart investor to beat the market - and Fortune's Formula will convince you that he was right.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio. 

©2005 William Poundstone (P)2017 Macmillan Audio

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Fascinating Story on Finance, gamble and engineering.

Poundstone’s work is a remarkable feat, skillfully weaving together complex engineering and financial equations into a coherent and engaging narrative. He masterfully connects a diverse array of topics, from the expiration of Bell’s patent and the involvement of crime families, to the intricacies of American Telephone and Telegraph’s operations and the workings of the general news bureau. The way he intricately links these elements with the Kelly criterion, alongside the world of gambling through blackjack and roulette, and even the Black-Scholes model, is truly fascinating. His ability to make these complex subjects accessible and interesting is commendable.

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Do you invest? You NEED to listen to this book!

Loved it. Breaks down complicated mathematical problems into "easy" to understand concepts. I loved this book so much I purchased the physical copy to be added to my collection!

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