Squares & sharps, suckers & sharks - Joseph Buchdahl

People have been gambling, in one form or another, for as long as history itself. Why? Money, entertainment, escape and a desire to win are all traditional explanations. Arguably, however, these are secondary considerations to a higher order purpose: a craving for control. Gambling offers a means of gaining authority over the unknown, granting us a sense of control over uncertainty. Almost always that sense is illusionary, yet for many it is nonetheless profoundly rewarding. This book attempts to explore the reasons why.