353 - Maria Konnikova: How to Look at Life Like a Game and Make Better Choices Because of It

Maria Konnikova is a journalist. She’s written two New York Times best sellers. One about con artists and having the confidence to get away something. The other is about how detectives think. But now she’s immersed in poker (for her next book). And making big money (she made $200,000 in her first year playing). That WAS NOT the plan. She wanted to write a book about luck. Now, she’s on her way to play in the world series. She taught me about “game theory,” which is “when you look at the world like a game, where everyone has certain payoffs for certain decisions,” she said.   Links and Resources The Confidence Game: Why We Fall for It . . . Every Time by Maria Konnikova Mastermind: How to Think Like Sherlock Holmes by Maria Konnikova My first podcast interview with Maria Konnikova   Also Mentioned Word Freak: Heartbreak, Triumph, Genius, and Obsession in the World of Competitive Scrabble Players by Stefan Fatsis Moonwalking with Einstein: The Art and Science of Remembering Everything by Josh Foer My interview with Josh Foer Doyle Bronson who said he could win without looking at his cards A Man for All Markets: From Las Vegas to Wall Street, How I Beat the Dealer and the Market by Edward Thorpe My interview Anders k. Ericson, author of “Peak” and the founder of the 10,000 hour rule Erik Seidel Rounders Brian Koppelman Youtube clip Erik Seidel playing Johny Chang  Matt Damon Daniel Negreanu Bobby fisher Harrington on Hold 'em Expert Strategy for No Limit Tournaments, Vol. 1: Strategic Play by Dan Harrington Every Hand Revealed by Gus Hansen Poker Go (a site to watch poker) Nassim Taleb My interview with Tony Robbins My interview with Frank Shamrock  Run It Once (poker strategy site) Phil Galfond Joseph Conrad (polish writer) Thinking in Bets: Making Smarter Decisions When You Don't Have All the Facts by Annie Duke The story of the Polgar sisters Chess: 5334 Problems, Combinations and Games by László Polgár and Bruce Pandolfini Brad Mehldau    I write about all my podcasts! Check out the full post and learn what I learned at jamesaltucher.com/podcast.   Thanks so much for listening! If you like this episode, please subscribe to “The James Altucher Show” and rate and review wherever you get your podcasts: Apple Podcasts Stitcher iHeart Radio Spotify   Follow me on Social Media: Twitter Facebook Linkedin Instagram ------------What do YOU think of the show? Head to JamesAltucherShow.com/listeners and fill out a short survey that will help us better tailor the podcast to our audience!Are you interested in getting direct answers from James about your question on a podcast? Go to JamesAltucherShow.com/AskAltucher and send in your questions to be answered on the air! ------------Visit Notepd.com to read our idea lists & sign up to create your own!My new book, Skip the Line, is out! Make sure you get a copy wherever books are sold!Join the You Should Run for President 2.0 Facebook Group, where we discuss why you should run for President.I write about all my podcasts! Check out the full post and learn what I learned at jamesaltuchershow.com ------------ Thank you so much for listening! If you like this episode, please rate, review, and subscribe to “The James Altucher Show” wherever you get your podcasts: Apple PodcastsiHeart RadioSpotify Follow me on social media:YouTubeTwitterFacebookLinkedIn