Bookstores, Books and Truth

11 August 2012

By Vera Sanchez

A bookstore is a place where people go to relish the literary works by William Shakespeare, Ernest Hemingway, John Steinbeck, Lewis Carroll, Alexandre Dumas and Charles Dickens. It was once a setting for bookworms to feel comfortable in a relaxed environment while sipping on a blended mocha coconut Frappuccino topped with whipped cream.

This was the soothing atmosphere I expected on my trip to a soon-to-be out of business commercial company. However, to my surprise, beer breathing dudes and dudettes cluttered the entrance. Their turquoise striped polo shirts and tight spaghetti-strapped T’s reeked of wholesale cologne. Loud grunts, exasperating roars, and high-pitched giggles grew as I proceeded inside. Talks of room temperature whiskey, sexual escapades, and shameless decisions were the typical topics of conversation. It was if I were witnessing characteristics of contemporary barbarians and modern cavewomen all at the same time.

A full-sized black and white poster board of a standard college guy stood in the middle of the room. He smirks at the camera and proudly points to a sagging jailhouse badge that ties around his neck. The words at top read in bold, “A**h*les Finish First.” This was the title of a New York Times best-selling book, and the wannabe inmate, who was equally as vulgar as his fellow supporters, was there for his senseless book signing. This explained the low content of sanity that embraced the bookstore.

He stood on his chair, spread his arms, and shouted to the crowd, “I am Tucker Max, be-at-chez!” The villagers of Frankenstein raise their fists, forcefully cheer, annoyingly laugh, and high-five one another.

Trying to avoid the disorder, I swerved, dodged, swindled, and weaseled my way to the gaming section of the bookstore, which was very limited. Gibberish titles such as "The Little Red Book of Gambling Wisdom," "Earn $30,000 Per Month Playing Online Poker," "Bridge Player’s Bible" and "The Idiot’s Guide to Texas Hold’em" were some of the betting publications up for grabs.

I was of course, looking for a respectable book on craps. I read a few and had the basic understanding of the game.

Yet, I was looking for something more in depth, something that would give me an edge against the casino. Then, there it was, as if the clouds opened up from the heavens and shined a light on – which would be the greatest investment of my life – Casino Craps Shoot to Win! I opened the pages and grew pensive by the detailed chapters on dice control. Other craps books were one dimensional, not giving concrete evidence or strategies on becoming a true advantage player.

As I flipped the pages on proper technique, my deep thought was slightly interrupted by assertive pushing and ill-mannered back talk. A herd formed close to me; hands began to wave recklessly in the air; and F-bombs dropped as if were a verbal Hiroshima. However, I refused to budge. I put my nose back in the sagacious words and continued my peaceful reading.

"Casino Craps Shoot to Win!" by Frank Scoblete is (in my modest opinion) the best book ever published on the game of craps. Not only does it give the reader advice about gripping, throwing, correct betting, and the 5-Count, but what I find appealing is that it is honest. Honest in a sense that a player cannot win every single visit to the casino, and Frank makes strong note of this.

Many fraudulent television specials and deceitful manuscripts give false hope of easily taking millions from the casino with high house edge bets and random streaks of luck. Floyd Mayweather Jr., the Beatles, and Michael Jordan didn’t become the best at what they do over night. The truth be spoken it takes hard work, discipline, and perfect practice to evolve into an advantage player. Yet, with time and the guidance of Frank’s book, becoming an advantage player is now a realistic goal.