How an Author Became a Professional Poker Player

New York Times bestselling author and New Yorker contributor Maria Konnikova joins Lynn and John on Cool Science Radio . Konnikova had never actually played poker before and didn’t even know the rules when she approached Erik Seidel , Poker Hall of Fame inductee and winner of tens of millions of dollars in earnings, and convinced him to be her mentor. Maria parlayed a strong grasp of the science of human decision-making and a woeful ignorance of cards into a life-changing run as a professional poker player, which she tells about in her new book, The Biggest Bluff: How I Learned to Pay Attention, Master Myself, and Win .