We are a nation of gamblers: pari-mutuel wagering at horse tracks; blackjack in Las Vegas; the NCAA basketball office pool; even day trading on the internet. Gambling is both our national pastime and our predominant cultural metaphor—play the field; beat the odds; take a chance on love. Yet gambling poses serious risks to individuals and to society as a whole. Neil Isaacs—sports historian, licensed clinical social worker, English professor, and a gambler himself for more than fifty years—seeks to shatter the myths interfering with our understanding of gambling addiction, its causes, and its treatment. He begins by systematically debunking several commonly held beliefs, demonstrating that there is no such thing as the law of averages, that gambling is not inherently sinful, immoral, or criminal, and that money is not always the prime motivator for gamblers. Isaacs shows how habitual gambling can lead to compulsive gambling, but avoids oversimplifying this condition. Arguing against a undifferentiated interpretation of pathological gambling as a simple impulse control disorder, he draws examples from fiction, film, and his own practice to demonstrate additional ways gambling can be abused. A radical departure from established views, You Bet Your Life identifies the costs—in dollars, people, families, and credit ratings—of society's failure to address adequately the burdens of gambling.

The rags-to-riches tale of one of the most remarkable figures in horse racing history. Readers will be left breathless at the edge of their seats by the amazing stories in You Bet Your Life: My Incredible Adventures in Horse Racing and Offshore Betting, the story of celebrated jockey Dave Stevenson. A runaway barn hand who became a legendary champion and hero in his native Canada, Stevenson's life is incomparable in its color, scope, and excitement. Throughout, You Bet Your Life is the ride of a lifetime. Its pages transport readers back in time to the golden era of American and Canadian horseracing greatness, traveling across North America and then around the world, all the while meeting an abundance of colorful characters: from legendary figures such as the Dowager Queen of England, Pablo Escobar, and champion thoroughbreds Secretariat and Seabiscuit, to charlatans and cheats, horses and owners, and jockeys and trainers that populated the underbelly and the pinnacle of the horseracing world. Relayed in stunning detail and brimming with emotional episodes, Stevenson's memories bring readers to the front lines, so close to the action that you'll swear you can feel the force of the filly's kick, taste the grit of the racetrack, hear the roar of the crowd, and smell the alluring perfume of wealthy women. Will Dave Stevenson's story enthrall and inspire you from its opening pages? You Bet Your Life it will.

A SETUP IN SIN CITY When her old friend Martha decided to get married in Las Vegas, Jessica Fletcher made the trip to watch her walk down the aisle. But what were the odds that she’d be back two years later—to watch Martha stand accused of her husband’s murder? Jessica’s never been one to gamble, but she’s willing to bet that Martha isn’t guilty. Martha’s husband was a high-rolling Las Vegas local with three ex-wives and plenty of jealous acquaintances. After joining Martha’s defense team, Jessica combs through the man’s past to find the real killer. But as the media attention grows—and Jessica is interviewed by the news anchors of Court TV—the stakes are raised, and Jessica learns how to play for keeps.