21: Bringing down the house

My journey of reading Ben Mezrich books continue. After finishing Busting Vegas I picked up a copy of 21. I never saw the movie but the book has sparked my interest to see this movie and how similar both are (if similar).

Bringing down the house is about a group of MIT whiz kids who form a group at MIT. They take journey's every single weekend to Vegas, strapping cash in velcro slings inside outfits passing airport security. As the book evolves they get banned from more and more casino's and put on the famous Vegas list of people to watch out for entering casinos. One investigator won't leave them alone and warns all nearby casinos. Over time multiple identities break down in Vegas and they start moving outside of Vegas to other locations such as Monte Carlo and beyond. The stakes get higher and so does the danger.

The group has internal issues and the founder is voted out. Eventually, that group breaks down into two sets with one being more conservative and another group risking it even more.

They take the casinos for millions and live like celebrities. Going to events they never imagined they would get in but realize this life isn't as easy as they thought and the danger continues to get higher.

This book is compiled from a series of interviews with Kevin Lewis, one of the leaders of the group.

Ben Mezrich does an excellent job going from present day to the past and really keeps your attention in the book.

It's a bit longer of a read but well worth it.

I give this book a 4 of 5 stars.