God Doesnt Shoot Craps: A Divine Comedy

by Richard Armstrong

Book Overview

The Da Vinci Code meets Positively Fifth Street in a comic novel about a junk-mail con man who sells a "bogus" craps system through the mail - only to discover, too late, that it really works. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1402206569
• ISBN13: 9781402206566
• Release Date: March 2006
• Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark
• Length: 328 Pages
• Weight: 1.20 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.2" x 8.1"

Customer Reviews

A delightful yarn

Richard Armstrong spins a fast-paced, delightful yarn of the ultimate gambling "system" interestingly based on a real theory proposed by Juan Parrondo of The University Of Madrid. Mixed together with casinos, con games, the Mafia, and an assortment of bizzare characters this novel is one that any gambler (or one considering gambling) simply cannot miss.

Loved this book!

Richard Armstrong's book is so good. Not only is it "laugh out loud" funny, the characters are well defined and I really cared what happened to Danny as he progressed through the book. I also learned a whole lot about craps--all I knew before was that it was complicated and I still believe that but did learn much more than I knew before. Thanks, Richard, for a really great book and I hope you are working on another. The ending was fantastic

The Casino Giveth - The Casino Taketh Away

It's hard to believe God Doesn't Shoot Craps is Richard Armstrong's first novel. It's smooth, hilarious, clever, and you can't put it down. We need ten more Richard-- pronto. In it, a modern-day miracle occurs when the Lord giveth'd Danny Pelligrino a gambling system that actually - to his amazement - worked. But then the Lord taketh'd it away. Just like that. Not before a few righteous, soon-to-be righteous, and God-save-their-black-souls-decidedly unrighteous characters catch on-- and want to be casino bazillionares too. Then, the chase is on. A must read. I'm taking it to Vegas with me next trip to try out Win By Losing for myself. I'm considering flight lessons as well. I've nosed around, and we don't have those kind of suntan salons in these parts. Oh, lastly, carry a small Bible with you from now on. Just in case.

Divinely Decadent!

A Winner! Bet on this one and hope you're getting real (lucky) advise from a best friend!

Odds Are You'll Like It

Back in the mid-seventies, before Atlantic City had legalized gambling, I was contracted to write a magazine piece looking at both sides of the upcoming vote to legalize gambling, and come to some conclusions. I listened to both sides of the issue and finally decided the pro-gambling people's argument that gambling would bring great wealth to all economic strata of the city and the state was a bunch of hooey. I wrote conclusively that gambling was a bad idea, only the rich would get richer and that's proven to be pretty much the case. Instead of a published article, I got a Kill Fee for picking the wrong horse and the measure passed. Oh well, the experience helped stop me from gambling. Or reading books about gambling and gamblers. But all rules are meant to be broken and with the Jersey tie-in, I decided to read Richard Armstrong's first novel on the topic of gambling-and much more. I still don't gamble but I can most highly recommend this book as pure entertainment, thoughtful imaginings, and some tips to help me beat the house if ever I get the urge. Armstrong, who apparently earns his living convincing people to respond to direct mail pleadings, must spend a few hours away from his day job to visit casinos. (I'll assume the passages on the sex industry are just good research). He writes with confident authority and has penned the kind of page-turner that keeps the reader reading well past his or her bedtime. (I believe the overs and unders are one hour). The characters are real--even the depraved are sympathetic--and the book will make you use the old gray matter. So, think about it. Wouldn't your money be better spent on this book than on a few minutes donating the equivalent amount to a one armed bandit? I thought so.