In 1995, two brothers who were also college professors in Mississippi discovered the allure of casino gambling at the gulf coast's casinos. Over the next few years as family tragedies afflicted their lives, the intensity of their gambling, and their losses, began to mount. Then comes an unexpected twist. These two, who collectively lost well over $100,000 at this casino, are indicted for cheating at one of the largest casinos in Mississippi. Double Down is the story, in the brothers' own words, of the events that led to this situation.
While we have only the Barthelme's side of the story in this book, their encounter with the casino generally rings true to me. I have no problems believing a casino would over-react in the manner described in this book. Further, the fact that the case against them was ultimately dismissed by a judge before it reached trial is enough to convince me that at the very least, there was no conspiracy, as alleged by the Grand Casino in Gulfport. I found the view of the legal process by the brothers to be very realistic, fascinating, and more than a little chilling.
The Barthelmes go to great lengths to attempt to explain the "high" they receive from high-stakes gambling. They eloquently communicate the thoughts and feelings that pass through their minds during one of their multi-day binges. One thing that interests me is that despite describing the magnitude of their losses, between the two they allege that they have lost in excess of a quarter of a million dollars, their words are not regretful. While they would be the first ones to admit that their actions at least appear to be foolish, they never say that if they had to do it all over again, they wouldn't choose the same path. I am disturbed by the fact that they attribute their addiction largely to their relationship with their parents, both in how they were raised and in their reaction to their deaths. I'm even more disturbed that not once in the book do they say anything that indicates that they accept responsibility for their losses. While they are able to state that they have an addiction, at the time the book was written I would say that this still hasn't sunk in.
The book is superbly written. The story deftly moves from event to event, vivid, yet economically written. The Barthelme's are both accomplished writers, teaching the craft professionally, and it shows. At the end of it all, while the story is engaging, it's also ultimately unsatisfying. The combination of the cliff-hanger ending (the case against them was not dismissed until after the book was published) and the fact that the authors never really come to terms with their addiction mars an otherwise excellent story. At the very least the book may be useful in that anyone who recognizes themselves in the Barthelmes is probably well advised to avoid setting foot in a casino again.
Double Down is a superbly written biographical account of gambling, loss, and irony. It's about two brothers who gamble away a small fortune at a casino before their hosts accuse them of cheating. Unfortunately, the lack of resolution about the brothers' situation and their failure to truly come to terms with their addiction mars an otherwise fine book.
Note: I received a free review copy of this book from the publisher. I have no other interest, financial or otherwise, in the success of this book.
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