Overall, this is an enjoyable book with surprises (“just under one-third of people who win or inherit money don’t just blow it all, they blow it all and then some”), though some of the analysis (of the odds of winning; of who actually plays) can be dry. Copetas is most engaging when interviewing, historicizing, and thinking through fascinating questions. He gives the subject enough space to tell their story and offers no judgment afterward. In a fascinating chapter, Copetas talks to Kurt Panouses, the “Powerball lawyer” who has handled over 30 lottery winners, including some billion dollar jackpots, talks about the difference in state-to-state taxes, foundations and above all, the need for anonymity.

Even knowing the odds, it’s still fascinating to think through the questions (addressed here) like whether to take winnings as a lump sum or an annual payout. Copetas looks America’s lottery obsession in the eye and asks the tough questions with sometimes surprising, always informative answers in a book that pulls the reader in by shining a light on their dreams of instant wealth.

Takeaway: Illuminating breakdown of lottery, the odds, and what happens to winners.

Comparable Titles: David G. Schwartz’s Roll the Bones, Jonathan D. Cohen’s For a Dollar and a Dream.

Production grades
Cover: B
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A-