What's A Good Book To Get?

One which will take me from the basics of Probability and Statistics up to some pretty good stuff, and does not require calculus. A book I can work through at home and discuss a bit on this forum as I go.


I looked on Amazon but most of the books on Probability I saw had some other special focus as well.


Thanks,


M

If you want a probability booked geared specifically for poker, then the book to get is Hold'em's Odds Book by Mike Petriv


If you want a general probability book, I'd suggest you go to your local college campus and get the Statistics I textbook.

Thanks Dynasty, but WHICH statistics1 textbook? And how home-user-friendly is it?

Publishers come out with new college textbooks every year in order to make more money on students who buy new books. It would have some dry name like "Statistics I".


I doubt it would be very user friendly. Perhaps there's a "Statistics for Dummies" book.

Actualy, you would probably want to get a book with the word "Probability" in it, as a pure statistics book will probably assume that you know the basics of probability, and build on them from there. Check the index/table of contents. If it talks about nPr, binary distribution and the like, you've got the right guy.

I am likely undershooting you a little, M, but you could try "The Cartoon Guide to Statistics." It's available on Amazon by searching cartoon statistics. I've flipped through it and found it explains concepts simply and without derivations. It is more of a complement to a Stats I book as it has no problems to work through.


Good luck.

M,


"Probability and Statistical Theory with Applications to Games and Gambling" by C. Friedman is a good start.


You can download this 30 page document at:

http://www.ma.utexas.edu/~friedman/prob.pdf


It has a section on poker.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0393310728/qid=1029271724/sr=1-8/ref=sr_1_8/102-1464231-5718504


a classic - must read for everyone - amusing in parts - easy to read - been on my repeated reading list for as long as "catcher in the rye" and "catch 22"

I wouldn't get a book with 'probability' or 'statistics' in the title, I would get one with the words 'discrete math' in the title somewhere.


Here's some suggestions:


http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0198596731/qid=1029487115/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/102-5938072-5608920


Ian Anderson's book, not specifically on probability, but it contains all the basic information you need to know about combinations, permutations, various counting arguments, and inclusion-exclusion principle. It requires no calculus, but it may not be the easiest read. (I have no idea your level of mathematical maturity.)


Also helpful can be the Schaum's outline of worked problems, and 2000 solved problems.