Money for Nothing - by Edward Ugel (Paperback)

About the Book

In this surprising memoir, Ugel reveals how he has exploited the weaknesses of lottery winners by offering them a lot of empty promises. Mixing in his own struggle with gambling, Ugel shows readers how lotteries and gambling have become entrenched in American life.

From the Back Cover

For the better part of a decade, Edward Ugel spent his time closing deals with lottery winners, making a lucrative and legitimate--if sometimes not-so-nice--living by taking advantage of their weaknesses . . . weaknesses that, as a gambler himself, he knew all too well.

In Money for Nothing, he explores the captivating world of lottery winners and shows us how lotteries and gambling have become deeply inscribed in every aspect of American life, shaping our image of success and good fortune. Money for Nothing is a witty, wise, and often outrageously funny account of high expectations and easy money.

Review Quotes

"A jackpot of sleaze and hilarity" - The Oregonian (Portland)
"A breezy, funny writer.... Maybe this eye-opening book will galvanize a movement.... By turns amusing and alarming." - Kirkus Reviews
"His tale is a colorfully written account by a self-proclaimed overweight, chain-smoking, Krispy Kreme doughnut-eating, fanatical gambler....You will lick your chops, eager to hear the sordid woes of winners gone broke from spending sprees." - USA Today
"Ugel's natural showmanship makes for entertaining reading. He does little to pretty up his misdeeds (heck, they were legal) and offers comical vignettes of his rendezvous and run-ins with prospective clients while delivering a well-deserved scathing indictment of the government-backed lottery system." - Library Journal
Ugel, a gambler since age 19, tells a sordid tale of gambling addiction, and we all have much to learn from the author's important perspective on the proliferation of gambling opportunities. Written in an informal, sometimes humorous manner, this book contains excellent information for library patrons. - Booklist
"[A] sordid--and highly engaging--tale" - Wall Street Journal
"For anyone who's ever dreamed of winning the lottery, this is a terrifying look at what really happens when someone hands you that huge cardboard check. Ugel's writing style is terrific." - Ben Mezrich, New York Times bestselling author of Bringing Down the House and Busting Vegas