Maria Konnikova

Maria Konnikova
Konnikova at SXSW 2023
Born	1984 (age 39–40) Moscow, Soviet Union
Occupation	Author
Nationality	American
Education	Harvard University (BA) Columbia University (PhD)
Genre	Popular science Psychology
Notable works	The Biggest Bluff Mastermind: How to Think Like Sherlock Holmes The Confidence Game[1]
Scientific career
Thesis	The Limits of Self-Control: Self-Control, Illusory Control, and Risky Financial Decision Making (2013)
Doctoral advisor	Walter Mischel
Website
www.mariakonnikova.com

Maria Konnikova (born 1984) is a Russian-American writer. Konnikova has also worked as a television producer, poker player, and podcaster. She has written three New York Times bestseller list books, including Mastermind: How to Think Like Sherlock Holmes.^[2][3]

Biography

Early life and education

Maria Konnikova was born in Moscow, Russia.^[4] Her family emigrated to the United States and settled in Massachusetts^[5] when she was four years old.

Konnikova attended Acton-Boxborough Regional High School in Massachusetts.^[6][7] After graduating from high school she attended Harvard University and graduated with a B.A. in psychology and creative writing where she was mentored by Steven Pinker.^[8] She earned a Ph.D. in psychology from Columbia University in 2013^[9] under Walter Mischel.^[5]

Writing and media

Konnikova worked as a producer for the Charlie Rose Show, where she helped to set up the segment "Brain Series."^[5][10] She wrote the "Literally Psyched" column for Scientific American^[11] and the psychology blog "Artful Choice" for Big Think.^[12][13] In April 2013, her article on uncertainty in decision-making was published in The New Yorker,^[14] to which she continues to contribute.^[15][16]

Konnikova at the IdeaFestival (2013)

Konnikova's first book, Mastermind: How to Think Like Sherlock Holmes, was nominated for an Agatha Award and the Anthony Award for Best Nonfiction in 2013.^[17][15] Her book The Confidence Game was published in 2016 and appeared on the New York Times' Crime and Punishment bestseller list.^[18] Her third book, The Biggest Bluff, published in 2020, chronicled her participation in the world of poker.^[19][20]

Konnikova makes regular appearances on The Gist podcast in her own segment, "Is That Bullshit?" In early 2017, she published a 10-part podcast about con artists and the lives they ruin, called The Grift.^[21]

Poker career

Konnikova's interest in poker was piqued when she encountered John von Neumann's game theory. She saw poker as a way to explore the interplay of skill and chance in the human psyche. In an interview with The New York Times, Konnikova stated that her motivation was not rooted in gambling, but in understanding the psychological aspects of the game.^[22] In 2016, Konnikova established contact with Erik Seidel, a seasoned poker professional, who became her mentor and coach as she immersed herself for a year in the world of competitive poker.^[23]

Konnikova made her debut on a major poker stage at the 2017 PokerStars tournament in Monte Carlo. In January 2018 she won the PCA National event in the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure No-Limit Hold'em Championship, earning a cash prize of $84,600.^[24] She was awarded a Platinum Pass worth $30,000, which gave her entry to the PokerStars Players Championship in January 2019. Her accumulated winnings prior to this had amounted to approximately $30,000.^[25]

After her win in 2018, Konnikova delayed work on her book The Biggest Bluff in order to compete in more tournaments with higher stakes^[23] and she became a full-time professional poker player. From June 2018 to November 2019 she partnered with PokerStars, who sponsored her in professional tournaments.^[19] In September 2023, Konnikova rejoins PokerStars Team Pro.^[26]

Konnikova won her first World Series of Poker bracelet in the U.S. 2024 WSOP Online series, winning the event NLHE Fall Crazy 8’s event, along with a cash prize of $68,478.^[27]

Awards

"Confidence Games" CSICon 2016

• Robert P. Balles Prize for The Confidence Game by the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry (2016)^[1]
• Featured in The Best American Science and Nature Writing, edited by Hope Jahren, for her article "Altered Tastes," about Heston Blumenthal (2017)^[28]
• Excellence in Science Journalism by The Society for Personality and Social Psychology (2019)^[29]

Selected bibliography

• Mastermind: How to Think Like Sherlock Holmes, Viking, January 3, 2013, ISBN 978-0670026579
• The Confidence Game: Why We Fall for It . . . Every Time, Viking, January 12, 2016, ISBN 978-0525427414
• The Biggest Bluff: How I Learned to Pay Attention, Master Myself, and Win, Penguin Press, June 23, 2020, ISBN 978-0525522621

References

1. "Maria Konnikova Wins Critical Thinking Prize from CSI for "The Confidence Game"". CSICOP.ORG. Committee for Skeptical Inquiry. May 18, 2017. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
2. "Maria Konnikova". The New Yorker. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
3. Marcus, Bonnie. "Psychology Helps Maria Konnikova Win At Poker And Life". Forbes.
4. Konnikova, Maria (August 9, 2014). Maria Konnikova:TEDxColumbiaCollege. youtube.com. TEDx. Event occurs at 0:00 to 1:30. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
5. Fong, Joss (January 10, 2013). "It's Elementary". The Scientist. LabX Media Group. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
6. Gerbic, Susan (September 25, 2017). "An Interview with CSICon Speaker Maria Konnikova | Skeptical Inquirer". Retrieved February 12, 2024.
7. Maria Konnikova (January 7, 2014). "The Open-Office Trap". The New Yorker. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
8. "Alumni Profile: Maria Konnikova". soundcloud.com. Columbia University. October 11, 2021. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
9. Konnikova, Maria (2013). The Limits of Self-Control: Self-Control, Illusory Control, and Risky Financial Decision Making. Columbia University (Thesis). doi:10.7916/D8QR54B5. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
10. Maria Konnikova. charlierose.com. February 24, 2016. Event occurs at 0:00 to 3:00. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
11. "Stories by Maria Konnikova". scientificamerican.com. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
12. "Maria Konnikova". bigthink.com. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
13. "Book Brahmin: Maria Konnikova". Shelf Awareness. 2014. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
14. "Why we need answers". The New Yorker. April 30, 2013. Archived from the original on April 16, 2023. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
15. "The Confidence Game - The Power (and Price) of Stories with Maria Konnikova AB '05'05". Harvard University. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
16. "Maria Konnikova". The New Yorker. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
17. Christian DuChateau (January 11, 2013). "Become a 'Mastermind' with Sherlock Holmes' help". CNN. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
18. "Crime and Punishment Books - Best Sellers - February 14, 2016 - The New York Times". The New York Times. May 31, 2017. Archived from the original on May 31, 2017. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
19. Newell, Jennifer (November 26, 2019). "Maria Konnikova Finishes Poker Book and Leaves PokerStars". www.legaluspokersites.com. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
20. "Dafabet". Star588.cc. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
21. "The Grift". panoply.fm. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
22. Dreifus, Claudia (August 10, 2018). "Maria Konnikova Shows Her Cards". The New York Times. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
23. Nuwwarah, Mo (May 2018). "Konnikova Changes Plans, Delays Book After Incredible Poker Success". PokerNews.com. PokerNews. Archived from the original on July 1, 2018. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
24. "PokerStars Caribbean Adventure - PCA 2018, #4 No Limit Hold'em - PCA National". The Hendon Mob. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
25. Lamers, Adam (January 9, 2018). "Friend of PokerStars Maria Konnikova Wins PCA Nat'l Championship". www.pokernews.com. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
26. Woods, Dave (September 28, 2023). "Together again: Maria Konnikova rejoins PokerStars as ambassador". www.poker.org. Retrieved November 11, 2024.
27. "Maria Konnikova Wins First World Series of Poker Bracelet". World Poker Tour. October 14, 2024. Retrieved November 12, 2024.
28. "The Best American Science and Nature Writing 2017". Publishers Weekly. Archived from the original on October 7, 2017. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
29. "Excellence in Science Journalism Award | SPSP". spsp.org. Retrieved May 17, 2023.

External links

• Official website
• Scientific American column
• The Grift podcast
• Maria Konnikova Poker Interview
• Hendon Mob profile