Maria Konnikova
Maria_Konnikova_in_2013.jpg
Born1984 (age 39–40)
Moscow, Soviet Union
OccupationAuthor
NationalityAmerican
EducationHarvard University (BA)
Columbia University (PhD)
Genre
Notable worksThe Biggest Bluff
Mastermind: How to Think Like Sherlock Holmes
The Confidence Game[1]
Scientific career
ThesisThe Limits of Self-Control: Self-Control, Illusory Control, and Risky Financial Decision Making (2013)
Doctoral advisorWalter 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]

Biography

Early life and education

Maria Konnikova was born in Moscow, Russia, to Jewish parents.[3] Her family emigrated to the United States and settled in Massachusetts[4] when she was four years old.

Konnikova attended Acton-Boxborough Regional High School in Massachusetts.[5] After graduating from high school she attended Harvard University and graduated with a B.A. in psychology and creative writing. At Harvard she was mentored by Steven Pinker.[6] She earned a Ph.D. in psychology from Columbia University in 2013[7] under Walter Mischel.[4]

Writing and media

Konnikova worked as a producer for the Charlie Rose Show, where she helped to set up the segment "Brain Series."[4][8] She wrote the "Literally Psyched" column for Scientific American[9] and the psychology blog "Artful Choice" for Big Think.[10][11] In April 2013, her article on uncertainty in decision-making was published in The New Yorker,[12] to which she continues to contribute.[13][14]

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.[15][13] Her book The Confidence Game was published in 2016 and appeared on the New York Times' Crime and Punishment bestseller list.[16] Her third book, The Biggest Bluff, published in 2020, chronicled her participation in the world of poker.[17]

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.[18]

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 interplay of skill and chance in the human psyche. She said in an interview with The New York Times that her motivation was not rooted in gambling, but in understanding the psychological aspects of the game.[19] 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.[20]

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.[21] 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.[22]

After her win in 2018, Konnikova delayed work on her book The Biggest Bluff in order to compete in more tournaments with higher stakes[20] 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.[17]

Awards

"Confidence Games" CSICon 2016

Selected bibliography

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

References

  1. 1 2 "Maria Konnikova Wins Critical Thinking Prize from CSI for "The Confidence Game"". CSICOP.ORG. Committee for Skeptical Inquiry. 18 May 2017. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
  2. ↑ "Maria Konnikova". The New Yorker. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
  3. ↑ Konnikova, Maria (9 August 2014). Maria Konnikova:TEDxColumbiaCollege. youtube.com. TEDx. Event occurs at 0:00 to 1:30. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
  4. 1 2 3 Fong, Joss (10 January 2013). "It's Elementary". The Scientist. LabX Media Group. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
  5. ↑ Maria Konnikova (7 January 2014). "The Open-Office Trap". The New Yorker. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
  6. ↑ "Alumni Profile: Maria Konnikova". soundcloud.com. Columbia University. 11 October 2021. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
  7. ↑ 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 28 February 2023.
  8. ↑ Maria Konnikova. charlierose.com. 24 February 2016. Event occurs at 0:00 to 3:00. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
  9. ↑ "Stories by Maria Konnikova". scientificamerican.com. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
  10. ↑ "Maria Konnikova". bigthink.com. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
  11. ↑ "Book Brahmin: Maria Konnikova". Shelf Awareness. 2014. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
  12. ↑ "Why we need answers". The New Yorker. 30 April 2013. Archived from the original on 16 April 2023. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
  13. 1 2 "The Confidence Game - The Power (and Price) of Stories with Maria Konnikova AB '05'05". Harvard University. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
  14. ↑ "Maria Konnikova". The New Yorker. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
  15. ↑ Christian DuChateau (11 January 2013). "Become a 'Mastermind' with Sherlock Holmes' help". CNN. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
  16. ↑ "Crime and Punishment Books - Best Sellers - February 14, 2016 - The New York Times". The New York Times. 31 May 2017. Archived from the original on 31 May 2017. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
  17. 1 2 Newell, Jennifer (26 November 2019). "Maria Konnikova Finishes Poker Book and Leaves PokerStars". www.legaluspokersites.com. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
  18. ↑ "The Grift". panoply.fm. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
  19. ↑ Dreifus, Claudia (10 August 2018). "Maria Konnikova Shows Her Cards". The New York Times. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
  20. 1 2 Nuwwarah, Mo (May 2018). "Konnikova Changes Plans, Delays Book After Incredible Poker Success". PokerNews.com. PokerNews. Archived from the original on 1 July 2018. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
  21. ↑ "PokerStars Caribbean Adventure - PCA 2018, #4 No Limit Hold'em - PCA National". The Hendon Mob. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
  22. ↑ Lamers, Adam (9 January 2018). "Friend of PokerStars Maria Konnikova Wins PCA Nat'l Championship". www.pokernews.com. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
  23. ↑ "The Best American Science and Nature Writing 2017". Publishers Weekly. Archived from the original on 7 October 2017. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
  24. ↑ "Excellence in Science Journalism Award | SPSP". spsp.org. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
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