Maria Konnikova

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Maria Konnikova
Sxsw-20230311-konnikova-PORTRAIT.jpg
Konnikova at SXSW 2022
Born1984 (age 41–42)
OccupationAuthor
Nationality American
Education Harvard University (BA)
Columbia University (PhD)
Genre
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 an 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]

Contents

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) Maria Konnikova at IdeaFestival 2013.jpg
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 has said that she became interested in poker after reading John von Neumann’s work on game theory. She described it as a way to examine the mind’s responses to conditions that involve both skill and chance. Konnikova told The New York Times, "When I started this, I didn’t know how many cards were in a deck. I hate casinos. I have zero interest in gambling." [22]

Konnikova competed in her first major tournament, the PokerStars tournament 2017 in Monte Carlo. [23] In January 2018, she won the PCA National event at the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure No-Limit Hold'em Championship, winning $84,600. [24] The win also came with a Platinum Pass worth $30,000 to the PokerStars Players Championship in January 2019. Her total earnings prior to the event were about $30,000. [24]

After her win in 2018, Konnikova delayed work on her book The Biggest Bluff in order to compete in more tournaments with higher stakes [25] 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 Maria Konnikova "Confidence Games" at CSICon Las Vegas in 2016.jpg
"Confidence Games" CSICon 2016

Selected bibliography

References

  1. 1 2 "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 (March 11, 2024). "Psychology Helps Maria Konnikova Win At Poker And Life". Forbes . Retrieved March 26, 2025.
  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. 1 2 3 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. 1 2 "The Confidence Game - The Power (and Price) of Stories with Maria Konnikova AB '05'05". Harvard University. Archived from the original on March 17, 2016. 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 - 14 February 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. 1 2 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.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  23. ↑ "Konnikova's High Stakes Adventure Ends". www.pokernews.com. April 30, 2017. Retrieved February 28, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  24. 1 2 Lamers, Adam (January 9, 2018). "Friend of PokerStars Maria Konnikova Wins PCA Nat'l Championship". www.pokernews.com. Retrieved February 28, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  25. ↑ 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.
  26. ↑ Woods, Dave (September 28, 2023). "Together again: Maria Konnikova rejoins PokerStars as ambassador". Poker.org. Retrieved November 11, 2024.
  27. ↑ Walsh, Jeff (October 14, 2024). "Maria Konnikova Wins First World Series of Poker Bracelet". World Poker Tour. 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.