Trying to reconcile these goals here. Of the four, What Poker Teaches Us seems likely of most use to “the world” (if we’re talking more than just poker players). A Simple Guide to the TOP would make you & Mason the most $ (as it would also encourage further sales of TOP).

When I take off the unselfish hat, though, 50 Hands is easily the most intriguing to me.

As a high school science teacher, I would want you to write the Algebra book. It is shocking how low students math skills are in the US these days.

How about a book on PLO?
Of those four, I vote for 50 hands. --ba

I wish ALGEBRA FOR TEN YEAR OLDS was available way back when I had to learn it. Write it.

For interest/value, 50 Hands.
For the good of the world, easily Algebra for 10-Year-Olds et. al.
For profit for you and MM, How Game Theory Helped Me Pok'er, Illustrated

The algebra book would do the most good, except that many who it would help have no inclination to learn algebra. But if it was picked up by a lot of school systems it might make some money.

What poker teaches us. Good luck trying to get people to read it. But I would read it, David (and I know that's important to you).

50 poker hands (why stop at fifty?) would sell the best among those already predisposed to buy Sklansky books. My selfish self picks this one.

TOP guide would sell some books, but not as many as 50 hands, imo.


Best for the world (if many read it): The algegra book

Best for me: 50 hands

Best for 2+2: probably 50 hands, possibly TOP guide.

David --

The Algebra book. It's not close. I'll edit it for free. (I bet I'd be a better copyeditor for this book than anyone at 2+2 and probably anyone you know.)

--Nate

By the way David, we all know that deep down you want to write the algebra book. So just go ahead and do it and make the little David inside of you happy. No need to apologize.

But change that title if you want to sell any.

I almost forgot - please include calculus, trig, geometry and statistics in your book formula!

TT

I would buy the algebra book in a heartbeat. Excellent idea.

Saying you are close to the best Algebra teacher in the world is just downright stupid. It would require you to

a) Teach thousands of students to get a decent sample size
b) Know of at least 100 or so teachers considered to be extraordinarily good (including those that didnt go to your high school...)
c) Compare your results with their results over thousands of students (which would obviously be very difficult to do)

Making wild statements that cannot be substantiated based on your math skill as a 15yo is silly.

But I do think writing the algebra book is the best idea for you. It will flop and you will realise that outside of your tiny world there are people significantly more intelligent than you. Have you ever noticed that no one outside the poker world considers you intelligent or has heard of your work?

The Algebra for Ten Year Olds would have to compete with the Dummies/Idiot's Guide series. Theory books don't do as well, I think, as How-To books, so I vote for 50 Poker Hands.

Most money:

1. A Simple Guide to TOP (Increase TOP sales too)
2. 50 Poker Hands that Really Teach You Somethinng
3. What Poker Teaches Us
4. Algebra for Ten Year Olds

I don’t think it would be remotely close between 1 and 4 in terms of revenue. The algebra book would have to get some remarkable acclaim to profit more.

I would buy A Simple Guide to TOP and 50 Poker Hands, as would most 2+2ers, but I wouldn’t be disappointed if you didn’t write them. I assume these two books would be quicker and easier to write than the other two.

What Poker Teaches Us? Self help? I would have to hear from others it is good before I bought it. This would have some potential.

As for the elementary algebra book, I think this would have to get some really good press to do well. I don’t see how Mason could be excited about publishing this. There are hundreds and hundreds of algebra books and plenty are targeted to people who think like 10 year olds. Regardless of how well you explain it, learning math takes effort and practice. Even if you understand the concepts, you have to practice and then later practice again (for the vast majority of people). Who wants to do that?

People aren't going to work to learn algebra unless they have to.

It may not do well but how great would it be if it did.

Finding out what other stuff that bloke who wrote your great algebra book author did, bit like finding out your french-mistress was a porn star.

chez

Algebra! As someone with a long history of tutoring and teaching kids in math, I think a book like that would be very helpful. Although, considering the state of most kids' math abilities, you might want to include some ideas on how to teach algebra to people who think like 5-year-olds.

You've been talking about being the best algebra teacher for quite a while now. If it's true, then the algebra book is the clear choice, and it's not close. If it succeeds, you can follow up with several other subjects. I'm quite anxious to see how you teach it, since I often wonder how I will teach my own children advanced math one day.

David,

You must have some other reason for asking this other than trying to solicit feedback, since ALGEBRA FOR TEN YEAR OLDS (And those who think like them) is so clearly the correct answer.

DS,

You want to write the algebra book. Doing this will make you the happiest.

Part of being a great teacher is using language that is easily understandable. Sometimes your grammar and syntax are less than ideal. If you do decide to do the algebra book, and since A) I often think like a ten-year old; B) you and I are such close friends; and C) I got an 800 on the math portion of the SAT (admittedly just after the Johnson administration, and I'm talking Andrew Johnson), I'd be happy to serve as your editor in my spare time, gratis, and without credit.

i must be missing something bc i dont see the point of the algrebra book. a school is not gonna use your book for teaching. and older ppl dont care to learn algebra.

I actually thought people would choose TOP for beginners. Perhaps I confused the issue by asking "what is best for the world". I really meant what makes most sense for me. Until recently the algebra book wouldn't have worked given my lack of formal education. And a book doesn't do the best job of showcasing my teaching talent since I can't individualize instuction based on what type of problems the student is having. The big difference between what I have in mind and the books that I think are out there now would be my willingness to assume beginner status in the reader all the way throughout. For instance I would assume that he wasn't comfortable with fractions and dexcimals. Since fractions are supposed to be learned well before algebra, it is probably unheard of to teach a student how to factor or do quadratic equations if mere fractions confused him.
But if you think about it, you realize that understanding how to solve simple quadratic equations does not require you to be facile with fractions. Meanwhile if you can show a kid that he can understand the principles of this somewhat advanced algebra, it should give him the confidence to go back and learn the stuff he ignored in fifth grade. (That's not to say that the book would not have some problems involving decimals or fractions.)

Maybe there are already books out there that that keep things as elementary as possible throughout. If so I was hoping that someone would know of them and tell me about them.

I agree.

While I am sure that you could write an excellent algebra text, I don't see it being too useful unless it is used widely in classrooms.

I want to read the top 50 hands, and I am sure it would sell as well as all your other books.

I'm confident the algebra book would be the best social contribution on its own merits. But if it's as good as you say it is, people will try to mimic it for many other topics. Which means it's not even close.

If DS can write a book which contains an original and better method to teach algebra then there's a very high chance the method will become popular.

It may not mean DS selling many books and the take up of the method may not be in his lifetime but that doesn't mean its anything but an excellent plan.

chez

To teach Algebra to non talented students you have to know the subject cold while at the same time being able to relate to the difficulties that those non talented (or very young)students have with the subject. Those two talents are rarely found in the same person. I know I have both talents because of the success of my students.